SIX Scottish beaches have been named in a list of the UK’s best nudist spots – but some locals disagree.
Naturists will be happy to know that there are still plenty of beaches that they can use to strip off.
Balmedie Beach in Aberdeenshire was included in the list[/caption]
Lower Largo Beach in Fife was said to be “strictly private”[/caption]
It’s not an offence to be naked in public – but there is a common law offence of “offending public decency” in Scotland.
It’s best to stick to designated nudist beaches to avoid offending beachgoers, as many with young kids may feel uncomfortable.
According to MailOnline, there are six beaches in Scotland where you can be naked in public.
These are Balmedie Beach in Aberdeenshire, Cleat’s Shore on Arran, Crakaig Beach in Sutherland, Kinshaldy Beach at Tentsmuir, Fife, Lower Largo Beach in Fife and Ostel Bay, Cowal Peninsula.
But some locals have been left confused by some of the locations on the list.
According to Aberdeenshire Council, Balmedie is a public beach and has no such designation.
Punters flocked to Reddit to react to the list – with some branding it “news to them”.
One wrote: “I’m sure at some point in the distant past the idea was floated about making a section of the beach nudist… but outside the height of summer, you’d have to be a very committed nudist to want to get naked at Balmedie.”
Another said: “We should then see loads and loads of nude people frozen over.”
A third added: “Even at the height of summer Balmedie isn’t particularly somewhere you’d want to strip down, it’s not like it’s the Tuscan coast with warm waters and no wind.”
There was also confusion over the Fife beaches, Kinshaldy and Lower Largo.
A spokesman for Forestry and Land Scotland told The Courier it has never promoted Kinshaldy as a naturist destination.
They added: “For many years quieter areas of the beach have been used that way by a small number of very discreet people.
“We’re now getting reports of some who are not so discreet.
“We are asking visitors who want to go nude to respect other beach users and not put themselves in a position where someone might take offence from their nudity.
“This may mean on busy days choosing a quieter area, or going to a designated nudist beach.”
Matt Allan, chairperson of Largo Area Community Council, also stressed nudity is a “rare occurrence” at Lower Largo and there is no official recognition.
Last year, we told how “disgusted” locals called in cops to try and stop a nude swim at a remote Scottish beach.
