Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland
Fraisthorpe Sands
Yorkshire
Large sandy beach with low clay cliffs south of Bridlington.
Fraisthorpe is a long sandy beach located about two miles south of Bridlington's main beach in the large sweep of Bridlington Bay below Flamborough Head. There has been nude bathing here for 40 years or more. However from the early 90's problems lead to the official designation being withdrawn and some council / police opposition. This is in the past now, naturist use continues, but less than before.
Jan 2022: Naturists continue to use the beach, though fewer than in the past. The biggest problem now is the parking.
Getting There
Satnav: YO15 3QU
From Bridlington take the A165 southwards until you reach Fraisthorpe in about three and a half miles. Go left through the village and find your way to Auburn Farm. There is an unmetalled lane which leads to a car park.
Parking is £1 (1 hour), £3 (3 hours), £5 (all day). Many online complaints about fines and parking enforcement. The car park uses cameras. Once in the car park, you have to pay to avoid a ticket (by phone or cash) even if you leave straight away - no grace period. Pay straight away and make sure you keep your receipt in case you get a ticket anyway! The road to the car park is single track - no chance of parking on the verge. See Auburn Farm, then 'car park'. [Jan 2022]
Walk from here to the shore and then turn right and walk southwards towards a stream - Earl's Dyke. The nudist area starts about 500 metres south of the Auburn Farm car park, and continues to Earls Dyke.
Alternatives
- you could park south of Fraisthorpe, at Barmaston Beach (some free parking, YO25 8PJ), and walk 2km north along the beach to Earls Dyke. There is also a public footpath (not tested) which starts in Barmaston village, near the church, and leads north for 2km, then east to Earls Dyke.
- you could park north of Fraisthorpe in south Bridlington, around "Hilderthorpe", a street or so back from the sea, then walk south along the beach. This would be a 4.5km walk each way. There is a park and ride car park further south, which isn't free. It would be 3.5km from there.
Description
This is a large sandy beach with low clay cliffs behind, which offer shelter from the wind. Clean sand, with pools around the bases of old anti-invasion defences. 'Good swimming and ideal for children'.
Historical problems with the local Council
In May of 1998 notices were erected by the local council announcing that: 'naturism is prohibited on all East Riding of Yorkshire beaches...'
At least one attempt to enforce this prohibition took place in July 2003:
"On Saturday, the force helicopter hovered above the beach and officers went down the beach taking the names and addresses of all beach users despite having no evidence of indecency".
It is also said that naturists had been warned by someone who saw them arriving at the car park and, consequently, most beach users were dressed by the time the Police reached them.
John Wymark-Hoar from Ryedale Naturist Club commented:
"Their behaviour last July was not only illegal but intimidating to the 200 or so beach users present that weekend (including I am reliably informed an Inspector of the Humberside police, himself a naturist and present with his family - he beat a hasty retreat!) Those people had gradually built up the confidence to ignore the notices put up by the Council, only to have their day spoiled and an understandable wariness renewed."
The legal enforceabilty of the nudity prohibition was challenged in 2004 by members of Ryedale Naturist Club.
"Fraisethorpe beach looks to be back in the naturist domain, the signs have all gone. A group from Rydale club, having a BBQ on the beach, were approached by the coastguard and told they were not allowed to be naked there; they asked why, and said that they couldn't stop them. The coastguard contacted his superior, who said they were correct and that they were not doing anything against the law. It was soon after this that the signs were removed."
The campaign by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to prevent law-abiding naturists from using this beach can be contrasted with the attitude of other local authorities - such as East Devon District Council at Budleigh Salterton - who have found the erection of signs advising "nude bathing beyond this point" to be very effective in managing sections of beach traditionally frequented by naturists.
Other Council signs have stated: "The beach is not a designated naturist beach. Any person committing an act of indecency will be liable to prosecution." Fraisthorpe United Naturists complained to the Council that the wording of the signs was insulting and intentionally links naturism with indecency. These particular signs were removed.
'Ownership', i.e. management, of the beach has passed back from the local council to the crown estate.
Facilities
The Cow Shed at Fraisthorpe Beach - dog friendly cafe with terrace and beach view. Toilets by the farm car park.
Links
- Fraisthorpe Beach - Facebook group, little about naturism, but lots of complaints about parking fines
Update
Jan 2022
Map
Comments
Please leave a comment via the email address below.
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01-Jun-20
Naturists now use A delightful naturist community of locals and visitors to Bridlington.the beach with confidence!
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01-Jun-20
Please dont worry. Enjoy the legal right to be nude there.
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01-Jun-20
Naturism thrives at Fraisethorpe. I visit regularly & had my first nude beach day today, in the company of a few regulars and a couple of visitors. The Council notices are both misleading and largely derelict. The confusion that the sign evokes does unsettle visitors but the naturist use is approved by the local Police (see 2003 Sexual Offences Act, CPS Guidlines on public nudity & College of Policing Guidance documents).Discussions with the Police back i 2004 confirmed the legality, reserving the right 'to investigate any complaint, from any party including from naturist beach uisers@.
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Jul-20
After a lot of work by B.N. the legal situation has changed dramatically for the better regarding naturism and new guidelines have been issued to the Police. It looks like Bridlington Council need to be advised. This is worth reading, especially the last couple of section.
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David FletcherMay-20
ignore the signs just get on with being naked the more we do this the more the council
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David FletcherMay-20
Dear all, I have been using Fraisthorpe beach in Bridlington for well over the past 30 years and I have always been nude. Its a very good beach and there is plenty of room on this beach for every one. By that I do mean everyone! It is a great shame that Bridlington Council have now taken a hard stance against nude bathing! Last visit I made there ( May 2018 ) I was warned that should I be nude my name and adress would be taken by the police. Why should this be? I was using a wind breaker I was nude and i was enjoying the lovey warm sun . The law states ( it is not a crime to be nude anywere ) aslong as there is no exibitionism or lewd behavier, then one should be fine. To day in England we as a nation live in a diverse land. Where evryone is given free status to partake in whatever activity we wish ( as long as thats within the law ) I am a nudist and I will practice that where ever I can. To Bridlington Council I ask that Fraisthorpe beach be given back its Nude beach. Please put up signs clearly stating that people are entering a designated Nudist beach. This beach did at one time have these signs why have you taken them down.Finally I belive that a greater problem at this beach are dogs. But do you hear me making acomplaint ! No let the dogs and there oweners walk the beach I will say nothing I will just get on and do my NUDE bathing and converse with my fellow nudists. We all should LIVE AND LET LIVE. There is room for everyone at Fraisthorpe.
If any one reading this wishes to take this matter further please contact me at the e mail address David Fletcher Rotherham. 1608welcome _at_ gmail.com
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Oct-20
Visited east coast with wife, brother in law and his wife last week. Despite the signs being in place i still wanted to undress. I did so on 3 seperate days for around 3-4 hours a time. No one bothered us on two of the days, on the third a few (around a dozen in total) dog walkers came past and chatted. Only one elder couple moaned, but i stayed as i was and carried on playing beach games.
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Jun-20
Went there today for a spot of fishing. As the below post points out, signs are up and no naturists were spotted. Well, apart from me :)
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Aug-20
The signs were up this year near the car park. My wife was a bit worried about the warning (since it was from the council ) so we didn't get to enjoy being clothes free.
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Jul-20
Is nudism still practised here?
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Nov-20
When is the best month to go
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neil andrewsApr-20
Hi I'm new to natuarism and still trying to convince the wife that this would be a healthy and family friendly way of spending some quality time together as a family. With this in mind can anyone update me on the current status of fraizerthorpe sands is it still used by nudists. There have been many problems in the past and i just wondered if it would be safe or adviseable to take the wife and kids down there for a day on the beach and an introduction to naturism
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PaulApr-20
Earlier this year, beginning of March, I visited Spurn Point and walked along the beautiful beach there. It seems very private at the point, just wondered if anyone has ever sunbathed nude there?
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alison & joeApr-20
Finally managed to persuade new boyfriend joe to bare all last summer! Despite going on a hot sunday f'thorpe was very quiet - no more than ten people in all i'd say, ranging from late teens to mid-fifties(?) Would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND this beach and will be back again this summer. We both enjoyed bathing, walking and swimming and i went for a bit of a jog - [redacated]
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RadmanSep-20
The weather was generally sunny but a little windy, about as good as could be expected in September in the North of England. The beach and dunes appear, at first sight, to be attractive and clean, with golden sand. Unfortunately, the appearance is spoilt by the nearby steelworks. It is also not as clean as it appears, there is a lot of industrial pollution which makes feet and legs black and any clothing soon becomes grubby. During the three days I spent there, I only saw five naked people, all male. It was pleasant to chat with them but I would have preferred a few more people around. [redacted]. I was generally disapointed with my visit.'
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AnonymousJul-20
jim and partner - we were on the nudist area on 27 06 2010 we were aproached by the police who said ,it is not illigal to be naked and we can not stop you as long as there no [inappropriate] acts going on also be aware that there may be children about and act appropriately, we said yes sure and they left.
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Richard HJun-20
Went yesterday (21 june 2010) and there were another 6 people besides my girlfriend and myself. A few dressed people walked passed and said good morning .[redacted] .will go again...
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AnonymousAug-20
I go over to Redcar beach often its a fantastic place to strip off and relax. I've never seen anyone naked on the actual beach but among the dunes there will usually be at least 6 or 7 folks fully naked.Its usually single guys but have seen quite a few couples there too. You need to go up past the end of the golf course near the works. There are lots of sheltered secluded places and you can see all around so it is perfectly safe to find your own spot or just stroll around nude.Its far enough away from the public/family part of the beach that anyone you encounter shouldn't be surprised or offended so I never generally attempt to cover up should any textiles come along ...its not been a problem and have had many friendly chats with both textiles and nudists alike.
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AnonymousJul-20
Having spent many years overseas and taking advantage of the naturist areas... I looked for the same facilities back here in UK and I was pleasantly suprised to find an area... although it is not an official nudist beach... it is well known... This area is on the "Dunes" near the old blast furnace going towards the "South Gare" north of Redcar, there are many places of seclusion & privacy...
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AnonymousJun-20
Had a great morning being naked, beach was quiet I was on my own but nobody bothered me. There was a couple who were naked for most of the morning, again nobody bothered them.
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AnonymousApr-20
...spent most of sunday... nude on the beach at Fraisthorpe, the beach was deserted and nobody bothered me at all. the weather was warm and I will definately come back all summer!
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AnonymousAug-20
Was at the beach last sunday with my 7 year old son... building [sand] castles and larking in the sea. No bad feelings, people were nice even a "textile" family sat near us for 2 hours not in the slightest worried of our nakedness. Lots of dog walkers yes... the have a quick look then carry on their way. Can't wait to go back.
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AnonymousMay-20
My wife and 8-year-old son visited Fraisthorpe last weekend and only saw a handful of textiles on the beach and no other naturists. We didn't go nude but it was a warm day and my wife plucked up courage to go topless until [redacted]. We have to accept it's just another textile beach now and go elsewhere. Shame!
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AnonymousDec-20
...on a weekday in July... I can't report any particularly good news. No other naturist bathers were in sight, save possibly for one lone male who walked further on out of view, and textile dog-walkers passed through with supreme regularity, so we were not entirely comfortable going nude away from the beach tent.
Photos
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Inappropriate behaviour
The beach descriptions originally came from the closed NUFF website.
Thanks to its authors.