“At Kandarola nudists can find their own piece of paradise, with peace and a little space just for themselves without being disturbed,” said Nedjeljko Mikelic, head of the tourist board on the northern island of Rab.

The Kandarola rock and pebble beach, on the Croatian island of Rab, is where Britain’s King Edward VIII and his future wife, American socialite Wallis Simpson, famously went for a nude swim in 1936.

Nudists had been known to visit Rab as early as the turn of the 20th century, but the royal couple’s dip sealed the spot’s global fame as a nudist resort and is considered the founding moment of Croatian naturism.

Kandarola has also been known as English Beach ever since, and nudist beaches have mushroomed along Croatia’s Adriatic coast and its myriad idyllic islands, National Naturists Association head Davorin Zugcic said.

Now local tourism professionals feel they can do more to cash in on less high-profile but more frequent clothes-free vacationers.

Europe’s first commercial naturist resort was Koversada camp, which opened on the northwestern Istria peninsula 50 years ago, when Croatia was still part of Yugoslavia.

Originally located on a tiny eponymous islet with a thick tree cover and secluded nudist beaches, Koversada is now a sprawling naturist complex.

Guests used to be accommodated in so-called textile camps and hotels, but they can now bare all 24/7 and enjoy various clothing-optional activities.

“Naturism means freedom. We are completely relaxed in this wonderful, peaceful place,” said Katalin Reigl, a 63-year-old doctor from Hungary who has been a devoted visitor for three decades.

Sitting with her husband Endre outside their camper, she said that Koversada had become like a second family home.

“Our son and our two grand-daughters learned to swim here,” Katalin said, admitting that the two girls, now teenagers, no longer want to take part in the family holidays on Koversada.

Slovenian administrator Mojca Likar and her husband Zmago have also been regulars for more than 20 years.

“Naturists are different, rather easy going people. We made a lot of good friends here,” Zmago said.

Loyal guests

Primoz Grasic is one of them. The 43-year-old Slovenian musician was not familiar with naked recreation until he met his naturist wife and quickly got used to it.

“I believe it was a very good and a very healthy choice,” he said while having a drink with the Likar family.

The camp now covers 120 hectares and has five kilometers of beaches. Most people walk around in their birthday suit, but they are requested to put on clothes when going to a shop or a restaurant.

“Naturists are usually loyal guests, they come to the same place for years and generations,” camp manager Nenad Skuflic said.

“They have only one wish, that this remains a purely nudist camp.”

Most of the naturist tourists in Croatia are Germans, who account for around 40 percent of Koversada’s 4,700 guests. They are followed by Slovenians, Austrians, Hungarians and the Dutch.

While many Croatians enjoy the occasional dip in the buff, few visit naturist resorts, making up less than one percent of Koversada’s visitors.

The movement’s heyday in the Mediterranean country was the 1980s though global naturism is picking up, according to the National Naturists Association.

But Croatia has lost its top spot as a naturist destination to France and Spain, said the association’s head, Zugcic.

In Koversada, Skuflic remembers the days when the resort used to accommodate 10,000 guests and believes the industry has a chance to adapt and grow.

“Nudism is the first step toward naturism. The issue is how to attract nudists to become naturists,” he said, explaining the nuance he makes between people who strip on the beach and those who go to special resorts.

Croatia currently has 11 naturist camps, but also dozens of nudist beaches both “official” and “informal”.

The website of the Croatian tourism board proudly boasts that the island of Rab is “the birthplace of nudism” and reports that US cable news channel CNN recently included it in a list of top 10 world islands for tourists with alternative tastes.

It is estimated that some 15 percent of more than 10 million tourists that visit Croatia each year are occasional nudists. There were no figures available for the number of tourists staying in naturist resorts.

The tourism industry is the key sector of Croatia’s recession-hit economy, making up some 18 percent of its GDP.

The Los Angeles Times said the Corps has found itself in the middle of a beef between civilian nude sunbathers who say California state park rangers have crossed on to federal land to order them to cover up.

Gold Beach at the San Diego-area base is used for amphibious training purposes, but it has become a haven for nudists who use the unpopulated stretch of sand to soak up rays au naturel. But sunbathers say rangers from neighboring San Onofre State Beach have intruded on Gold Beach to write tickets.

Base officials have posted a sign telling civilians to keep out. A spokesman told the Times non-Marines aren’t allowed on their side of the beach “regardless of their beach use intentions.”

The Times noted the sunbathers plan to fight their citations in court.

However, a holiday in Tenerife does not have to be about busy and noisy beaches. There are quieter beaches with space to breath and room to have fun. If you are planning a holiday in Tenerife and would like to have a relaxing and more peaceful experience, here are our choices for the 5 best secluded beaches on Tenerife.

1. Playa de Las Gavitos

Playa de Las Gavitos is situated beyond Las Teresitas and can be found on the road between San Andrs and Iguste se San Andrs. The beach is a black sand cove which provides the perfect setting for those who enjoy water sports but are looking to enjoy these on a quieter beach. There are plenty of kiosks here which can provide food and drinks, or simply some shelter from the hot sun, but families must be aware that the beach is popular with many nudists due to its remote location and so may not be suitable for those who embarrass easily!

2. Playa del Duque

The area of Playa del Duque is one of the most exclusive areas within Tenerife, newly built on the Costa Adeje. Due to its exclusivity, the beach is very well maintained and is known for being one of the quietest beaches on the island.
There are plenty of facilities here such as cafes and bars so you will be able to enjoy a bite to eat or a refreshing drink here in peace and quiet. The area is perfect for those who are looking to get away from the busy atmosphere found in other resort areas and is a popular location for holidaymakers who have come to Tenerife to relax rather than to sample the vibrant nightlife.

3. Playa del la Tejita

Located West of El Medano beach, Playa del la Tejita is the perfect beach for those who love wide-open spaces and the feeling of isolation from other beach lovers. The beach often experiences high winds so you may find a few windsurfers here from time to time, and a small take away caf and bar which is situated at the Montana Roja end of the beach. However, there is also a nudist area at the Montana Roja end and also on small beach situated near the caf. With this in mind its a good idea to explore your surroundings here before settling down for the day.

4. El Bullullo

El Bullullo, situated on the North Coast, is one of the many volcanic sanded beaches on Tenerife. The currents here can be quite strong and dangerous, which is one of the main reasons why the beach is often quite quiet, but if you are looking to sunbathe rather than swim or partake in water sports, this is a great beach for you.

However, due to its seclusion, there are no sun umbrellas available and not many areas in which to find shade, so its imperative that you bring your own sun equipment when visiting this beach. There is a bar situated nearby for food and refreshments.

5. Playa de los Patos

Playa de los Patos, also located on the North Coast, is another black sand beach. It is extremely secluded and un-spoilt, which means you are able to appreciate the beach in all of its natural glory. However, take note that the beach has no visitor facilities at all. The beach also experiences very strong winds so it is not always safe to swim in the sea. Due to its isolated location it is another favorite beach for nudists.

The great thing about Tenerife is that whether you are looking to enjoy some water sport activities, or simply lie back and relax in the sun, there will be a beach to suit your requirements close by. There are secluded beaches all over the island so if you are unable to get to the 5 beaches we have suggested above just ask the locals where they would go.

But a chance stay at a beachside, clothing-optional B&B revealed the joys of letting go of inhibitions, body image gripes and the sarong clutched tightly to her gut.

Tamara shares her top tips for letting it all hang out at nudist beaches – the second-most fun you can have with your clothes off.

You want to commune with nature? Tan lines aren’t your thing? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to get sand in weird places. Whatever the reason, you’ve made the decision to swap your swimming suit for the birthday variety – so when you drop your dacks, ditch your hangups as well.

Don’t take the “buff” bit of “in the buff” too literally: nobody will look twice at your love handles, but histrionic gut-sucking and crossed-arm contortions will definitely garner gawks.

Note to blokes: the “Just flaunt it” rule does not apply in cases of, erm, overstimulation. Lie on your belly and count to 100. In Magyar.

While confidence – real or grimly forced – is a good thing, rampant exhibitionism is not. However liberated, wild and free they might make you feel, nudist beaches aren’t really the place to practice Bikram poses or to pole dance on the lifeguard’s chair.

And, ladies: that fine-looking chap staring at you and counting in Hungarian under his breath maybe flattering, but an open invitation to jump his bones there and then is a bog no, no.

Remember, you’re naked, not naaaaaked.

Pubic hair trimmed into hilarious (smiley faces) or suggestive (downwards-pointing arrows) shapes is creepy, even under your clothing. And while full Brazilians can be a little confronting, the overgrown Amazonian look can be equally startling.

Make at least a vague attempt at grooming before making the pubic public. Set the clippers to “2″ and take heed: if even the seagulls look scared, maybe it’s time to enlist the services of a professional coiffeuse.

In the interests of public sanity and aesthetic sensibilities, the following activities are strictly verboten whilst starkers: Crouching for any reason, playing maladroit beach-badminton, using a bucket and spade on all-fours, straddling sandcastles, sitting spreadeagle on inflatable novelty rafts.

Jumping up and down when the hot sand burns your feet is understandable. Star jumps, however, are indefensible.

Avoid: fishing in the wind, oyster shucking, swimming with sharks, gesticulating while holding a thermos of hot tea, playing “catch” with jellyfish.

You insist on staying safe while engaging in the other great nude pursuit, so don’t let your guard drop here. It’s an unwritten rule that overt perving is taboo among the great unclad, but all those boobs and bums can attract the occasional oddball.

Women especially should resist the urge to extend their search for the ultimate nature communion by wandering off into isolated bushland, concealed dunes or empty beaches. Stay within sight of other bathers and don’t be shy to plonk yourself – ever so gracefully – down with a friendly bunch of like-minded cohorts if you’re being harassed or creeped out.

All that nakedness can be thirsty work, but before wiggling and jiggling up to the kiosk, take a second or two to consider your surrounds.

If the clothes-free beach is a mere sliver of sand shared with the greater public, it’s probably best to tack on your togs before mingling. At the very least, this can save you the ignominy of having dozens of chortling rubbernecks snapping shots of you dribbling icy poles into crevasses best left unmentioned.

On the ‘covering up’ note, don’t forget to slip, slop and (gently) slap, especially those bits usually kept in the dark/your trousers.

It’s been a great day at the nudie beach. You feel liberated, at one with the natural world and you’re rocking a seam-free tan. Good for you! But don’t get too carried away with a ceremonial clothes burning just yet.

Especially if you’re catching public transport home.

Today there are more nudist beaches in Spain per kilometre of coastline than in any other country in the world and naturists find themselves very well catered for in all areas of the coast.

Here are the top two naturist beaches or ‘playas naturistas’ in Spain:

Vera Playa Natura in Almeria is one of the most famous nudist sites in Europe and has the largest concentration of naturist accommodation and facilities in Spain.

With the Costa de Almeria’s dry and hot climate, this three-kilometre stretch of coastline, designated for being in the buff, makes it a naturist’s paradise and consequently attracts thousands of tourists each year from all over Europe and beyond.

Negratin is Andalucia’s third biggest reservoir, and with its cosmological landscape accompanied by a ghostly silence, Lake Negratin has an almost eerie magnetism.

This remoteness brings a beauty of solitude to the area, making it the perfect place for nature lovers – in more than one sense of the word. The naturist beach at Lake Negratin does not however have the same accommodating facilities of the coastal nudist resorts.

But this is what adds to the charm of this eight-kilometre stretch of naturism. The solitude and romanticism of the beach is favourable for some to a busy resort.

In the 36th edition of the annual report, amateur nudists are told where to find the best nude beach volleyball game (Baker beach in San Francisco) to where to sneak away for a quick ocean side nude walk during your lunch hour.

The guide will also tell you where to go to avoid a sausage fest and where to find the country’s smallest nude beach (Santa Cruz).

But the Guardian also promises to keep you out of trouble, as best it can anyway. It tells you where not to strip and if you are going to disregard local laws what to keep in mind if you are going to go rogue.

For me, pulling on the shorts and letting the air get between those paler-shade-of-white toes, is sheer ecstasy in weather like this. However, that doesn’t cut it for everyone.

The Irish Naturist Association (INA) has been in existence for over 40 years and is currently campaigning for the provision of officially approved clothing optional beaches. Roughly 5,000 people in this country are calling for town and city councils to erect signage at designated “nude beaches.”

Pat Gallagher is a naturist and he tells me about the status of Irish naturism, which beaches are unofficially “nudist” and why stripping off appeals to him.

JOE: So Pat, why do you like being nude on a beach?

Pat Gallagher: At this stage of my life I don’t feel comfortable having to wear a bathing suit on a beach. I’m gone past that stage in my life.

I just don’t want to do that and I don’t feel like I have to. That’s why I wouldn’t pick a (holiday) destination where I couldn’t go on a beach (nude).

JOE: You say, “at this stage of your life.” Does that mean there is a particular age bracket for naturists?

PG: Somewhere between 25 and 65 I suppose. And then you can have younger and older. But I suppose around the 50 mark would be the mainstay.

JOE: So you think people in their fifties are the most comfortable with nudity? Why is this the case?

PG: I think people discover later on in life, after they’re married, after they’ve had one or two children, they go abroad on holidays, they find a beach down in the canaries or somewhere. They are a bit amused for a day or two, then by the end of the week or the end of the holiday they’re lying on the beach. They’re the nudies on the beach then.

They’re more comfortable because they’ve grown into it more if they started it when they were 25 or 30. By the time they are 50 they are well into and they insist on going to places where they can go nude on holidays. They won’t go to regular destinations. They will only go regular destinations if there is a naturist beach nearby.

I wouldn’t consider a holiday anywhere in the world unless I knew there was a nude beach nearby within a taxi ride that I could use.

JOE: What beaches allow nudity in Ireland?

PG: We are the only EU country not to have an official nudist beach specifically designated by any local authority or council.

Not all beaches in Ireland are used by the general public so we (the INA) go to areas that members have sussed out for themselves. There are a number of them around the country and anyone can view the list and get directions by going to www.irishnaturism.org.

JOE: Are peeping toms a problem?

PG: Well you know I’ve been on beaches all over Europe and I’ve even been to Brazil, it isn’t a problem. Sure, you might get the odd one here and there and I know some of the beaches we use in Ireland from time you look up to the sand dunes and you see their heads popping up and down. So some days we just look back at them and point the camera for the craic of it.

JOE: And you’re not breaking any laws by letting it all hang out on these beaches?

PG: Well, you know, we consider this to be a bit of a grey area because a number of laws to a specific community go back to the 1840s and they wouldn’t stand up in court these days anyway.

The one law that may stand up in court is the Public Order Act of 1935 but under that it would have to be shown that there was intent to offend. So going down to Dollymount Strand, stripping off and running up and down flashing yourself would probably be deemed as intent to offend!

JOE: So what does the INA want the authorities to do about it?

PG: One of the avenues we’ve been approaching has been writing to various councils. At the moment we have written to Kerry and Wicklow again, trying to prompt them to help us with signage for beaches.

We sent them some facts and figures on naturist tourism. We’re not saying people will come here for naturism. They’ll come to Ireland for fishing, play a bit of golf, have the craic in the pubs and see the scenery but they will (also) come to Ireland provided that there may be somewhere they can enjoy a day on the beach without clothing and without facing prosecution.

We carried out an online survey recently to the European naturist communities on all their websites and 82% responded yes to the question, ‘Would you consider Ireland as a naturist tour destination?’

JOE: Thanks for all the information Pat. Enjoy the summer.

PG: Oh we will. Bye.

South East Tenerife – Playa de la Tejita, El Médano

Lying barely a hop, skip and a jump from the Tenerife Sur airport and a short drive from the main southern resorts, Playa de la Tejita is a long wide pale golden sand beach. Although naturists can be found along the length of the beach most tend to congregate in the lovely little cove at the foot of the Red Mountain (Montaña Roja). The Mountain is popular with walkers as well and encountering visitors taking advantage of being able to top up the tan as they walk in the nude is not uncommon. In fact various naked events are held at the beach. 2010 saw the first 3km naked race on Playa de la Tejita.

The downside to Playa de la Tejita is that it lies on the south east coast and is often windswept. Little stone windbreaks dotted along the length of the beach are evidence of sunbathers trying to prevent the wind from snadblasting them.

North East Tenerife – Playa de Las Gaviotas, Santa Cruz

The beach lies beyond Tenerife’s golden jewel in the crown, Las Teresitas beach about 12 kilometres from the capital city Santa Cruz. It’s natural black sand and has spectacular views along the north eastern tip of the island. Because it is located a long distance from the tourist resorts, most of the beaches unclothed users aren’t visitors, so it’s a good beach to get to know the natives. The beach has a small car park and a basic beach bar which serves food.

The downside to Playa Las Gaviotas is that during summer months when Spanish mainlanders descend on the island it can become very, very busy. Finding a spot to shed the clothes can be quite a task.

North Tenerife – Playa de los Patos, La Orotava

One of three lovely coves hidden in the cliffs. Playa de los Patos lies only a few kilometres outside of the main northern tourist resort of Puerto de la Cruz, yet is unknown by the majority of the town’s visitors. Access is via a narrow road then a path which links the three black sand beaches of Playa Bollullo (the main beach), Playa de los Patos and Playa Ancón.

There’s a rough car park at Playa Bollullo as well as a restaurant. There’s also a laid back beach bar serving snacks and tapas on the main beach as well.

Again because of its ‘hidden’ location, most of the people who use it are Canarios and the more adventurous tourists. Playa de los Patos is also popular with surfers and often people camp unofficially on the beach during summer months.

The downside to the beach is the access, some scrabbling across rocks is necessary, and the fact that the waves here are impressively huge, so swimming isn’t always an option.

East Tenerife – Los Abriguitos, Arico

Los Abriguitos isn’t one of Tenerife’s official nudist beaches, but as being naked in Spain isn’t illegal, the ‘official’ tag usually just means most popular. It’s located on a quiet area of the east coast and has pale golden sand and lovely aquamarine seas. There’s a small modern housing development near the main beach where there are a couple of cafés and restaurants.

Sunbathers who want to strip off completely usually head to the cove beyond the main beach. There’s an interesting deserted former lepers’ colony behind the beach worth exploring when the sun gets too hot.

The downside to this beach is that the modern housing development near it is a bit of a blot on the landscape.

South Tenerife – Playa Callao, Los Cristianos

Again, not officially a naturist beach, but visitors staying in the south of Tenerife who prefer to sunbathe ‘au natural’ head to this pleasant beach at the base of Montaña de Guaza. It’s far, but not too far, from the resort’s madding crowds. The beach itself is a mix of sand and pebbles and, despite it’s proximity to the popular resorts of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas, usually remains quite quiet and feels relatively secluded.

The only downside is that climbing Montaña de Guaza is a popular walking route, so sunbathers may find a steady stream of hikers gawking at them.

Amorosi once visited Byron Bay with her sister and ended up on a nudist beach.

“My sister is a real prude so it was really hilarious,” said Amorosi.

“She was sitting there saying `Oh my god, Vanessa that guy is naked. Oh my god, that’s his doodle’.

“She turned to me and said `do you think we should take our clothes off because everyone is staring at us?’.

“I said ‘yeah it’s part of the rules that when you step on to the nudist beach you can’t have any clothes on so if we don’t do it, we’ll probably get in trouble.”

Amorosi said they didn’t end up stripping but that is all her sister talks about when Queensland is brought up in conversation.

“I am going to take her back there when we come here together again,” Amorosi laughed.

“But I certainly won’t be going there on my own.”