Ann Donald previews the seven days ahead

World Naturist Day

The Full Monty has a lot to answer for. Fuelling the warped idea that the natural state of nudity is a bit phwooar! saucy, a bit cor! racy and jeez Louise! all that wobbling flesh - yuk. It's not very nice is it? Attempting to cast aside such unhelpful visions, thousands will be stripping off this Saturday. But in the best possible taste and in the correct context - you understand. Divesting themselves of the outer husks we squirrel away in wardrobes and drawers and getting back to feeling free and groovy in private clubs. Armed with Factor 30 and a strong desire to comune fully with nature, thousands will celebrate World Naturist Day in all their glory.

Let those cynical ''textiles'' - non-naturists - shed their preconceptions, inhibitions and clothes, and encourage its estimated half a million British practitioners. With a 20% increase in British Naturism in the past five years, even the blue-veined Stilton Scots limbs could be persuaded that naturism in a cold climate is almost a good idea.

The day also gives an opportunity to highlight the true aims of naturism. The International Naturist Federation which represents thousands of naturists describes the lifestyle in lofty terms as: ''A way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment.'' Whereas British Naturism (formerly the Central Council for British Naturism) couch their organisation's existence in less ethereal terms: ''We advocate recreation without clothes, in the open air, in water or elsewhere, individually or communally, in private or other circumstances where there is no offence in law or to public decency.''

For Archie Prentice, 70, vice-president, the activity can be defined in simpler terms. ''Naturism is all about freedom and the ultimate de-stresser for both mind and body,'' says the former Grangemouth oil refinery worker. ''I'd tell people not to knock it unless they're tried it because you really do go back to work feeling refreshed on Monday morning.''

Another advantage of a weekend playing volleyball, tennis or swimming in the nude is the absence of social barriers, adds Prentice. ''It's the best social leveller because you can't tell a judge from an oil worker when no-one is wearing any clothes,'' he points out. ''You also get everyone from families with babes in arms to pensioners

and couples coming along so

it really does appeal to the social spectrum.''

As president of British Naturism, Richard Daniels is thankful that the present generation of naturists do not have to resort to violence to fight their cause.

He explains that contemporary naturism goes back to the turn of the century, when a campaign for social nudity began in Germany and was taken up by other European countries after the First World War. ''In Britain we had

the Welsh Harp Riots in the 1920s,'' he says. ''These stemmed from a series of fights

and name-calling between locals of the North London reservoir of that name and the nude sunbathers who gathered there. As a result of the riots, the sunbathers banded together and formed a club near St Albans.'' Despite a blip when the Nazis condemned the pursuit on the continent, naturism has continued to grow into a mainstream activity.

In the past, prejudice and the nudge-nudge, innuendo-laden cartoon capers of Benny Hill's take on naturism clouded its true benefits.

However, Archie Prentice feels this attitude is disappearing.

''People used to misunderstand naturists as taking their clothes off anywhere, anytime in pubs, concert halls or cinemas,'' he laughs. ''Nowadays with more people going topless abroad on holiday they are more understanding and inclined to try it out back home rather than instantly ridicule.'' But given Scotland's climatic adversities surely bravery precedes nudity at the two clubs near Aberdeen and Loch Lomond? ''Of course, no-one is going to take their clothes off in the rain or cold,'' replies Prentice good-naturedly. ''I'm fairly late myself but others feel the cold less.'' He adds that a sensible naturist is attendant to the dangers of sunburn and dress code when doing certain jobs, eg. frying Danish bacon.

Helen Ludbrook, the editor of the movement's 99-year-old magazine Health & Efficiency became a naturist at 16, attracted by the prospect of an all-over tan. She debunks many of the other preconceptions ''textiles'' harbour about naturism. The principal curiosity being the supposed ''erotic'' element inherent to the pursuit.

''A lot of guys worry that the first time they go to a naturist's club they will 'react' in a sexual way to the sight of naked bodies,'' she says. ''But I have never seen that happen in 20 years because frankly, naturists' clubs are very unsexy. It is clothes that eroticise, not the sight of stretch-marked or fat or saggy bodies in broad

daylight playing volleyball or whatever in a very natural

environment. Sex is taken out of the equation altogether,'' she assures. Concerning vetting first-timers with dubious motives, British Naturism warns that they are soon weeded out.

''Those who threaten the strong sense of trust and community that exists are unlikely to be attracted to it in the first place; if they did they would not be welcome again!'' In fact many of the 100 UK clubs put a strict limit on the number of single males and trial days are a reliable means of testing behaviour.

Legally speaking, there are no specific laws banning naturism but certain bylaws relating to a number of beaches tend to discriminate against men in particular. As Archie Prentice explains, Scottish Local authorities are generally understanding of unofficial naturists beaches but if people take offence then legal actions can follow. ''Naturists try not to offend others which is why they seek out secluded spots,'' he explains. ''If you were to go to a public beach then a man is likely to be charged with indecent exposure and a woman probably breach of the peace for offence caused.''

This may explain the upsurge in naturism holidays abroad, not to mention the guarantee of sun. The Croatian Ministry of Tourism was one of the first off the mark. Proclaiming the advantages of their post-war but sunny coastline, the new brochure introduction reads: ''The feeling of welfare, freedom, and the feelings associated with revealing one's body are particularly brought to perfection in the natural oasis of Croatia.''

A professed naturist's heaven, the country was the first in Europe to actively encourage the environmentally-friendly pursuit. Nearer to home, a cross-Channel ferry firm also knocked off 20% from its fares for the 20,000 members of the British Naturism Society. Traditionally less puritanical than their British cousins, France has long been a popular spot. The ferry company, though, did accompany their offer with a word of warning. ''Nudists are entitled as anyone else to go on holiday and we are delighted to have them on board - so long as they keep their clothes on.''

Richard Daniels feels that despite the grudging acceptance naturism has made in the past 30 years, misunderstandings as expressed above prove a stumbling block. ''This year for World Naturist Day we really want to get over the idea of tolerance of naturism,'' he says. ''Unfortunately, people still

connect nudity in public to sex. The flashers and the streakers who attract attention to themselves are still falsely connected to naturists.''

The bottom line is this,

says Daniels: ''Naturism is a valued recreational pursuit when it is practised in a considerate way and I urge people to experience it for the first time this week!'' As punk-pop band Bow Wow Wow once urged: ''Go wild in the country/Go absolutely free!''

n You can contact Archie Prentice from the Central Council for British Naturism on 01324 485 485.

IT'S ALL OUT IN THE OPEN: THE ETIQUETTE OF NUDITY

1. Wherever you go sit on a towel and make sure it is your own. First, you won't offend other nudists by lack of etiquette and secondly, nothing seems dumber than sitting on a piece of furniture without a towel. The ultimate faux pas is to sit on a table top.

2. Take a shower before entering the pool, hot tub or sauna.

3. It's okay to touch but you've got to let go. Naturists don't hang all over each other. It's fine to greet each other with a big hug if you know them, but you've got to let go.