The mounting trend for naked hiking in Switzerland has caused the government to introduce fines for those found ‘au natural’ in the Alps.

In their typically conservative fashion, the Swiss have implemented a new law to deter ‘Boots-only hikers’ from bearing the brunt of the Swiss weather without any clothes.

Due to there being no previous laws prohibiting naked walking, the lush and fertile valleys of Switzerland have been an increasingly popular destination for those seeking inhibition-free hiking, particularly in the springtime when the weather starts to turn warmer.

Swiss authorities argue they have implemented the law as they believe nudity is inappropriate in a place where children are also on holiday. After February 9 this year, anybody found ignoring the new legislation will face a fine of 200 Swiss francs. According to Melchior Looser, the justice and police minister of the Appenzell Innerrhoden region:

“We were forced to introduce the legislation against this indecent practice before the warm weather starts.”

This ‘liberating’ pastime seems to be popular throughout Europe, and there is even a company that offer naked European tours. NEWT (Naked Europe Walking Tours) offers annual summer walking holidays at various European destinations. The tour is open to anybody but it is NEWT’s preferred intention that walkers complete the walks naked, except for the essential items, boots, sun hats and rucksacks. The website states:

“Please note this is not a protest march. This is merely a walk through a fantastic chunk of our environment with less encumbrance than most people consider necessary.”

Although the influx of naked visitors to the Swiss Alps happened after it was announced on an internet campaign by a lobby group of hikers as a ‘naked rambler’s paradise’, not all boots-only hikers agree. Practicing nudist Jerry Coleman from the UK went on a hiking holiday in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland and believes that because of the reserved and old-fashioned nature of the Swiss, he felt compelled to keep his clothes on.

“Because of the inspiring countryside Switzerland is blessed with I can see why it is considered a ‘naked rambler’s paradise’, although because of the locals’ ‘frigidness’ I felt bullied into keeping my clothes on.”

‘Boots-only hiking’ is not a problem exclusive to the Swiss authorities. In Britain in 2006 Steve Gough – also known as ‘The Naked Rambler’ – walked from Land’s End to John O’Groats stark naked. He was arrested and imprisoned several times for indecent exposure in a public place.

Gabrielle Pickard for RT