Naked hikers face fines in Switzerland

Naked alpine ramblers have been warned to keep their clothes on this spring or face fines under new legislation introduced by Swiss authorities intended to clamp down on a growing pastime. The Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden has said it will slap fines of 200 Swiss francs (£122, €135) on holidaymakers going naked in the Alps.

"We were forced to introduce the legislation against this indecent practice before the warm weather starts," said Melchior Looser, the justice and police minister of the canton.



He said that until now the naturist walkers – sometimes referred to as "boot-only hikers" – had been free to wander naked because there was no law to prevent them from doing so. The new law is expected to come into force on 9 February in time for the start of the hiking season.

Naked ramblers are drawn to Appenzell Innerrhoden – which is also famous for delaying giving women the vote until 1990 – by its beautiful landscape. Last year an internet campaign by a lobby group of hikers declared it to be a "naked rambler paradise", prompting a rush of visitors.