Britain’s naked ramblers bid to stay one step ahead of the law

THE Naked Rambler marched off yesterday on a second attempt to walk the 874-mile length of Britain - shrugging off worries about being jailed again.

Stephen Gough, who will tackle the marathon with his girlfriend this time, was arrested 14 times and served two jail terms when he walked without clothes from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2003 to 2004.

As he began walking from the famous signpost at Britain’s most south westerly point today, 46-year-old Mr Gough, from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: “I am not worried about getting arrested or jailed.”

As they set off in the cold and drizzle, Mr Gough made light of the conditions, saying: “You tend to heat up when you begin walking.”

With him on the walk is 33-year-old hairdresser Melanie Roberts, also from Bournemouth, Dorset, and a man from Kent, who does not want to be named.

Ms Roberts said that she was looking forward to the walk and was “very excited”, adding: “The clothes thing has never been a big deal for me.”

Although she had not walked naked before, she said she had been a frequenter of naturist beaches.

Before setting off, Mr Gough and his companions visited the Land’s End exhibition centre which displays details of the various ways in which people have travelled the length of Britain.

He signed the visitors’ book at the centre, where the hiking boots he wore on his last walk are on display, as well as a photograph of him starting his last walk.

Mr Gough, who estimates the walk will take two months if he and his fellow walkers are not arrested, would like it to become an annual event.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman has said the force was waiting for advice from the Crown Prosecution Service on whether to take action against the hikers.