NAKED walkers are being invited to take a stroll around historic Powderham Castle in aid of the British Heart Foundation. 

The castle is to host the event as part of British Naturism’s Naked Heart Walks where participants can experience the outdoors while being nude.

The Powderham walk will see naked walkers join thousands across the country stripping off for charity. 

This year’s event on May 20 will be ‘clothing optional’. 

There will be a three mile circular walk, expected to take about an hour and a half. 

While parts of the route are described as ‘challenging’, a shorter, easier option is also available. 

Stout footwear is advised. 

Tickets are on sale until May 5. 

All walkers will receive a British Heart Foundation medal at the end, a fund-raising pack, bottle of water and a snack. 

Andrew Welch, spokesman for British Naturism, said: ‘Taboos around nudity are eroding and the health and well-being benefits of going naked are more widely understood, with more and more people wanting to get the exhilarating feelings for themselves.

‘I’m delighted to see the number of our Naked Heart Walks more than double this year and would encourage anyone to come and give it a go - and raise much needed funds for our charity partner, British Heart Foundation.’

A spokesperson from the event said: ‘Heart and circulatory diseases are the world’s biggest killers, and they can affect any of us, including you. 

‘But thanks to the research the British Heart Foundation is funding, there is hope.

'By backing the brightest scientific minds, we have the power to find treatments and cures that could make the difference between your parents living to old age or not, your friend making it to graduation or not, your sister being a phone call away or not.

‘This event is a bold one, just like our ambition to fund the science that keeps millions of hearts beating.’