'I saw a naked rambler and it nearly got me banned from Facebook'

Freelance Journalist Catherine Smyth and BOOMMM business consultant Jane Pallister
-Credit: (Image: Catherine Smyth)


A naked rambler has been spotted on the Lancashire fells - and even stops to chat with fellow hikers to check they are not offended by his refreshing pastime.

The man was seen earlier this month - on a recent but rare sunny day on the hills of Rossendale - by freelance journalist Catherine Smyth, former Rossendale Free Press news editor.

The man, who was running from the direction of Rochdale on the remote Rooley Moor Road, was baring all when Catherine spotted him. Seeing that he was wearing just a sun hat and trainers, she nudged her pal Jane and pointed out he was naked.

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The naked rambler was running from the direction of Rochdale on remote Rooley Moor Road
The naked rambler was running from the direction of Rochdale on remote Rooley Moor Road -Credit:Catherine Smyth

Upon realising he was approaching other ramblers, the man hopped into his shorts and on passing the friends, apologised saying he was "terribly sorry" if he had offended them. Catherine said that she then snapped him - but later came close to a social media ban when sharing her pictures.

Here's what Catherine said about the experience

We just laughed and explained that we took no offence at his lack of clothing, then he took off his shorts again. He did cover his modesty, and his face when I took a quick cheeky photo. When I dared to post my pics on Facebook I was threatened with a ban.

He asked us if there were any other women on the path and when we told him there were male cyclists in a nearby quarry, he said 'well they don’t care anyway'. Then he ran off towards Waterfoot, so I grabbed another photo of him running through the heather.

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