Like Halloween on steroids, the Loony Dook is the wackiest event I have ever attended. Because the three-day long Hogmanay celebrations aren’t enough for the Scots, on New Year’s Day, they tack on yet another event for those brave souls who want to fight their hangovers and raise money for charity – The Loony Dook!
At this year’s Loony Dook hundreds of people took the plunge into the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth. Bundled up in my winter’s best, I watched from the pebbly shores as families and groups of friends ran in, splashed around in the water for a few brief seconds, and then raced back out to the shores with half-frozen extremities. The look on most faces was one of horror at realizing just how cold the Forth was, and joy to have actually braved the waters that few dare dip a finger in this time of year in Scotland.
There were lots of great costumes at the event, including Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, a couple of minions inspired by the movie Despicable Me, a group of friends dressed as Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, Pebbles from The Flintstones, a few Santas, another group inspired by Dr. Seuss’ Thing 1 and Thing 2, a man in a mankini, and also a gentleman who wrapped himself in bubble wrap and then began to float away.
Here are some fun photos from this strange event that takes some serious guts and perhaps a dash of madness!
Loony Dook Madness In Scotland
The wacky band leading the Loony Dook parade.
A twist on Dr. Seuss’ Thing 1 and Thing 2.
You can’t jump into the waters of the Firth of Forth without an inflatable dinosaur for protection.
Lots of hooting and hollering as people realize just how cold the water is.
Loony dookers race out of the water as soon as they have done a quick dip.
There was no Winnie the Pooh in sight, but I did spot several Tiggers.
Two Haggis Adventurers take a dip in the frigid waters.
Two friends dressed as a giraffe and a cow come splashing out of the water.
And I think we can agree that these two win best outfit of the event.
Loony Dook: Everything You Need for the Plunge
Wading into the 3 °C Firth of Forth at noon on 1 January isn’t just a hangover cure—it’s a 35-year-old Scottish ritual that funnels tens of thousands of pounds to local charities each year. Below is a deep-dive (pun intended) into every element that turns the Loony Dook from a five-minute splash into a full-day Hogmanay finale you’ll remember long after your toes thaw.
A (Brief) History of the Loonies
1986: Three South Queensferry pals dared one another to jump in the water to “clear their heads” after Hogmanay.
1991: The first official charity dook raised money for RNLI Queensferry and attracted 25 swimmers.
2000s: Word of mouth, plus BBC coverage, balloons numbers to 1,000 dookers and 10,000 spectators.
2020-present: Ticketed entry caps participants to help rescue crews, but the quirk factor remains undiluted.
Registration & The Wallet Game
| Timeline | Cost | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Sept (opening week) | £15 early-bird | Parade wristband, branded beanie, hot soup |
| Oct-Nov | £20 standard | ^ plus official charity donation receipt |
| Dec (if any left) | £25 “last splash” | Same, but you’re gambling on sold-out status |
Pro moves:
Team entry: Groups of six+ can register together, handy for matching T-Rex costumes.
Corporate matching: Many employers double charitable entry fees—check HR before swiping your card.
Bed & Transport Logistics
Where to Sleep
| Base | Typical NYE Price (dbl) | Walk/ride to start | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Queensferry B&Bs | £150–£220 | 5–10 min walk | Quaint harbors, church bells at midnight |
| Edinburgh Old Town Hotels | £250–£350 | 25 min train | Combine with castle fireworks |
| Leith Airbnbs | £120–£180 | 35 min bus | Hip bars, cheaper eats, sunrise harbor strolls |
Book by April if you want a room within earshot of the Forth Bridge. Even the local church hall floor sells out.
How to Arrive on 1 January
ScotRail: Hourly holiday service from Waverley to Dalmeny Station (£4.80 return). Trains jam after 9 a.m.; the savvy catch the 08:30 and linger in a café.
Event Shuttle Buses: Lothian’s special Hogmanay route (£6 return) departs St Andrew Square every 15 min.
Taxi/Uber: Surge fares can top £50; pre-book a private hire the night before if you have mobility needs.
Driver’s Note: Road closures on Queensferry High St. start at 09:00—park in the Tesco car park or Ferry Muir and walk 10 min.
Costume Engineering 101
Material Matters
| Fabric | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Lycra morph suit | Cheap, mobile | Zero warmth, tricky bathroom breaks |
| Neoprene wetsuit | Buoyancy, insulation | Lacks comedic flair unless you add tutu |
| Faux fur onesie | Insta gold | Weighs a ton when wet; you’ll waddle back |
Assembly Hacks
Pre-Layer: Thermal base + swimwear + costume. You’ll strip outer layer mere seconds pre-plunge.
Zip Ties: Secure inflatable accessories to your wrists; strong currents steal props.
Headgear: A wig traps heat; a felt crown does not.
Visibility: Reflective tape on the back helps rescue crews spot you among 999 other Smurfs.
Health & Safety Cheat-Sheet
Medical Checks: Asthma, heart conditions, or heavy New Year’s Eve drinking? Think spectate, not submerge.
Acclimatise: Shower cold for 30 sec the week prior—you’ll still squeal, but it reduces cold-shock.
Depth Awareness: The beach shelves quickly; many first-timers panic when they can’t feel the bottom. If in doubt, dunk then retreat.
Buddy System: Pair up, agree on a hand signal, and exit together—hypothermia fools you into thinking you’re fine when you’re not.
Warm Zone: Event medics erect a heated marquee beside the quay. Use it.
Minute-By-Minute Game Plan
| Time | Activity | Insider Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 | Collect wristband & kit bag | Queue is shortest right after gates open |
| 11:00 | Costume judging in High St. | Cash prizes for best group, best solo, best wee dooker |
| 11:15 | Pipe band begins | Stake front-row view outside Ferry Tap pub |
| 11:30 | Parade marches to Harbour | Hand off dry towels to spectator friend en route |
| 11:50 | Shoes off, Vaseline on, deep breaths | Keeps feet unfrozen long enough to sprint back |
| 12:00 | Horn blast—GO! | Stick left of slipway for clearer entry |
| 12:03 | Laugh/curse/hoot, then exit | High-five RNLI volunteers—they’re legends |
| 12:15 | Soup queue | Wristband score = Cullen skink + oatcakes |
| 12:30 | Costume bonfire (optional) | Eco-friendly disposal by RNLI—avoid soggy bus rides home |
Après-Dook Warm-Up Trail
The Hollyrood Hotel Pop-Up Sauna – Mobile wood-burner, £6. BYO water bottle.
Café Róisín – Hot tattie scone rolls and Scottish tablet fudge.
Ferry Tap – Cask ale “Dooker’s Dram” brewed only for January 1.
Braw Tea Room – Fireside board games if kids are in tow.
New Year’s Barrel Race (2 p.m.) – Stick around High St. to watch local pubs’ teams roll whisky barrels uphill—cheering mandatory.
What Spectators Should Pack
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Flask of hot toddy | Warmer + social lubricant |
| Spare phone battery | -2 °C drains juice fast, and you’ll be filming in slo-mo |
| Dry gloves | Your first pair will get soaked from applauding |
| Binoculars | Perfect for zooming in on bubble-wrap man drifting out |
| Reusable cup | Vendors give 20 p savings on mulled cider |
Spectators all bundled up and laughing at the Loony Dookers.
Would you take a dip with the other loonies?
#blogmanay is brought to you by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and is supported by ETAG, EventScotland,
Homecoming Scotland, VisitScotland, Edinburgh Festivals, Marketing Edinburgh, Historic Scotland and
co-creators Haggis Adventures. Created and produced by Unique Events.
It certainly makes the process of a polar bear swim less daunting and more entertaining!
Looks like a lot of fun. …to watch!!!
Ha! That’s exactly what I was thinking!
I’m pretty disappointed that I didn’t get to see you and Sam dressed up in your Loony best! haha. That sounds like one of the most crazy events ever…and no, I wouldn’t have gone in the freezing cold water.
Cheers!
Ah, I totally thought you would have given this a go! I would have!!! Next time, I’ll splash around for you and Sam, and you guys can take photos of me, ha!
This is really an exciting post to read. Wonderful snaps captured which tells most of the story about your experience and journey. Thanks!
Aww, did you not jump in?! Not sure I’d be willing to give it a go though either haha. I’d still love to go just to see all of the strange costumes!
Nope! It didn’t help that I got sick soon after arriving in Scotland. I stood on the shores all bundled up and watched the action. 😉
I would soooo not jump in:)
We have a New Year’s dip here in Belgium as well. It’s every year on January 1 and although it’s not tradition to dress up as something, some people do:)
That sounds like fun! One of my friends also took the dip in the Netherlands, so I guess these events happen all over Europe. 😉
Haha looks hilarious! Love the costumes, good pics 🙂
I’ve never heard of it before, but it looks like so much fun. Aren’t these people COLD!? Brrrr
I’m sure they were! Everyone was shivering on the shores as they tried to pull off their costumes and get into warm clothes.
I love the costumes! Not so much the being wet and freezing outdoors, though. I take it that hiding behind the camera gave you a nice excuse not to partake? 😀 Btw, those animal onesies are seriously everywhere.
i want that dinosaur!
I always wonder how people can actually brave things like this! They have a lot of ice swimming in Finland which I used to watch in awe. I can’t even handle being outside in the cold, let along in the freezing cold ocean. AWESOME costumes though – What would have dressed up as if you participated?
Haha, I probably would have worn a kilt…when in Scotland! 😉
I took the dip! It was ALOT of fun and yes freezing cold! How did us crazies do it? No idea to be honest. The festival atmosphere before you walk through the town and down to the water helps distract you from your freezing toes and the soon to be felt freezing water. I would say a few people still had the warmth of the previous night’s beverages running through their veins, which would have helped. Highly recommend it!
Well done for taking the plunge! It was absolutely freezing that morning, but it was a lot of fun to watch the Loony Dookers jump into the water. 😉
Aww, so disappointed that you didn’t jump in! 😉
Nice shots, though. Brings back memories from when I did it last year!
I think I’d want to put on the Tigger onesie AFTER I came rushing out of the freezing water!
Same! I bet those people are freezing coming out of the icy waters in wet clothes!
These guys are crazy! But it looks like a lot of fun. There is no way I’m doing that in the winter, well not without my inflatable dinosaur 😉