Loony Dook 2025

My Loony Dook Experience

For many, New Year’s Day means resolutions and recovery. For others, it means plunging into icy waters as part of the quirky Scottish tradition known as the Loony Dook. This year, I joined the madness with some swimming friends to Loch Lommond.

My first and last Loony Dook was in 2011 when I dressed up in a reindeer onesie and ran into the River Forth. I therefore hadn’t been swimming in the proper cold (my definition being less than 5 degrees Celsuis) for a long time and as if on schedule, the snow started falling as we arrived at the car park. The gap between my enthusiasm levels when I organised this a few days before to arriving at this wintery scene was growing bigger by the second, but by keeping in mind how much fun this would be and the unmatched feelings of invigoration I experience after cold-water swimming we went for it.

The Dookers in the New Years Day team ranged from first time dookers and development open water swimmers to experienced cold water swimmers. After tentatively trying to find a sheltered spot to leave our clothes, one of the dookers husbands kindly offered the shelter of his open car boot to get changed under and to keep our stuff dry. This got me thinking about how I often see male partners dressed up warmly, absolutely confident and resolute in their decision not to swim but totally supporting their female partner and their female friends in swimming. From my own observations, this activity is definitely more popular with women and I wonder why that is…would be interesting to discover more about this.

Two of us put wetsuits on and three were in skins. We were all ready at different times and due to the near freezing conditions and not wanting to add to the already high risk of hypothermia, it was every woman for herself entering the water. The plan was just to dook for about 1 minute but due to the need for photos and selfies we kept going in and out of the water to pose and get the “right shot”. Thankfully this didn’t last long and with no signs of hypothermia, we got changed under the boot and had a reinvigorated and contented car journey back to the city centre.

For me the effects of a cold water dook last days – I’m less tempted to take naps, have more energy and am more engaged with the world around me. Someone described this to me as feeling “grounded”. As Shakespeare said “What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet”. I’m not sure the word exists to describe how one feels after being the cold water but that doesn’t change the positive impact it can have on your well-being.

If you are interested, here is a history of the Loony Dook.

A Bit of History

The Loony Dook is a quirky and invigorating Scottish tradition that involves taking a plunge into icy waters on New Year’s Day. While the practice of starting the year with a cold dip exists in various forms around the world, the specific event known as the Loony Dook has its roots in the town of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, and has grown in popularity over the years.

The Loony Dook began in 1986 as a humorous way to recover from Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) celebrations. Two friends, seeking a unique hangover cure, decided to take a dip in the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth. They named the event the "Loony Dook".

The idea quickly caught on, and within a few years, it had grown into an annual tradition, drawing participants from near and far. People began showing up in fancy dress, adding a lighthearted and colorful element to the already eccentric event.

Whether you join for the thrill, the camaraderie, or to raise funds for a good cause, the Loony Dook has become a cherished New Year’s tradition that celebrates Scotland’s playful spirit and hardy resilience.

Tips for First Timers

·      Bring something large and waterproof to cover your belongings while you swim.

·      Bring warm, dry clothes to change into immediately after your swim.

·      A hot flask of tea or cocoa is a lifesaver post-plunge.

·      Don’t forget your towel and sturdy footwear for the chilly shoreline.

·      Individual tolerance varies widely. A rule of thumb is 1 minute per degree celsuis. In other words, if the temperature is 2 degrees above freezing, you can swim for 2 minutes before the risk of hypothermia increases significantly.

Happy swimming