The Loony Dook
This year will be the 26th Loony Dook and the second year the event requires people to pre-register to take part. For those unfamiliar with it, on the first day of every year a brave few hundred people dress up in fancy dress and throw themselves into the freezing cold water of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, just a few miles out of the Scottish capital.
Some claim that the shock to the system of the so-called Loony Dook is the perfect hangover cure after the excesses of the huge Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh of the night before.
With the skirl of bagpipes urging them on, the crowd of humanity makes a mad dash into the watter and (most of them) quickly retreat back to the bar. Some stay in much longer - up to half an hour.
In 2011, after the Loony Dook became part of the Edinburgh's Hogmanay programme organised by Unique Events, organisers introduced a "registration fee" of £6. This should be submitted at one of the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay ticket outlets before the day of the event. Registrations are on a first come, first serve basis and there is no registration on the day of the event.
Dook Time and the Tide
The Dook takes place at the Boathouse Steps in South Queensferry on 1st January usually at noon, although times differ in years that tidal conditions are unfavourable. 2011 saw a 3pm start.
As in previous years, participants will be first piped through Queensferry to the dook in a parade.
The Moorings Pub has been a popular meeting point in the mornings for the Dook for registration, but there will be NO registration on the day in 2012.
