On the first day of every year a brave few hundred people 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.

Dook Time and the Tide

The Dook takes place at the Boathouse Steps in South Queensferry on 1st January 2009, but due to unfavourable tide conditions at 12 noon, the actual Dook will be at the later time of 1.30pm.

Participants meet in the morning at the The Moorings Pub from 10am for registration prior to joining a piped parade through Queensferry for the dook at 1.15pm.

2009 is the 23rd Dook in succession.