My legs were cold. Very cold, in fact. So cold that I could no longer feel them. The numbness pangs were making me giddy. Or maybe it was the adrenaline?
Either way, I had just run into the freezing Firth of Forth (AKA the River Forth) in South Queensferry, Scotland, in nothing but a bikini and a highland cow hat. In January. And yes, it was voluntary.
I think I may have a problem.
You see, when I read about something crazy — something most other people won't do — I see it as a challenge. You say there's no way you're running into a frigid river on New Year's Day? WELL THEN I'M DOING IT.
This was how I volunteered myself to take part in the Loony Dook, a Scottish New Year's tradition.
But what exactly IS a Loony Dook, you ask? I asked, too, when I first saw the event listed as a possibility for me to participate in during my time in Edinburgh for Hogmanay. So let me help educate you.
The Loony Dook takes place each year on New Year's Day in South Queensferry, with the extremely photogenic Forth Bridge (or Forth Rail Bridge, depending on who you ask) as a backdrop.
In this case, “Loony” means what you'd think — crazy; mental; lunatic. Some say this word is part of the event description based on the fact that participants dress in the silliest costumes they can come up with. But I'm pretty sure it refers to the nutters who are doing the “dooking.” Which brings us to the second part of the name. A “Dook” basically means a “dip.” In this case, it refers to the fact that all participants — in their fancy dress — dive into the freezing River Forth on New Year's Day.
On January 1, 2013, I was one of these nutters. I was a Dooker!
The event began with a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh. I had convinced 2 of the other #Blogmanay bloggers to join me in my crazy quest, and a few others to come along to spectate. We arrived at the Firth of Forth about an hour and a half before the event would begin, and spent the time registering, warming up with some tomato soup provided by sponsor Heinz, and pumping ourselves up to strip down to basically nothing to parade through the village and then jump in a river.
By the time the Dookers Parade was set to begin at 1:30 p.m., we were ready.
Along with about 1,000 other Loonys (and a few thousand more bundled-up spectators), we paraded down High Street, our final destination being the Dooking area, which was full of Viking screams, more photographers than you could shake a stick at, and some… erm… interesting costumes (please, fellas, no more Borat-style mankinis, mmk? My eyes hurt.).
Nadine, Jane and I clasped hands as we neared the water, began screaming, and dashed into the river with the rest of the crazy people. I can only think of a few other times in my life that I've laughed that hard. Yes, it was cold. But it was also one of the most fun things I've ever done.
So call me crazy if you want. But I don't regret my Loony Dook experience at all!
(Check out the video below for the full Loony Dook effect! This is definitely an event that photos just don't do justice to.)
——
Would YOU participate in the Loony Dook?
This campaign is brought to you by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and is supported by VisitScotland, ETAG, Edinburgh Festivals, Haggis Adventures and Skyscanner. The campaign bloggers were sourced and managed by iambassador. As always, though, all opinions are my own.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
[…] outdoor concerts, street parties, fireworks display over Edinburgh Castle, and culminates with the Loony Dook Parade on New Year’s […]
[…] year than throwing myself into a freezing cold river — can you? This year, I took part in the Loony Dook on New Year’s Day, which consists of about a thousand people in silly costumes parading […]
[…] more open to adventure, I never would have kissed that boy in a bar or gone to the Olympics or jumped into a river in Scotland on New Year’s Day. And what a shame that would have […]
[…] in a wacky cultural event/tradition/race (Loony Dook and Color Run, […]
Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. Wish I can travel the world and make a living out of it like you girls do. 🙂
It was SO much fun. As for traveling the world… you could totally do it, too!
Looks like a festival,great pics.Thank you for sharing this post
It definitely did have a festival vibe to it!
[…] – not the icy plunge, which is fleeting, undoubtedly invigorating and maybe even, you know, fun. The agony comes with the waiting. Waiting in the bitter Scottish January cold, feeling the warmth […]
We used to have a tradition in Northwest Michigan of going skinny dipping in Lake Michigan right as we rang in the New Year. We were miles away from any city at a friend’s cabin, so the cold wasn’t usually the worst part- the worst part was trying to find our pile of clothes when we got out so we could start getting warm….
That was many, many years ago…. So, yes, I would do something like this 🙂 all for the sake of experience!
That’s awesome! I do all sorts of crazy things for the experience – glad to know I’m not alone.
This sounds like something I’d agree to, then seriously regret on New Year’s Day, and then be glad I did once I’d gotten over the hypothermia. I lived in Edinburgh for 4 years and never heard about it. My friends must be saner than I thought!
Haha, that’s definitely how it went for the 3 of us bloggers who did it – I think we all considered backing out on the day, but then we were all SO glad we did it.
Haha^(infinite)
Why this incessant bout of laughter? Because I have also been a part of an Indian version of Loony Dook!
You see, there is a place here in North India, Dev Prayag. This place sees a confluence of two of the most revered rivers in the country and it gets shit cold in December. I did not map the temperature but it reaches freezing point too, I reckon.
And we dunked ourselves there. Guess what, it was New Year’s Day too. 21 days old, but, it still gives me chills. We were guffawing throughout because we had to keep our minds off the chill and just laugh for the sake of it.
Oh and BTW, I organize jungle safaris in Central India (i am also a proud owner of a sweet little lodge in the jungle) and have now overseen close to 1000+ safaris here.
Give me a shout when you have to paint India red in your map of “Where I’ve Been” 🙂
Regards,
Sharad.
Awesome to hear from a fellow dooker! And I know what you mean about the laughter – I laughed a ton, too!
Wow. I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to do this, but you sure make it look fun!
Didn’t have to try very hard – it WAS fun!