Conditions were particularly challenging for the New Year’s Day Loony Dook at Dornoch beach this year.
A chill wind lowered the temperature to a little above freezing and the waves were higher than have been seen at the event for years.
Following the heavy rain of recent days, there were large pools of water on the beach.
But scores of swimmers from the town and much further afield still braved the chilly sea, with members of East Sutherland Rescue Association (ESRA) on hand in case of need.
The Loony Dook took place at 11am and was watched by a large number of people.
An aerial view of the New Year's Day Loony Dook.The conditions were challenging with high waves and low temperatures.Young Callum Munro from the Black Isle was spending New Year in Brora with his family who went down to Dornoch to see the Loony Dook.Lesley Strang, Yvonne Macrae, Eilidh Fleming and Harry Fleming, all Dornoch.The waves were particularly high this year.Many of the loony dookers wore hats to keep warm.Three generations of the same family took the plunge. Maureen and Skye Robertson and Maree Campbell.Joe Bizjak and Maggie Clements from Edinburgh, took part in the Dornoch Loony Dook for the first time.Andrew Fraser, Lairg, and Matthew Padbury who lives in Vancouver but was visiting his parents in Dornoch for Christmas and New Year.Members of East Sutherland Rescue Association were in the water to keep an eye on loony dookers.Kelly, Eva, Arran and Jennifer Todd with Katy and Fiona MacAulay.Michelle Aird, Tain, is a veteran loony dooker.In good spirits were, from left, Ian McBay, Lynne Laird, Zander Laird, Peter Annal, Jacqueline Annal and Catherine McBay, all from the Alness and Invergordon area. The group last took part in the Dornoch Loony Dook eight years ago.
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