Edinburgh: Witches & Haunted History Walking Tour
Description
Step into Scotland's rich and mysterious past on this captivating walking tour, as you explore haunted locations and uncover chilling stories and secrets hidden along the closes and wynds of Edinburgh's Old Town. Led by an engaging character guide, this experience blends history and storytelling for an unforgettable adventure. Uncover the stories of Scotland’s accused witches, exploring their lives and the accusations they faced, and the injustices they endured, all while surrounded by the city's eerie charm. You may even learn some facts about much-loved characters from Outlander and Harry Potter! The tour will finish at Grassmarket - the very site of public executions, and where the infamous story of ‘Half-Hangit Maggie’ - one of Edinburgh’s most legendary characters - once began... Don't miss The Edinburgh Witches & Haunted History Walking Tour, an opportunity to delve into the city's fascinating past, honour those who suffered, and embrace the magic of discovery.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Who was St. Giles... find out and more as you learn a bit of Scot's history including Mary Queen of Scots, John Knox... and discover why it's perfectly acceptable to spit on the floor in Parliament Sq.
Look down the Royal Mile towards East Lothian and hear a tale of the North Berwick Witches.
In this hidden courtyard learn of some gruesome history and be inspired by Scotland's National Poet.
Discover how Edinburgh came to be and hear some more fascinating tales related to Witches
Discover this often missed gem and learn of another unfortunate Witch.
Get a birds eye view an iconic street and hear a shocking tale of a Warlock.
Hear the tale of one of Edinburgh's most infamous characters and her remarkable life on these very cobbles.
The tour will finish at Grassmarket - the very site of public executions, and where the infamous story of ‘Half-Hangit Maggie’ - one of Edinburgh’s most legendary characters - once began...
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for travellers who cannot navigate the cobbles, steep streets and steps of Edinburgh's old town
- Not recommended for travellers with push-chairs or infants prams
Reviews(673)
We had an absolutely wonderful time on this tour! Having just landed in Edinburgh a few hours prior to our tour, we were unsure if we would have the energy to enjoy the tour. However it was so entertaining and fascinating that we forgot all that and thoroughly enjoyed this experience! A must do for our family of 6 (including 4 teenagers).
What an absolutely fantastic tour! Our guide was engaging, knowledgeable, and had a real talent for bringing Edinburgh's witchcraft history to life. Every story was told with so much passion and just the right amount of drama that we were completely hooked from start to finish. The perfect mix of fascinating history, great storytelling, and witty humour made the tour unforgettable. Even the Edinburgh weather seemed to behave for a while ... I suspect a little witchcraft may have been involved! Thank you for making the Old Town even more magical. Highly recommended!
A brilliant tour Angelica was so informative but also really fun as well. A fantastic tour and very interesting too.
Tour was so great- fascinating history presented by a guide who brought 110%! She was funny and expert on local history. Really appreciated her energy.
The tour was great! Informative with a witchy twist, and full of history our guide was wonderful....
Gale gave a most informative presentation on Scotland history as it relates to witches. We visited several sites related to accusations, trials, and killings of (mostly) women in the 1600 and 1700s..
I promptly arrived a 30 minutes before our tour was to leave. I waited and waited and finally found their contact info and called. Well, because I was the only one booked they decided it really was feasible to do the tour and took it upon themselves to book me at another time. I live in a tourist town myself and we would never behave that way because someone was traveling solo. I never took this tour and would caution anyone traveling solo to make sure that you double check to see if one person is worth doing the tour for.. DISAPPOINTING!
The tour was fun and eye opening about the history of the persecution of women by being accused of witches. This history also includes history of Edinburgh and Scotland. The guide did a very good job of explaining the history, atrocities and information about the buildings, sculptures and plaques that acknowledged the history. My only issue was how fast he walked. Walking on cobblestone is hard to begin with, and at a pace so rapid that my in shape husband who walks fast as well could not keep up. Good thing he had the broom as we would have gotten lost in the crowd. There was only three of us and none of us could keep up, and I think we lost the other person towards the end. Too hard to go at that pace in the crowds and on the cobblestone.
The tour was excellent. It definitely helped having a fun and enthusiastic he-witch/warlock tour guide (Gail? we don’t remember his name). The facts and stories were interesting, it wasn’t too much walking all the time, just the right balance of movement and rest listening to the history. The tour guide was very funny. My kids really enjoyed the tour.
So glad I booked this. I almost didn’t, for fear it would be sensational or silly. Instead, it was grounded in history and empathy, exploring Scotland’s terrible fixation with witchcraft and vindicating those who suffered the witch hunts. Our guide was playful, welcoming and knowledgeable. A great way to spend an hour or two!
