Witches of Edinburgh: Trial and Truth, Small-Group Tour

Step into Edinburgh’s shadowy Old Town for 90 minutes of real witch trial history, immersive storytelling, and powerful accounts of the accusations, trials, and executions that shaped one of Scotland’s darkest chapters.

Getting started

Meet your group at Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile and check in with your ticket before the tour begins. You will receive TourTalk audio devices and headphones so you can hear your Master Storyteller clearly while walking through Edinburgh’s historic streets, hidden closes, and cobbled alleyways.

What to expect

This is not a ghost tour built on myths or fictional scares. Instead, it uncovers the true stories behind Scotland’s witch trials, revealing how fear, suspicion, religious fervour, and political influence led to the persecution of thousands of people over two centuries. As you walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, you'll follow in the footsteps of those accused of witchcraft while learning about the events that fuelled one of the most tragic periods in Scottish history.

Features:

• Mercat Cross and the Royal Mile: Begin in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and journey through the historic streets where stories of accusations, trials, and public condemnation unfolded.

• Castle Esplanade and execution sites: Stand on the Castle Esplanade, where hundreds of accused witches were executed, and learn about the devastating consequences of Scotland’s witch hunts.

• Immersive historical storytelling: Hear the stories of real individuals accused of sorcery through expert narration enhanced by atmospheric audio, including the sounds of crackling flames and bustling medieval streets.

• Hidden closes and alleyways: Walk through ancient cobbled closes and secluded passages where fear, superstition, and suspicion once influenced everyday life.

• Adults-only experience: The 18+ format allows for a more thoughtful exploration of the complex and often disturbing themes surrounding the witch trials.

• Remembrance Candle ceremony: Conclude the tour by lighting a Remembrance Candle in honour of those accused during Scotland’s witch trials and take it home as a meaningful keepsake.

Learn about the lives of people such as Agnes, Geilis, Janet, and John, whose stories reveal the human cost of Scotland’s witch persecutions. Through award-winning storytelling, this tour separates historical fact from centuries of myth, shedding light on the truth behind the witch trials and the hysteria that swept across Scotland. Before leaving, continue the connection through a curated tour playlist and your Remembrance Candle, helping keep these important stories alive long after the tour ends.