Edinburgh Haunted History Walking Tour

Edinburgh 2 hours

Your ghostly adventure starts in the evening on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in Old Town. Meet your local guide and steel yourself for a walk through the dark recesses of Edinburgh’s haunted history, hearing stories of murder, monsters, cannibals and other local oddities. Cross your fingers that you encounter (or not encounter!) a spooky character at one of the venues to come.  First wind through shadowed alleys and cobbled streets to North Bridge and Calton Hill, where you get panoramic views of the city and a dose of gruesome history. Explore the monuments perched high above the city and learn about the grisly witch trials that occurred here. Still a sacred area for many, Calton Hill continues to host pagan rituals like the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival. Afterwards, continue to one of Edinburgh’s famous cemeteries. Stop at the 17th-century Canongate Kirkyard cemetery or Old Calton Burial Ground, where David Hume is buried. Hear about his fabled deal with the devil, as well as the history of Burke and Hare, body snatchers who made a killing (so to speak!) by selling corpses to medical science.  Between stops, hear other creepy stories of execution, murder, torture, and hauntings. Your tour returns to the Royal Mile at a local pub. Pop inside for a drink to help warm your chilled soul (own expense)!


Walking tour of Edinburgh’s murky past and present, led by a knowledgeable guide

Explore the eerie, cobblestone streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town

Climb Calton Hill, the site of witch trials and pagan rituals, and take in panoramic views of the city

Visit Old Calton Burial Ground or Canongate Kirkyard cemetery and learn about body-snatching, vampires and more

Discover the capital’s gruesome past through the guide’s gripping commentary

Professional guide

Exclusions

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Additional Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • The independent guides who employ us to market their tours have your best interests in mind; while the tour usually includes the sites & stories mentioned and lasts about 2 hours, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group
  • We unfortunately do not advise guests in wheelchairs to join the Dark Side Tour, due to the narrow stairways and steep hills. We apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment caused.
130 High Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1QS Get directions

A full refund will apply if you cancel more than a day before the activity start time.

No refund is possible if you cancel less than a day before the activity start time.

Guide Languages

  • English
  • Spanish
  • German
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