Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends
Overview
See Edinburgh’s shady side. The gruesome and the glorious. The ghostly and the ghastly. This 2-hour tour is a wickedly entertaining walk on the wild and dark side of the Scottish capital. Explore the spots where murders, monsters and mayhem have become things of legend, and visit Old Calton Burial Ground or Canongate Kirkyard, two of Edinburgh’s most chilling cemeteries. Throughout the tour, hear real-life tales of witches, body-snatchers, vampires, cannibals and more from your entertaining guide.
Inclusions
- Professional guide
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2PB Scotland
Meet your guide on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, and then set off on foot to begin your walking tour of the city’s shade side. Edinburgh is crawling with odd activity, and there are tales of murderers, vampires, monsters and even cannibals that locals nervously recall to each other.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: North Bridge, Edinburgh Scotland
Follow your guide through dark courtyards and eerie alleys, and hear spine-chilling stories of executions, murders, torture, ghosts and witchcraft. Then, make for the North Bridge, with its own formidable history, before climbing Calton Hill.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Calton Hill, St. Andrews House 2 Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG Scotland
Feel the hair on the back of your neck stand on end as your guide tells real-life tales of gore and gruesomeness, including stories about the witch trials that once took place here. Discover how the site is still used today for pagan rituals such as the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival, and drink in 360-degree views of the city’s skyline.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Old Calton Burial Ground, 29 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3BQ Scotland
Then, continue to the Old Calton Burial Ground, one of Edinburgh’s chilling cemeteries. See the imposing mausoleum that marks the final resting place of David Hume, who is said to have made a deal with the devil, and perhaps hear of the infamous body snatchers Burke and Hare.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN Scotland
Alternatively, visit the Canongate Kirkyard cemetery, which dates back to the 17th century. Rest assured, there is no staged gimmickry, monster masks or made-up stories on this tour.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 Scotland
After roughly two hours, your tour concludes at a local pub near the Royal Mile, where you can purchase a pint of beer or a dram of whisky to help cool your nerves after this entertaining and intriguing tour (own expense).
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2PB Scotland
Meet your guide on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, and then set off on foot to begin your walking tour of the city’s shade side. Edinburgh is crawling with odd activity, and there are tales of murderers, vampires, monsters and even cannibals that locals nervously recall to each other.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: North Bridge, Edinburgh Scotland
Follow your guide through dark courtyards and eerie alleys, and hear spine-chilling stories of executions, murders, torture, ghosts and witchcraft. Then, make for the North Bridge, with its own formidable history, before climbing Calton Hill.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Calton Hill, St. Andrews House 2 Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG Scotland
Feel the hair on the back of your neck stand on end as your guide tells real-life tales of gore and gruesomeness, including stories about the witch trials that once took place here. Discover how the site is still used today for pagan rituals such as the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival, and drink in 360-degree views of the city’s skyline.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Old Calton Burial Ground, 29 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3BQ Scotland
Then, continue to the Old Calton Burial Ground, one of Edinburgh’s chilling cemeteries. See the imposing mausoleum that marks the final resting place of David Hume, who is said to have made a deal with the devil, and perhaps hear of the infamous body snatchers Burke and Hare.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN Scotland
Alternatively, visit the Canongate Kirkyard cemetery, which dates back to the 17th century. Rest assured, there is no staged gimmickry, monster masks or made-up stories on this tour.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 Scotland
After roughly two hours, your tour concludes at a local pub near the Royal Mile, where you can purchase a pint of beer or a dram of whisky to help cool your nerves after this entertaining and intriguing tour (own expense).
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- 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.
- - Breaks will be shortended - Guests are encouraged to bring own masks - Guests will be required to provide personal details (name, phone) - Smaller groups to ensure appropriate social distance - Tour group picture will no longer be taken
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Jennifer_B
September 2023
Alisdair was an amazing tour guide! He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and he injected a lot of humor into the night! I highly recommend him as your tour guide into the darkside of Edinburgh!
Alisdair was an amazing tour guide! He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and he injected a lot of humor into the night! I highly recommend him as your tour guide into the darkside of Edinburgh!Lori W
June 2022
David took us on an impromptu trek around the city due to a fire earlier in the day that caused a last minute route recalculation. He was engaging, funny, and informative. The tour was more of a factual ghoulish history than a ghost story tour, which was great.
David took us on an impromptu trek around the city due to a fire earlier in the day that caused a last minute route recalculation. He was engaging, funny, and informative. The tour was more of a factual ghoulish history than a ghost story tour, which was great.Catherine_D
June 2022
My sister and I really enjoyed our tour with David! He was very knowledgeable and kept it interesting!
My sister and I really enjoyed our tour with David! He was very knowledgeable and kept it interesting!Sravankumar_Y
June 2022
Adam our tour guide was, simply put - excellent! loved the passion, humour and enthusiasm with which he did his storytelling. He was also eager to answer our questions about the tour and stuff to do in Edinburgh in general. We had a great time with him!
Adam our tour guide was, simply put - excellent! loved the passion, humour and enthusiasm with which he did his storytelling. He was also eager to answer our questions about the tour and stuff to do in Edinburgh in general. We had a great time with him!Grant_W
June 2022
Adam our tour guide was fantastic, very charismatic. Nice pace for all ages and nationalities. I would recommend this to anyone.
Adam our tour guide was fantastic, very charismatic. Nice pace for all ages and nationalities. I would recommend this to anyone.johnwP5956QH
June 2022
My wife and I, plus our 8 and 9 year old daughters took this tour one night. Adam was our tour guide, and he was excellent!! Great stories, incredible storytelling, and an excellent way to explore the city on foot with some complete strangers. The stories are pretty gruesome, and if our kids w...
My wife and I, plus our 8 and 9 year old daughters took this tour one night. Adam was our tour guide, and he was excellent!! Great stories, incredible storytelling, and an excellent way to explore the city on foot with some complete strangers. The stories are pretty gruesome, and if our kids were any younger, I wouldn't recommend it. Lots of gory 17th/18th century murder mysteries, but very well told! Also some excellent hilltop views for selfies.