Description

Join Go Scotland Tours on this half day walking tour of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town. Edinburgh Old Town has a rich and sometimes dark history. Let us guide you through the narrow closes and streets to reach the mighty Edinburgh Castle. This tour is a great introduction to the city. When the tour is done you will have the rest of the day to explore the castle and Old Town more in depth, shop for fine woollen goods on the high street, or perhaps have a pub lunch. If you are staying in the city centre your private guide will meet you at your hotel or at a designated meeting point on the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh Old Town...
In the Old Town of Edinburgh we will explore the important sights that have made the town what it is today. This will include the Tron Kirk, Mercat Cross, Heart of Midlothian and St Giles area. In the medieval times Edinburgh was a large open air market place. They centred around the Mercat Cross where announcements were made as well as public punishments such as whipping. Attached the the big cathedral were lucken booths (locked booths) used by the merchants. Long gone now the Tolbooth was used as a jail for condemned prisoners. In it's place is the markings of a Heart in which people now still spit in as they pass, so watch your step!

We then walk through the narrow alleyways called closes and learn the meaning of Auld Reekie. In the past Old Edinburgh was a walled city with tall buildings to accommodate the tight-knit population. But instead of plumbing they had buckets that they used to throw their waste out the window and yelled Gardy Loo to warn the passers below. Make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes as there will be stairs and cobblestone.

Greyfriars and Harry Potter...
Continuing the tour we make our way to Greyfriars Kirkyard which was home to Edinburgh's hero dog, Bobby. His statue is outside and great photo opportunity. The graveyard itself holds many interesting stories, from the paranormal to Harry Potter. J K Rowlings spent quite a bit of time here and used the names on the Grave Stones for her first book. Such as MacGonagall and Thomas Riddell, aka Voldemort.  Near by is the Elephant House Cafe, deemed the Birthplace of Harry Potter here as she wrote some of her first pages in the cafe. (NOTE: We do not enter the graveyard on the tour, but you are free to go in when the tour ends.)

The walk leads into the Grassmarket, once a busy marketplace and the setting for some of Edinburgh’s darker stories. Today it’s a lively square of pubs, shops and views up to the castle. From here you follow the curve of Victoria Street, one of the most photographed lanes in the Old Town and said to have inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books. Its colourful shopfronts and winding architecture make it a favourite stop for fans and a great place to soak up the atmosphere of old Edinburgh. 

Edinburgh Castle...
We finally reach the impregnable Edinburgh Castle for a person guided tour. Standing on top of an extinct volcano it offers great views of the city and surroundings. In the 18th century the castle was transformed into a military barracks which is still in use today. If we time it right we maybe able to view the firing of the One O'Clock Gun. But Edinburgh castle has a much longer history then this. It is said that the summit has been a dwelling for life for at least 3000 years. In 1314 it was occupied by the English during the Wars until Robert the Bruce's nephew, Thomas Randolph, scaled the walls to take the castle by sneak attack.

Continuing up the cobblestones we head towards St Margaret's Chapel which is the oldest building in Edinburgh. Queen Margaret was the wife of Malcolm Canmore and one of our Scottish Saints. In front of the chapel is the giant medieval cannon Mon's Meg. We will end the tour at crown square to give you time to explore the War Memorial, Great Hall and Crown Jewels on your own. We hope you enjoy the rest of the day in Scotland's Captial!

This is a private tour of Edinburgh and can be customized to your request. For more details contact us.
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Why Choose This Tour
Go Scotland Tours offers a private tour of Edinburgh's Old Town led by a qualified guide who knows the closes, stories and viewpoints that most visitors miss. All of our private tours are led by a Blue Badge Tourist Guide accredited by the Scottish Tourist Guides Association. This is the recognised professional standard for guiding in Scotland. Your guide can take you inside historic monuments, including Edinburgh Castle, and tailor the pace and focus of the tour to suit your interests. It is an ideal introduction to the city, combining well known landmarks with local insight and the attention that only a private tour can offer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is the tour
The tour lasts between three and four hours. If the castle visit is at the end, the tour runs for around three hours. If the castle visit is at the start or in the middle, the full experience is closer to four hours.
- Do we go inside Edinburgh Castle
Yes. As qualified guides we include a tour of Edinburgh Castle as part of the experience. If the castle visit is at the end, the tour finishes in Crown Square. If the castle visit is earlier in the tour, we give you an hour afterwards to explore the castle on your own.
- How much walking is involved
This is a walking tour through the Old Town with cobbled streets and a steady uphill walk up Castlehill towards Edinburgh Castle, with a gradient of around 10 to 15 percent. We take it at a relaxed pace with regular stops.
- Is the tour accessible
Parts of the Old Town have uneven surfaces and slopes, but Edinburgh Castle offers a mobility service that can assist visitors who need support getting up to the castle. If you have accessibility concerns, let us know in advance and we can advise on the best options.
- Are tickets to Edinburgh Castle included
Yes, we can include castle tickets as part of your booking.

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh Castle, Old Town and Greyfriars, Harry Potter and Grassmarket

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