A History of Witchcraft in Edinburgh: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile carries plenty of old stories, but this walk focuses on one of its darkest subjects: witchcraft accusations and the people caught in them. Starting outside the Palace of Holyrood, you follow the street uphill toward Castlehill while Kat’s narration explains the people, beliefs, punishments, and public figures tied to Scotland’s witchcraft past.

I like the tour’s storytelling approach, which keeps the facts from feeling like a dry history lesson. I also like the freedom of a self-guided walk, with offline audio and maps ready on your phone. The main drawback is that you need to bring your own smartphone and headphones, and the route is less flexible than a live guide if you want to stop for long visits along the way.

Key points at a glance

• A Royal Mile route with a dark focus: Walk from Holyrood to Castlehill while hearing about witchcraft in Scotland.
• Narrated by Kat: The English-language audio favors clear storytelling over a textbook-style list of dates.
• Nine notable settings: Pass the Scottish Parliament, Bake House Close, John Knox House, St Giles’ Cathedral, Victoria Terrace, and more.
• A practical offline format: Download the VoiceMap audio, maps, and geodata before walking.
• A low-cost history experience: At $9.99 per person, it costs less than most guided walks, though entrance fees are not included.
• A flexible 60 to 90 minutes: You can set your own pace, but the route ends at the top of Castlehill before the Esplanade.

From Holyrood Palace to Castlehill

This tour uses one of Edinburgh’s most useful walking routes: the Royal Mile, running uphill from the Palace of Holyrood to the area below Edinburgh Castle. You begin at Edinburgh EH8 8DU, outside the Palace of Holyrood, and finish on Castlehill at the top of the street, just before the Esplanade.

The route is about one hour to one hour and 30 minutes. That timing gives you room to walk at a steady pace and listen to the narration without rushing, though your exact finish time depends on how often you pause. Since this is an audio tour rather than a live group walk, you can stop the narration, look around, and resume when ready.

The opening section explains how to use the app and what to expect. That may sound basic, but it matters here. Self-guided audio tours work best when you know when to start the next segment and how to follow the map. Take a moment outside Holyrood to get your bearings before setting off.

The route climbs gradually toward Castlehill. You do not need transportation between stops, and no transport is included or needed for the walk itself. You should wear comfortable shoes and allow time for the uphill direction, especially if you plan to pause at several points.

The Scottish Parliament sets the scene

One early stop passes the Scottish Parliament. The narration gives you a little background as you walk, linking the modern political setting with the older streets around it.

This is a useful opening contrast. The building represents present-day Scotland, while the tour turns your attention toward earlier laws, fears, and public beliefs. You are not visiting the parliament as part of the tour, and no admission is included. The point is to hear about it while moving along the route.

I like this kind of passing stop because it keeps the walk moving. You get context without being asked to enter another attraction or spend extra time inside. If you want a full visit to the Scottish Parliament, you will need to arrange that separately.

Bake House Close and the city’s narrow passages

The route then enters Bake House Close. This close provides a more enclosed setting for the narration, and the audio uses it to introduce more of the background surrounding witches and witchcraft.

Edinburgh’s closes are part of what makes a walk along the Royal Mile feel different from a standard city-street stroll. Here, the route leaves the broad main road for a tighter passage before continuing onward. The setting helps the subject feel connected to the old city rather than treated as an abstract chapter in a history book.

The narration is designed to be listened to while walking, so you are not expected to spend a long time inside the close. This is one of the places where the self-guided format works well. You can pause if you want a closer look, then continue when you are ready.

Keep in mind that the tour does not include entrance tickets to museums or other attractions along the way. Bake House Close is part of the outdoor route, not a ticketed attraction included in the price.

John Knox House and the role of the law

Next, you pass John Knox House. The audio discusses John Knox and his strong support for the Scottish Witchcraft Act, giving the walk a clearer connection between religious opinion, public fear, and legal action.

This is one of the more important stops because it moves beyond ghost-story atmosphere. The subject is not only about tales of magic. It is also about the people and institutions that helped shape how accusations were treated. By placing John Knox House on the route, the tour connects a familiar Edinburgh landmark with the wider story of witchcraft legislation.

You hear about the house from outside as you continue along the Royal Mile. The tour does not include admission to John Knox House, so you should treat the stop as part of the outdoor narration unless you choose to visit the building separately.

The storytelling style is a strong part of the experience here. Kat’s narration is professional and clear, and the material is presented as a story rather than as a long string of textbook facts. That makes this format a good match for you if you want historical detail without signing up for a formal lecture.

High Street and the wider story of witchcraft

The tour continues through sections of High Street, where the narration adds more information about witchcraft in Scotland. This section gives the walk room to develop its main subject rather than rushing from one famous building to the next.

You hear more about how witchcraft accusations fit into Scottish history. The subject is serious, and the route includes material about suspected witches, confessions, and punishment. The audio approach lets you take in those details while walking, rather than standing in one place for a long talk.

Because the Royal Mile remains an active city route, you should expect to share the street with other people. The audio will not remove ordinary city noise, so headphones are useful. Bring your own pair, since headphones are not included.

The tour is offered in English only. That is worth noting before booking, particularly if you are choosing the experience for a mixed-language group. All participants need to be comfortable following English narration.

St Giles’ Cathedral and the harsh side of confession

The route goes around the outside of St Giles’ Cathedral. Here, the audio turns to more detail about witches and witchcraft, including torture methods used to force confessions from people accused of being witches.

This is likely to be the most difficult section for some listeners. The subject is not presented as harmless folklore. The narration deals with the methods used to obtain confessions, so you should expect a darker tone as the tour continues.

At the same time, this part gives the experience more weight. It shows how accusations could become official cases, and how pressure and violence shaped the stories later attached to suspected witches. You are hearing about the human cost behind the legends.

The route goes around the outside of the cathedral rather than including entry. That keeps the price low and the walk moving, but it also means you will not receive an interior visit or a guided look at the cathedral itself. If St Giles’ is a priority, plan a separate visit.

Victoria Terrace and Major Thomas Weir

The tour passes over Victoria Terrace and tells the story of Major Thomas Weir, also known as the Wizard of West Bow. This stop shifts the focus from laws and torture to one of the city’s more memorable figures connected with witchcraft and supernatural belief.

The inclusion of Major Weir gives the narration a personal story to follow. Instead of hearing only about broad patterns, you get a named character tied to a particular Edinburgh setting. That helps break up the more general historical material and gives the walk a strong sense of place.

Victoria Terrace is also a good reminder that Edinburgh’s old streets are full of layers. You are walking through a modern city while hearing about people and ideas from earlier periods. The tour makes use of that contrast without requiring you to visit a museum.

As with the other stops, the tour passes by the location. You do not need a ticket, and none is included. If you like to photograph places or read plaques along the route, pause the audio first so you can take your time.

The final climb and Scotland’s last witch

The walk ends at the top of Castlehill, just before the Esplanade. During the climb, the narration tells the story of the last witch of Scotland.

Ending with this story gives the route a clear final chapter. You begin near Holyrood, move through the Royal Mile and its closes, pass places linked with religion and public authority, and finish near Edinburgh Castle with a story about the end of Scotland’s witchcraft era.

The ending location is practical for a day of sightseeing. You are near the Castle Esplanade, but the tour does not include entry to Edinburgh Castle or tickets for any other attraction. You can finish the audio walk and continue with your own plans, though any additional visit will require separate admission.

The uphill finish may feel more demanding than the opening section. If you want a slower walk, use the full 90-minute estimate rather than planning to complete it in one hour. The tour’s daily availability is listed from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM, Monday through Sunday, so you have broad freedom to choose your start time within the stated operating period.

How the VoiceMap format works

The experience uses the VoiceMap app for Android and iOS. Your booking includes lifetime access to the English tour, along with offline access to the audio, maps, and geodata.

Download everything before you begin. Offline access is especially useful if you do not want to depend on mobile data while walking through Edinburgh. It also means you can focus on the route instead of checking your connection every few minutes.

The app format gives you control that a live tour cannot always offer. You can walk at your own speed, pause for photos, stop for a coffee, or replay a section if a detail passes too quickly. You are also not waiting for a group to gather at each stop.

The tradeoff is that there is no live guide to answer questions or adjust the route. You need to follow the app and manage your own timing. The included directions are intended to keep you on course, but you should still make sure your phone is charged before starting.

This is a private activity in the sense that only your group participates. It is not a shared walking group, but it is also not a personal guide walking beside you. The narration is prerecorded, with Kat providing the voice and storytelling.

Is $9.99 good value?

At $9.99 per person, this is an inexpensive way to add a focused history walk to your Edinburgh plans. You get the audio, route guidance, maps, and lifetime access, with no need to reserve a place on a scheduled group walk.

The value is strongest if you already plan to walk the Royal Mile. You are paying for a layer of interpretation along a route you might explore anyway, rather than paying for transport or a major attraction. The price also lets you hear about several locations without buying separate admission tickets.

It is less useful if you want an all-day guided experience or extensive time inside buildings. Food, drinks, transportation, and entrance fees are not included. The route is also offered only in English.

The non-refundable policy deserves attention before you buy. The experience cannot be changed or refunded after cancellation, so choose your date and make sure your phone and headphones are ready. Confirmation is provided when you book.

Who should choose this walk?

I would choose this tour if you like history with a strong story line, want to explore independently, and already have time set aside for the Royal Mile. It suits solo visitors, couples, and private groups who prefer to avoid a fixed live-tour schedule.

It is also a good option if witchcraft interests you as a subject of law, religion, fear, and punishment, rather than only as a spooky Edinburgh theme. The sections on John Knox, the Scottish Witchcraft Act, forced confessions, and the last witch of Scotland give the walk a serious historical angle.

Families should consider the subject carefully. The material includes torture methods, so it may not suit young children or anyone who prefers lighter sightseeing. The tour description says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed accessibility information for every stop.

You should also choose another activity if you need a live guide, want a language other than English, or prefer to spend substantial time inside attractions. This is a walking audio experience, not a museum ticket or a guided interior tour.

Should you book A History of Witchcraft in Edinburgh?

Book it if you want a low-cost, self-paced way to connect the Royal Mile with Scotland’s witchcraft past. The route is easy to fit into a day in Edinburgh, and Kat’s narration gives the subject a clear human story instead of reducing it to spooky tales.

Skip it if you dislike listening through a phone, need a live guide, or want a broader tour of Edinburgh’s architecture and major sights. For the right listener, the best part is the combination of specific places and strong storytelling: Bake House Close, John Knox House, St Giles’ Cathedral, Victoria Terrace, and Castlehill become chapters in one dark city walk.

FAQ

Where does the audio tour begin?

It begins outside the Palace of Holyrood at Edinburgh EH8 8DU, UK.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at the top of Castlehill, on the Esplanade at Edinburgh EH1, just before the Esplanade.

How long does the tour take?

The walk takes approximately one hour to one hour and 30 minutes.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Which app is used for the tour?

The tour uses the VoiceMap app, available for Android and iOS devices.

Can I use the tour without mobile data?

Yes. The tour includes offline access to the audio, maps, and geodata.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Tickets or entrance fees for museums and other attractions along the route are not included.

Do I need to bring anything?

You need to bring your own smartphone and headphones. Food, drinks, and transportation are not included.