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

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is more than a handsome old street. On this self-guided walk, its closes and landmarks frame stories of witchcraft, persecution, and public fear. The route runs from outside the Palace of Holyrood to the top of Castlehill, with narration from Kat along the way.

I like two things in particular: the storytelling is designed to be interesting without feeling like a textbook, and the app includes offline audio and maps, so you can follow the route without relying on a live connection. The tour also lets you set your own pace rather than keeping step with a group.

The main consideration is that this is an audio walk, not a guided conversation. You’ll need your own smartphone and headphones, and the $9.99 purchase is non-refundable. Give yourself up to 90 minutes if you want time to stop and look around.

Key points to know before you go

• The route links Holyrood and Castlehill: You walk a section of the Royal Mile, ending just before the Castlehill Esplanade.
• Kat narrates the tour: The delivery is described as professional, with a focus on stories as well as historical facts.
• Expect witchcraft history, not attraction admission: You hear about witch trials, torture used to extract confessions, and people associated with Scotland’s witchcraft past.
• It takes about one to one and a half hours: You can move at your own speed, but the route includes an uphill walk toward Castlehill.
• The app works offline: Audio, maps, and geodata are available offline after you download them.
• The $9.99 price is per person: There are no listed entrance tickets or transport costs included.

A story-led walk from Holyrood to Castlehill

The tour begins outside the Palace of Holyrood, at the lower end of the Royal Mile. Before you set off, the audio explains how to use the app and what to expect. That practical introduction matters: with a self-guided tour, a few clear directions at the start can save you from spending the first part of the walk staring at your phone.

From there, you follow the Royal Mile uphill toward the Castlehill end. The route connects several parts of Edinburgh’s Old Town, using familiar sights as anchors for stories about witchcraft in Scotland. You are not simply listening to a list of dates. The narration links the history to places you pass, which helps give the walk a sense of direction and purpose.

The route is self-guided and private to your group, so you do not need to keep pace with strangers or wait for a group to gather. That freedom is useful on a street where you may want to pause, take a closer look at a close, or give way to other people moving along the Royal Mile. The trade-off is that there is no guide beside you to answer questions or explain something that catches your attention.

Holyrood and the start of the walk

Starting outside the Palace of Holyrood puts you at the eastern end of the tour and gives you a clear destination: the top of Castlehill. The route then follows the Royal Mile through the Old Town. Its gradual uphill direction is worth keeping in mind, especially if you plan to add other sightseeing before or after the tour.

The opening section introduces the app and the basic format. You hear the narration through your own headphones as you walk, with the app supplying audio and route information. Because the tour is available offline, you can download the audio and maps in advance rather than depending on a mobile connection as you go.

There is no food, drink, transport, or attraction admission included. That is not a major issue for a walking route, but it helps to think of the $9.99 as payment for the audio experience itself, not for entry to any of the places along the way. If you want to visit a museum or another attraction en route, you will need to arrange that separately.

The Scottish Parliament and Bake House Close

As you head along the Royal Mile, the tour passes by the Scottish Parliament. The narration gives you a little context as you walk. It is a brief stop in the story rather than a visit inside the building, so keep moving if you want to stay with the route.

The change from Parliament to Bake House Close brings the walk into the tighter, more enclosed spaces associated with Edinburgh’s Old Town. Here, the audio says more about the close and introduces the history of witches before continuing. This is a good point to slow down and take in the difference between the broad street and the narrower passageways nearby.

The tour does not promise an elaborate visit or a long pause at each landmark. Its strength is the way it uses the route to build a thread through the city. If you prefer to explore every close at length, you can pause the audio, but that will stretch the advertised one to one and a half hours.

John Knox House and the Royal Mile’s witchcraft stories

The walk passes John Knox House, where the narration discusses Knox’s strong support for the Scottish Witchcraft Act. That connection gives the tour a useful point of context: the subject is not only a collection of individual legends, but also a history shaped by laws and beliefs.

The audio continues through parts of High Street with more background on witchcraft in Scotland. The exact details build as you walk, so the route works best if you listen in order rather than skipping ahead. If you already know a little about the subject, you may appreciate hearing the stories tied to particular places; if you are new to it, the gradual approach gives you a way in without turning the walk into a lecture.

The reported appeal of the narration is its balance of facts and storytelling. Kat’s delivery is described as professional, and the material is presented in a way that avoids sounding overly dry. That is a real advantage for a history walk: facts are easier to follow when there is a story to hold them together.

St Giles’ Cathedral and the hard history of accusations

The tour goes around the outside of St Giles’ Cathedral. As you walk, the narration adds more detail about witchcraft and the torture methods used to extract confessions from people suspected of being witches. This is the most sobering part of the route, and it gives the subject weight beyond the more dramatic stories.

Expect the audio to cover difficult history. The tour is not only about mysterious figures or local legends; it also deals with accusations, coercion, and the methods used against those accused. If that subject matter is not for you, you may want to consider whether a witchcraft-focused walk is the right choice.

You do not go inside the cathedral as part of the tour. The route passes around its exterior, and no entrance ticket is included. That distinction is useful when planning: this is an outdoor audio walk with commentary, not a package that combines guided history with access to attractions.

Victoria Terrace and the Wizard of West Bow

The route passes over Victoria Terrace, where you hear the story of Major Thomas Weir, known as the Wizard of West Bow. The nickname gives this section a different flavour from the discussion of laws and torture. It brings the tour back to a named figure and a story connected to the city’s past.

The experience relies on narration rather than visual displays or a live storyteller. That means you can take in the setting while Kat supplies the account, but you should not expect a staged performance or an in-person guide. The benefit is flexibility; the drawback is that the experience depends on your attention, the audio, and your ability to follow the route.

The tour’s directions are one of its practical strengths. A self-guided walk can become frustrating if you are unsure where to turn, especially in a close or at a busy junction. The audio tour is described as giving clear directions, which helps keep the experience focused on the story rather than constant map-checking.

The climb to Castlehill and the last witch of Scotland

The final stretch takes you up Castlehill, ending at the top of the street just before the Esplanade. As you walk uphill, you hear the story of the last witch of Scotland. This gives the tour a clear ending point and brings the route back to the question of how beliefs and accusations played out over time.

The uphill finish is short enough to be part of an ordinary city walk, but it is still worth factoring into your energy and schedule. The tour takes about an hour at the quick end and up to an hour and a half at a more relaxed pace. If you plan to stop often or take photographs, allow the longer estimate rather than trying to squeeze it into a tight gap.

The endpoint is handy if you are already exploring Castlehill, but the tour itself does not include entrance to a museum or other attraction. You finish just before the Esplanade, not with a ticketed visit included. You can carry on with your day from there, but any further sightseeing is your own plan.

What $9.99 buys you

At $9.99 per person, the cost is modest compared with a live walking tour, but the product is different. You are paying for lifetime access to the English tour in the VoiceMap app, including offline audio, maps, and geodata. You are not paying for a guide, transport, food, drink, or entry to any attraction.

That can be good value if you want a focused history walk and prefer to explore at your own pace. You can pause, replay, or take a break without holding up a group. It is also a practical option if you want the freedom to fit the walk around the rest of your day.

The value is less clear if you want personal interaction or broad coverage of Edinburgh’s history. This tour concentrates on witchcraft and related stories along one stretch of the Royal Mile. It is not a general city tour, and it cannot adapt the narration to your questions. Also, the purchase is non-refundable and cannot be changed, so check that the subject and format suit you before booking.

Who should choose this audio tour

I would consider this tour if you like walking with a specific theme in mind. It suits anyone curious about witchcraft history, the Royal Mile’s closes, or the people and beliefs connected to Scotland’s past. The route also makes sense if you want a structured way to walk from Holyrood toward Castlehill without joining a scheduled group.

It may be less suitable if you want a live guide, a conversation, or entry to historic buildings. The audio is the guide, and the route stays outside the named attractions. You will also need to bring your own smartphone and headphones; those are not provided.

For the best experience, download the app content before you start, bring headphones, and leave enough time to walk without rushing. The tour is available every day, with listed hours covering the full day, so you can choose a time that fits your plans. Since it is self-guided, your timing is flexible, but the route itself still takes roughly 60 to 90 minutes.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an affordable, story-led walk focused on witchcraft history, and you are happy to explore with headphones instead of a live guide. Kat’s narration, clear directions, and offline access make the format practical, while the route links Holyrood, the Royal Mile, and Castlehill in a single walk.

Skip it if you want a guide to answer questions, access to attractions, or a broader survey of Edinburgh. At $9.99, it is a sensible buy for a focused audio walk, but the non-refundable terms make it worth checking your plans first.

FAQ

How long does the tour take?

The walk takes about one hour to one hour and 30 minutes. Your pace and any pauses along the route will affect the total time.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts outside the Palace of Holyrood and ends at the top of Castlehill, just before the Esplanade.

What language is the audio tour in?

The tour is offered in English.

What does the price include?

The $9.99 price includes lifetime access to the English tour in the VoiceMap app, with offline access to audio, maps, and geodata.

Do I need to bring anything?

Yes. You need your own smartphone and headphones. Food, drink, transport, and attraction tickets are not included.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.