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

Edinburgh’s witchcraft story unfolds along the Royal Mile, where narrow closes, church walls, and old streets give the past a physical setting. This audio walk takes you from Holyrood Palace to Castlehill, covering witchcraft laws, torture methods, John Knox, Major Thomas Weir, and the story of Scotland’s last witch.

I like Kat’s story-led narration, which keeps the facts moving instead of turning the walk into a dry lecture. I also like the offline app access, lifetime use, and freedom to pause whenever you need a photo, coffee, or closer look at a close.

The main consideration is that this is audio only. You supply the smartphone and headphones, and the tour does not include entry to any attraction. The route also climbs toward Castlehill, so allow the full 90 minutes if you want to walk without rushing.

Key points at a glance

• A Royal Mile route with a dark theme: Walk from the Palace of Holyrood to the top of Castlehill while hearing stories about witchcraft in Scotland.
• Narration by Kat: The delivery focuses on storytelling, with interesting facts presented in an accessible way rather than as a textbook lesson.
• Nine useful stops: See the Scottish Parliament, Bake House Close, John Knox House, St Giles’ Cathedral, Victoria Terrace, and more from the outside.
• Offline access included: Download the audio, map, and route data through the VoiceMap app before setting out.
• A low-cost private experience: At $9.99 per person, your group can walk at its own pace without joining a larger group.
• Bring your own gear: A smartphone and headphones are required, and food, transport, attraction tickets, and drinks are not included.

Following witchcraft stories from Holyrood to Castlehill

This walk begins outside the Palace of Holyrood, at the lower end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Before the history starts, the audio explains how to use the app and what to expect from the route. That short orientation matters, especially if you are new to location-based audio tours.

From there, you follow the Royal Mile uphill toward the castle. The route takes about one hour to 90 minutes, depending on your walking pace and how often you stop. You are not locked into a group schedule, so you can pause the narration, look around, and restart when ready.

The subject is serious, but the format keeps it approachable. You hear about the treatment of suspected witches, the laws that shaped prosecutions, and the people connected with Edinburgh’s witchcraft story. The route does not rely on entering a museum or attraction, so the street itself becomes the setting.

That is the central appeal. You are not simply listening to a list of dates indoors. You are hearing about witchcraft while moving through the old city streets tied to the tour’s stories.

Starting outside the Palace of Holyrood

The first stop is outside the Palace of Holyrood. You do not need an entrance ticket for the audio walk itself, and the tour does not include admission to the palace. This makes the starting point easy to combine with other plans, though any palace visit would be a separate activity.

The opening section explains the app and route. I would download the audio, map, and geodata before arriving, since offline access is included and removes the need to depend on a mobile signal while walking.

The location is also useful for planning a larger day in Edinburgh. You can begin at the bottom of the Royal Mile and finish near Edinburgh Castle, rather than doubling back to your starting point. Transportation is not included, so plan your own way to Holyrood and onward from Castlehill after the tour.

The Scottish Parliament and the lower Royal Mile

As you leave Holyrood, the tour passes the Scottish Parliament. The commentary gives you a little context as you walk, but this is not a full political or architectural tour of the building. Think of it as part of the route, with the focus soon returning to witchcraft and Edinburgh’s older streets.

The lower Royal Mile gives you room to settle into the tour. The audio directs you along the route while adding historical context, which is helpful when you want to keep your eyes on the street rather than constantly checking a map.

Because the tour is private to your group, you can control the pace. If one person wants to stop near a building or take photographs, you do not hold up anyone else. That flexibility is one of the better reasons to choose this format over a scheduled walking group.

Bake House Close and the atmosphere of the old closes

The route then enters Bake House Close. Here, the audio shifts toward the close itself and the broader history of witches before you continue uphill.

This is where the setting and subject work well together. A close feels more enclosed than the main Royal Mile, and hearing about suspected witches in such a setting gives the tour a stronger sense of place. The audio does not require you to enter a paid attraction, so you can focus on the street and the narration.

I would take this section slowly. The tour lasts only an hour to 90 minutes, but you do not gain much by racing between points. Pause the app if you want time to look at the architecture or get your bearings.

The route is not designed as a food tour or shopping stop. Food and drinks are not included, so plan a break before or after the walk rather than expecting the experience to provide one.

John Knox House and the Scottish Witchcraft Act

The walk passes John Knox House, where the narration introduces John Knox and his strong support for the Scottish Witchcraft Act. This stop adds a political and religious dimension to the subject.

That detail is useful because the tour is not limited to spooky tales. It connects individual stories with the laws and public attitudes that shaped the treatment of suspected witches. If you prefer historical explanation over sensational storytelling, this part should appeal to you.

You only pass the house as part of the route. The tour does not include an entrance ticket, guided visit, or interior commentary beyond what is delivered through the app. If you want to go inside, that would need to be arranged separately.

The audio’s tone is one of the experience’s strongest features. Kat’s narration is professional and story-focused, with facts that remain clear without feeling like a school lesson. That balance helps the difficult subject stay engaging.

High Street and the wider story of witchcraft in Scotland

The route continues through parts of High Street, where you hear more about witchcraft in Scotland. This section broadens the story beyond one close or one building.

The walk is still easy to understand because the directions keep you moving through a clear route. The audio combines navigation with the historical account, so you are not left wondering where to go next. Good directions are especially valuable on the Royal Mile, where several streets and closes can compete for your attention.

This part may feel less dramatic than the stops tied to a particular building. Its value comes from joining the individual stories together. You get a wider picture of witchcraft as a subject shaped by law, belief, confession, and punishment.

Since the route passes along public streets, conditions can affect your pace. The supplied information does not promise shelter, seating, or a specific surface throughout, so sensible walking shoes and weather-ready clothing are practical choices. Those are general walking precautions rather than special requirements for the tour.

St Giles’ Cathedral and the methods used to extract confessions

The audio tour goes around the outside of St Giles’ Cathedral. Here, you hear more about witches and witchcraft, including torture methods used to extract confessions from suspected witches.

This is likely the most intense section of the walk. The subject matter may be uncomfortable, particularly for children or anyone who prefers lighter sightseeing. The tour presents witchcraft through a historical account, but the details of torture are still difficult.

I like that this stop gives the experience more substance than a simple ghost walk. It asks you to consider how confessions were obtained and why accusations could become so serious. At the same time, you should choose this tour for its dark historical topic, not because you want a gentle introduction to Edinburgh.

Again, you remain outside the cathedral. No entrance fee is included, and the audio does not turn into a formal cathedral visit. If you are planning to see the interior, treat that as a separate stop.

Victoria Terrace and the story of Major Thomas Weir

The route passes over Victoria Terrace, where you hear the story of Major Thomas Weir, also known as the Wizard of West Bow.

This stop changes the focus from laws and torture to a named figure with a memorable story. The unusual nickname gives the narration a strong hook, and the location helps keep the account tied to the streets around you.

The audio format works particularly well here because you can look at the surroundings while the story unfolds. There is no guide standing beside you, but the narration arrives at the point where it belongs. If you want to stop for a photograph or listen again, you have the control to do so.

This is also a good example of the tour’s storytelling approach. The facts are not presented as a bare list. They are arranged around people and places, which makes them easier to remember after the walk.

The final climb to Castlehill and Scotland’s last witch

The final section takes you uphill to the top of Castlehill. As you walk, the narration tells the story of the last witch of Scotland. The tour ends just before the Esplanade, near Edinburgh Castle.

The finish is practical if you plan to visit the castle area afterward. The audio experience itself does not include castle admission, transport, or any other ticket, so you will need a separate plan if you want to continue inside.

The climb is the main physical consideration. The tour is not described as strenuous, and most people can take part, but the route is uphill and includes the full Royal Mile. Give yourself the longer end of the time estimate if you want to listen carefully and stop along the way.

Ending at Castlehill also gives the tour a clear sense of direction. You begin outside Holyrood and finish near the upper Royal Mile, covering a well-defined stretch rather than wandering through unrelated streets.

How the VoiceMap format works

You access the tour through the VoiceMap app for Android or iOS. Your booking includes lifetime access in English, along with offline audio, maps, and geodata.

That lifetime access is useful if you are planning a flexible visit. You can use the tour later rather than treating it as a one-time booking, though the supplied information does not specify any limits on repeat use or device changes.

You need to bring a smartphone and headphones. Those items are not included, and the tour does not provide a live guide. Downloading the material before you start is the safest approach, even though offline access is available.

The private format means only your group participates. You do not have to match the speed of strangers or wait for a scheduled departure. In return, you are responsible for starting the audio correctly, following the directions, and managing your own pace.

Is $9.99 good value?

At $9.99 per person, this is a modest-cost way to add a focused historical walk to an Edinburgh visit. The price covers the audio experience, app access, route map, and offline data, but not your phone, headphones, food, transport, or entrance tickets.

I see the best value for someone who wants a self-guided activity with a clear theme. You receive a complete route from Holyrood to Castlehill and can take it at a convenient time, with no need to join a scheduled group.

The value is less convincing if you want personal questions answered on the spot or a guide reacting to your interests. A live walking tour may suit you better in that case, but this experience offers privacy and flexibility at a low price.

The strong point is repeatable access. Since the tour remains available for life, you can pause it, return to a section, or use it on a future Edinburgh visit. That makes the cost easier to justify than a one-use audio file.

Who should choose this Edinburgh walk?

I would recommend it to:

• People interested in witchcraft, criminal justice, or Scottish history
• Visitors who prefer self-guided sightseeing to fixed group departures
• Couples, families, or friends who want a private route
• Independent walkers comfortable using an app
• Anyone looking for a low-cost activity along the Royal Mile
• Repeat visitors who want a themed walk rather than a general city overview

I would think twice if you dislike dark historical subjects, particularly accounts involving torture. The tour also may not suit you if you want detailed interior visits, food stops, or a live guide.

The language choice is simple: it is offered in English. Most people can participate, but you still need to handle the phone and headphones yourself and keep up with the route.

Practical details before you set out

The tour begins at Edinburgh EH8 8DU, outside the Palace of Holyrood. It ends at the Esplanade, Edinburgh EH1, at the top of Castlehill just before the Esplanade.

The listed operating hours run every day from midnight to 11:59 p.m. during the stated availability period, from September 15, 2021, through February 16, 2027. Those hours describe the self-guided format, so you are not tied to a morning or afternoon departure.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so check your date, meeting point, phone, and headphones before paying.

I would allow 90 minutes if you want the best experience. The one-hour estimate works for a steady walk, but the Royal Mile route has enough stops and stories that rushing would undercut the point of choosing a history walk.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Edinburgh’s Royal Mile explained through witchcraft stories, with clear directions and no group timetable. Kat’s narration, the carefully placed stops, and offline access make it easy to fit into an independent day.

Skip it if you want castle or cathedral admission, a live guide, or a lighter subject. For $9.99, it is a sensible buy for a private, story-led walk from Holyrood to Castlehill, provided you bring your own phone and headphones and are comfortable with the grim material.

FAQ

How long does A History of Witchcraft in Edinburgh take?

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

Where does the audio tour begin?

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

Where does the tour finish?

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

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Which app do I need?

You need the VoiceMap app, available for Android and iOS.

Is offline access included?

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

Do I need to bring a smartphone and headphones?

Yes. A smartphone and headphones are not included, so you need to supply both.

Are attraction tickets, food, or transportation included?

No. The price does not include food, drinks, transportation, or entrance fees for museums and other attractions along the route.