Ghost and Mystery Tours in Edinburgh

Legend has it that Edinburgh is full of stories about ghostly apparitions and paranormal phenomena. A city with a reputation for being haunted, it has been the site of all sorts of supernatural episodes involving spectres, witches and other creepy characters that give you goosebumps.

Its fog-bound Gothic skyline has inspired numerous horror stories, some real and some legendary, which took place between the 18th and 19th centuries and which you can discover during a guided tour of the most enigmatic and gloomy corners of the city. Do you dare to go on a ghost tour of Edinburgh?

Although it may seem like it, good horror stories aren't just for Halloween. That's why taking one of these spooky tours of Edinburgh is always a good idea to discover the more mysterious side of the city and make a fun and different plan during your holiday. Especially in a city that has such a reputation for paranormal events.

There are many types of ghost tours out there but the one I did and recommend is the Edinburgh Dark Side Walking Tour, where a 2 hour walking tour takes you through the spookiest stories of the Scottish capital told by a very friendly local guide who was always attentive to the group's questions. I had a great time!

Useful information

The adventure begins in Edinburgh's Old Town at 6:30 PM, when the group meets the guide on the Royal Mile (the main street of the Old Town) to begin the walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Edinburgh's Old Town is characterised by its medieval street pattern with many narrow streets and alleyways leading to some of the capital's iconic sights such as the castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, St. Giles' Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament building.

During the tour you will discover why the castle is said to be haunted and who is the troubled spirit of the Green Lady that inhabits it, which is the bloodiest bridge in the city, what was done with witches in Edinburgh during the 16th century or who was Mr. Chisley and why the Edinburghers were afraid of his right arm, among many other gruesome stories. You will be chilled!

Itinerary

On the way to North Bridge, the "bridge of the dead"

Walking through the cobbled streets of Edinburgh and through the occasional shadowy passageway we come to North Bridge, a bridge linking Old Town and New Town, nicknamed "The Bridge of the Dead".

The story has a somewhat disturbing undertone: many years ago, in the 19th century, to celebrate the opening of the bridge, the oldest old woman in Edinburgh was chosen to cross it, with the misfortune that the day before the opening, the woman passed away.

The authorities did not want this tragic event to tarnish the grand opening so it is said that they prepared the old woman's body and put it in a carriage to cross North Bridge anyway. This was considered a bad omen and fear quickly spread among the citizens, who viewed the bridge with some suspicion, and from this anecdote came its peculiar nickname!

Although this anecdote may be a bit of a spoiler, don't worry because nowadays it is one of the busiest places in the city and during the afternoon offers beautiful views of the city and especially Calton Hill.

Calton Hill, the cursed hill

After crossing North Bridge we arrive at Calton Hill, a hill where several neoclassical monuments such as the National Monument, the monument to Nelson and Dugald Stewart or the city's Observatory, among others, are erected.

Considered a World Heritage Site, from the architectural complex of Calton Hill there are spectacular panoramic views of the city and you can take lots of pictures. Plus, on this Edinburgh ghost tour you'll find out why this hill was considered cursed and how witch trials were held here.

In one way or another, Calton Hill is a site connected to the supernatural. For some people it was a cursed hill but for others it was a sacred place where even Celtic pagan rituals are still celebrated such as the 'Beltane Fire Festival' in Edinburgh, which marks the beginning of summer.

Walking around Old Calton Burial Ground

This ghost tour of Edinburgh continues to the Old Calton Burial Ground, one of the city's most impressive cemeteries at the foot of Calton Hill.

It is a space surrounded by silence, where the melancholic tombstones of the deceased mingle with nature, which introduces us to that gloomy atmosphere so conducive to keep listening to mysterious and ghostly stories.

For example, you will see the tomb of the philosopher David Hume, who is said to have made a pact with the devil. You'll learn his story and that of the infamous body snatchers Burke and Hare, who amassed a fortune by selling them to the Edinburgh medical school.

During the walk you will see some of the honorary monuments erected in this cemetery such as the "Monument to the Scottish and American Soldiers" related to the American Civil War or the "Monument to the Political Martyrs" in memory of five men who were accused in the 18th century of wanting to spread French revolutionary ideals.

Other famous people who are buried next to David Hume in this cemetery are the clergyman Dr Robert Candlish and the publisher William Blackwood.

Getting to know the Canongate Kirkyard

Another stop on this ghost tour of Edinburgh is the Canongate Kirkyard, which dates back to the 17th century and is one of the oldest cemeteries in the city.

This cemetery houses the graves of some of the most prominent personalities in Scottish history such as the poet Robert Fergusson, the economist Adam Smith, the philosopher Dugald Stewart or the grave that inspired Charles Dickens to create the protagonist of his novel "A Christmas Carol", which was the result of a curious confusion. Ask your guide! You'll be surprised...

The end is here!

At the end of the walking tour through the dark side of Edinburgh we returned to the Old Town and before we left several of the group went into a Scottish pub for a break and some local food.

As I said, there are many ghost tours in Edinburgh but if there is one thing I would highlight about this one, it is the excellent work of the local guide, who in an entertaining and dynamic way condenses a lot of legends and stories of mystery, witches, ghosts and vampires in great detail, in just 2 hours of touring around the capital of Scotland. It's super entertaining!

Walking through the narrow streets of Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town, we were told several of these horror stories to put us in context before seeing some of the highlights such as North Bridge, Calton Hill or the cemeteries. I liked the guide's perfect balance of informative and entertaining narration.

He also told us about a lot of places of interest, we saw several monuments and had our photos taken and answered any questions we had about them, so we were very happy with the experience.

At the end of the tour we returned to the Old Town and went into a local pub near the Royal Mile for a bite to eat and a rest after the walk. It's not included in the price of the tour but we were in the mood for a bite to eat so we could look back at the photos we took on the tour and remember the highlights of the afternoon. I would definitely do it again!

There's something special about touring Edinburgh. Its castle, its cathedral, its medieval streets that look like something out of a fairytale... If this is the first time you visit the capital of Scotland and you don't know where to start, I recommend you read the post The best things to see and do in Edinburgh for inspiration.

And if what you want is to soak up Scottish history and culture where a local guide will show you in detail the city and its surroundings, don't miss the article The best tours and excursions from Edinburgh. There's something for everyone!