A Mercat Storyteller and tour group stand in a close off Edinburgh's Royal Mile.
Edinburgh Castle
Witches; Trial & Truth
Discover the truth behind Scotland's witch trials on this five-star history walking tour. Learn the real stories of women, and men, accused as you walk in the footsteps.
It's time for a reckoning, the witches' hour has come. Bear witness to the trials and now, the truth.
Accused, tried, and tortured. Step into the past and bear witness to the truth about Scotland’s ‘witches' following their tragic last steps on this five-star Edinburgh history tour.
Persecution of the weak, the wise and skilled? Roused by fear and envy? Inflamed by religious zeal?
You’re invited to listen carefully and perhaps think again... You’ll be transported back to a dark time ruled by a crazed king and his obsession with the dark arts, ‘otherworldly phenomenon’. Join us to walk the cobbled paths of Edinburgh’s Old Town and its centuries-old closes, reach Edinburgh Castle esplanade the site where hundreds burned at the stake.
Hunted and hanged. Around 2,500 people were executed for witchcraft in Scotland across two centuries. Agnes, Geilis, Janet, John… Learn names and hear stories of some of the women, and men, accused of sorcery. Alleged psychics, hexers, and communicators with the devil coerced into confession. Our stories will begin with the accusations, then the trials and lead to the tragic fate suffered by many.
There was no justice in court, nor truth in tribunals for accused ‘witches’. On this tour, our award-winning Storytellers shine a light on the truth behind the trials and the real reasons behind the witch crazes that swept like a fever for centuries, across Scotland and beyond.
From £24 per adult
Departure days
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
January — December
Contact details
28 Blair Street
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH1 1QR
Key facilities
- Level Access
Tour information
Tour Stops
Tour company information
Mercat Tours
'History is a damn good story, what it needs is a damn good telling' Join In! Enjoy immersive storytelling experiences as you explore Edinburgh's Old Town. Stories Connect You'll have a deep connection with the people & places of the past and build remarkable memories of Scotland's ancient & beautiful capital. Good for You, Good for Everyone Choosing us, a local, independent family business and Living Wage employer, means you support an ethical team rooted in our local community since 1985
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