A Mercat Storyteller and tour group stand in a close off Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

Edinburgh Castle

Witches; Trial & Truth

Bear witness to the accusations, the trials and finally the truth. Learn the names and stories of the real people who suffered in Scotland’s witch trials as you follow in their final, tragic footsteps.

Accused, tried, and tortured. Step into Scotland’s shadowy past on this immersive five-star Edinburgh history tour. Follow in the final tragic footsteps of those condemned as ‘witches’ and bear witness to the devastating truth. 

You’ll be transported back to a dark time ruled by a crazed king and his obsession with ‘otherworldly phenomenon’. Under the spell of a master storyteller you’re invited to listen carefully and perhaps think again...  

Persecution of the weak, the wise and skilled? Roused by fear and envy? Inflamed by religious zeal?  

Feel the tension rise as you journey through Edinburgh’s Old Town, along ancient cobbled closes and hidden alleyways. With the conjured scent of smoke in the air and the echoes of crackling flames, stand upon the Castle Esplanade — the site where hundreds burned at the stake.  

There was no justice in court, nor truth in tribunals for accused ‘witches’. On this tour, our award-winning master Storytellers shine a light on the truth behind the trials and the real reasons behind the witch crazes that swept like a plague for centuries, across Scotland and beyond. 

The past is calling. Will you bear witness? 

From £27 per adult


Departure days

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday

January — December

Contact details

Mercat Tours

28 Blair Street
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH1 1QR

Key facilities

  • Level Access

Tour information

Starting

  • Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh & The Lothians
  • Edinburgh - City Centre

Length

2Hours

Transport

  • Walking

Type

  • Small Group (1-16)

Languages

  • English

Themes

  • Ancestry
  • Castles
  • City
  • History
  • Outdoor Activities
  • Walking
  • Walking/Hiking

Tour prices


From £27 Per Adult £24 Concession

Book now

Prices are subject to change depending on season

Tour Stops

Mercat Tours

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

Opening times

Daily 9am to 10pm

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