Recently Viewed
Small Group Witches Trials & Truth Tour in Edinburgh
4.9
8 Ratings
Edinburgh
Uncover the truth behind Scotland's witch trials with award-winning storytellers. Join our small-group tour and explore the real history and myths.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Royal Mile - 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.
- St Giles’ Cathedral - Hear stories about the persecution of the weak, the wise and skilled, inflamed by religious zeal.
- Witches well - Our tour ends at the location where Scotland’s witches were once executed, and are now remembered. The Witches’ Well is a monument to accused witches burned at the stake in Edinburgh, and is the only one of its kind in the city.
What's Included
- TourTalk devices for clear audio
- Small group tour
- Award-winning local storytellers
Additional Information
History and Hysteria: Their Trials and the Truth Told
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.
Hear centuries of myths dispelled—it’s time for the truth.
• Uncover the very real history behind Scotland’s witch trials.
• Enjoy a small-group experience, limited to 18 people maximum.
• Discover the true accounts of those accused of witchcraft.
• Visit the locations where Scotland’s witches were once executed and are now remembered.
• With Mercat’s exclusive audio devices, be immersed and get lost in the stories.
• Choosing Mercat is “good for you, good for Edinburgh”—our team, community, and planet.
Location
Mercat Cross
High Street
Look for the 8-sided structure with white Unicorn on top (in between Café Nero and St. Giles Cathedral).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(8 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
B1629uhmichaeld
May 2, 2024
Insightful and informative - The tour was very informative, I hadn't known much about the subject beforehand. Our tour guide, Linda, was very insightful and her passion for the subject was obvious. The use of headsets was very useful to avoid distractions and hear our guide on the very busy streets of Edinburgh. A big bonus that the audio never cut out! Overall a great tour that sheds light on a fairly sad and unfair history that isn't widely known about and usually steeped in myths and deceit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N5461zxdeborahr
Nov 12, 2023
Fascinating and tragic. Don't miss it! - Fascinating, by turns funny and tragic. Our guide Linda was very knowledgeable, personal and quite funny - the perfect guide to this dark and fascinating history of the many innocents accused of witchcraft and dispatched to their deaths. We viewed many gorgeous and intriguing areas that I never would have found on my own and wound up the tour on the site of many of the executions we learned about. I highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexander_k
Sep 18, 2023
Really good tour! Enjoyed... - Really good tour! Enjoyed it greatly! Not too graphic and really educational. The tour is outdoors, so do consider your outfit and/or weather.
Review provided by Viator
586katec
Sep 4, 2023
Witches, trials and truth - This was an excellent tour. I live in Edinburgh and know something of this subject, but I learned a lot on Linda's terrific presentation of this shocking, generally inaccurately represented aspect of Scottish history. Powerful, thought-provoking and timely!
If you want to know what really happened to Scottish witches - and why - take this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dibek71
Jul 21, 2023
a journey back in time to discover the sad end for innocent women - Really interesting stories about innocent people mainly women caught in the witch hunt in Scotland. Linda is a wonderful story teller that takes you back in time and feel for all the victims of this terrible part of our history
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faraway55129436521
Jul 16, 2023
Witches Trial and Truth - Linda was a fantastic guide, her knowledge of Edinburgh and the truth about the history behind the Witches trials was fascinating . The subject was given the true empathy it deserved . Delving in the story behind the many people who were convicted of witch craft.
I live in Edinburgh and Linda pointed some of the history of my home city i did not know. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jacquik-wi
May 23, 2023
This is the tour company you want to hire! - We took this tour first week of May and had a wonderful experience. Our guide, Linda, was quite knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about this newly added history tour.
We also took the "Evening of Ghosts and Ghouls" tour. Fay was a very fun and interesting story teller. This was a great look at the underground vaults without the "scary" stuff. Would definitely tour with Mercat again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Esm42
May 20, 2023
Well worth it. - The guide was very engaging and knowledgeable. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the history of witches in Scotland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
