Edinburgh Witches Trials and Truth Tour

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.

Meeting Point

Mercat Cross

High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK

Look for the 8-sided structure with white Unicorn on top (in between Café Nero and St. Giles Cathedral).

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Royal Mile

High St., , Edinburgh, EH1 2PB

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.

1 hour

St Giles' Cathedral

High Street, Historic Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE

Hear stories about the persecution of the weak, the wise and skilled, inflamed by religious zeal.

15 minutes

Witches well

Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, Edinburgh, EH1 2ND

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.

15 minutes

What's included:

• Small group tour
• Award-winning local storytellers
• We use TourTalk devices so that you can hear our guide clearly and enjoy a more immersive storytelling experience