About the Tour
Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the principal street of the medieval old town, is one of the most famous streets in the world.
Named because it is approximately one mile from the Royal residence of the iconic Castle at the top and the Royal Residence of the Palace at the bottom. Leading from West to East, it is divided into five sections and one of its principal features are the many narrow alleyways, called “closes” that lead off the Mile, to both north and south. This creates an unusual visual feature, captured on early maps and confirmed by aerial photography that the Royal Mile looks like a fish skeleton.
Some places we will see:
- Makars Court celebrating Scottish Writers
- St Giles Cathedral
- Tweedale Court home of Scottish Publishing
- Bakehouse Close location used in Outlander
- Canongate Church The official church of the Royal Family in Edinburgh
- Dunbar Court Garden
and many more.
Useful information:
- Endpoint outside of Scottish Parliament.
- Edinburgh is a city with a lot of hills but this is the downward route please wear comfortable shoes.
Come and join me, I'm local and love my home city, and a trained guide on this tour to weave in and out of the bones, to explore in-depth the layout and hear about the history and the many stories of the closes that join the backbone of the Royal Mile
Meeting point:
Open in Google Maps
How to find me:
I will be outside the Festival Hub, the Converted Church at start of Castlehill. I will be wearing a black rain hat with white Polka Dots
Frequently asked questions
Accessibility:
The tour is suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Large groups:
Large group bookings are not accepted.
Minimum of attendees:
No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour to take place.
Pets:
The tour is pet-friendly.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
