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Free tour

Bonfires of Modernity: Edinburgh Demonologists, Witches and Wizards ⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Duration: 2h and 30min
Languages: English, Spanish
Quality Verified Registered on February 03, 2023

We are a group of independent historians and anthropologists who love to travel around the world telling esoteric stories. We invite you to discover our magical activities and itineraries to share a different way of traveling.

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  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Europe was engulfed in a wave of persecutions, hysteria and superstition. Thousands of women were designated as witches for transgressing the system they inhabited and executed on the charge of witchcraft . Many had knowledge of medicine, were skilled politicians or knew how to manage their finances . Scotland was no exception and on this tour we will tell you how the process impacted Edinburgh, learning about the origins of the Witch Hunt ; the North Berwick trials that inspired Shakespeare to write Macbeth ; King James and his studies in demonology ; about some witches who gave life to characters from the Outlander series and much more.

We will walk through the alleys of the Royal Mile , as well as Calton Hill to learn about the symbology of bonfires and the role of the Presbyterian John Knox . At the same time, we will learn about some occultists and we will end in the vicinity of the castle to learn about the end of a historical process that claimed thousands of innocent lives.


What are we going to visit?

  • Royal Mile
  • Bakehouse Close Passage
  • Calton Hill
  • Edinburgh Castle (exteriors)
  • St. Giles Cathedral (exteriors)
  • Tolbooth Tavern

And much more!

Join our akelarre!

#witches #magicians #edinburgh #legends #mysteries

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, UK
    Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, UK
    View on map

    I will be at the entrance to Holyrood Palace with a black umbrella from Akelarre Tours.

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Holyrood Palace
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Old Town
  • 3
    Outside visit
    Royal Mile
  • 4
    Outside visit
    Castle Street
  • 5
    Outside visit
    Calton Hill

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

4.93
Excellent
(29 ratings)
By category
Professionalism
5.0
Fun
4.93
Expression
4.96
Quality
4.93
Route
4.89
Flora (2 Ratings)
La Guaira

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Jun 2024
Excelente! El tour me pareció muy completo y el guía nos habló de diferentes historias y datos que casi ninguno conocíamos.
Valentina (4 Ratings)
Barcelona

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Jun 2024
Un tour muy muy interesante! Aprendí muchas historias que no conocía y el guía siempre estuvo atento a responder cualquier duda.
Joanne (1 Rating)

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Nov 2023
Nathan was very informative and passionate in what he is doing. He constantly checks on the group to make sure everyone is fine especially when an unruly teen tried to scare us in one of the stops. He does extra mile by giving side commentaries on stops that are not directly connected to our topic but since we passed through it, might as well mention. Or for all we know, Nathan might have just hexed us to say this. Hahaha.. Thank you. 🫶🏽
Ansaff (2 Ratings)
London

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Nov 2023
Great tour. Spooky and great historical Information on the history of witches in Scotland.
Lola (3 Ratings)
Paris

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Nov 2023
This tour was really interesting and different from the regular city tour we’re used to. We would definitely recommend it, we had a great time with Nathan, learnt a lot of interesting stuff, and we liked the fact that he did not just tell stories, he always tried to find how they could be empowering. Thank you !
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 10 people.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
A minimum of 5 people is required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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