podtour
The Royal Mile, from the Castle to St Giles
Edinburgh begins on a rock.
Dean Village and the Water of Leith: audio walk in Edinburgh
Eleven stories along the river, from Dean Village to Ann Street: the bakers' granary, the houses a newspaper owner built, the school that ran out of children, the wheel and the weir, Telford's bridge and the Lord Provost who paid for it, two wells, a water that tasted dreadful, a goddess with no nose and the painter whose land became streets.
What this walk is about
At the bottom of a gorge, a stone's throw from the New Town, there was once a village of millers. This walk begins beside the granary the bakers of Edinburgh put up in 1675 and follows the river. The houses a newspaper owner built for craftsmen, on some very particular conditions; how the water turned the wheels; Telford's high bridge and the Lord Provost who, it seems, paid for almost all of it to sell his land, then waited twenty years for buyers; another well along the path; the spring with a dreadful taste that became the height of fashion; the little temple of a judge who kept pigs in his bedroom, and its goddess, pelted with stones; and the painter Henry Raeburn, born in Stockbridge, whose land became Ann Street, a street with gardens in front. Outdoors, along the riverside path, with steps by the temple and a climb at the end.
- Start
- The bakers and their river
- Finish
- The street with gardens at the front
- Who it is for
- For anyone looking for a gentle walk by the water. A walk for anyone curious about everyday life, old trades and architecture. You don’t need any prior knowledge.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
The bakers and their river
- 2
A newspaper owner's homes for workers
- 3
The school that ran out of children
- 4
The wheel, the weir and the mill
- 5
The engineer who bridged the valley
- 6
The lord provost's twenty-year wait
- 7
The other well
- 8
Edinburgh's worst-tasting water
- 9
The goddess with no nose
- 10
The painter and the wooden bridge
- 11
The street with gardens at the front
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Edinburgh, before you go
A stone city built on hills, with a castle above it and weather that keeps changing. Cobbled streets and narrow stairways reward walking, provided your shoes have grip and your coat has a hood.
More walks nearby
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
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A little welcome gift
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.