podtour
The Royal Mile, from the Castle to St Giles
Edinburgh begins on a rock.
Ghosts, Witches and Legends of the Old Town: audio walk in Edinburgh
Twelve Old Town stories, each legend told as a legend and given its date of birth: a healer accused of witchcraft before the king, Major Weir's staff, the ghost printed in 1685, the girl of 1992, a legend of the Mercat Cross, the sceptical philosopher whose toe people rub for luck, the Harry Potter café, Bobby, and the judge who has had a poltergeist since 1999.
What this walk is about
Edinburgh lives off its legends, and here you'll hear them with their date of birth and the name of whoever set them going. We begin where more than a hundred people accused of witchcraft were executed, with Agnes Sampson and the pamphlet that turned her into propaganda. Then the respectable officer whose staff, according to the neighbours, ran errands on its own; the ghost a book printed in 1685 and the little girl who appeared in the same close in 1992; a legend of the Mercat Cross; the philosopher who distrusted miracles and whose foot people have rubbed for luck since 1997; the café that advertises itself as the birthplace of Harry Potter, and what its author said about it; Bobby, his licence and the question of whether he was one dog or two; the Greyfriars graves that, according to Rowling, her names didn't come from; and the judge who doubted the witches and now has a poltergeist dated to 1999, next to a prison that never had cells. Fact, legend and dramatisation are always kept apart. Outdoors, by day or as evening falls; the last four stories are heard inside Greyfriars Kirkyard.
- Start
- The witch trial that became royal propaganda
- Finish
- A prison without cells
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about ghosts, witches and legends. For anyone who wants to know how much of it is true. For families with older children. (witchcraft told without cruel detail)
- 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 witch trial that became royal propaganda
- 2
Real trials, an imaginary crime
- 3
Major Weir and his walking stick
- 4
A ghost story in print since 1685
- 5
The midnight summons to Flodden
- 6
Good luck from a sceptic's toe
- 7
Where Harry Potter didn't begin
- 8
Bobby's collar and a growing legend
- 9
One Bobby or two?
- 10
Did those names come from these graves?
- 11
The judge who acquired a poltergeist
- 12
A prison without cells
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.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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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.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.