podtour
Ghosts, Witches and Legends of the Old Town
Edinburgh lives off its legends, and here you'll hear them with their date of birth and the name of whoever set them going.
The Royal Mile, from the Castle to St Giles: audio walk in Edinburgh
Eleven stories downhill along Scotland's most famous street: how an "impregnable" castle fell, a cannon and a stone that went off to London, water that climbed to the top of the town on its own, a merchant who signed his façade, a councillor who robbed houses by night, a prison in the middle of the street, and the cross that recalls where the castle's defender met his end.
See the walkFree route
What this walk is about
Edinburgh begins on a rock. This walk heads down the upper part of the Royal Mile, from the Castle Esplanade to the Mercat Cross. On the esplanade, three stories: how you take a fortress that looks impossible, the giant cannon that burst firing a salute and spent more than seventy years in London, and the coronation stone that some students carried off in 1950. Then, on the street, the reservoir that gave the town water without pumps or engines, and a cannonball nobody knows who fired. After that, a merchant who left his initials at the top of his house, a respectable deacon of the carpenters who burgled houses by night, houses of many storeys with shared stairs, a prison planted in the middle of the street, and the gallows the press pinned on the very man it hanged. And finally, the lost grave of John Knox and the cross that recalls how the story that began at the Castle came to an end. Everything is heard from the street; the Castle, Gladstone's Land and St Giles are optional visits.
- Start
- Three ways to take a fortress
- Finish
- Where the city proclaimed its power
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. For anyone curious about the street's history and everyday life. Plan your walk any time of day. 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
Three ways to take a fortress
- 2
The cannon that burst during a salute
- 3
The stone that travelled too far
- 4
Water without a pump
- 5
The merchant who signed his house
- 6
Deacon by day, thief by night
- 7
A city piled storey upon storey
- 8
A prison in the middle of the street
- 9
The gallows Brodie didn't invent
- 10
A missing grave and a disputed stool
- 11
Where the city proclaimed its power
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.
iOSAndroidComing soon
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.