Multi-Sensory Witches Trials & Truth Tour in Edinburgh
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
The witching hour has come — it’s time for a reckoning. Follow in the tortured footsteps of real people who suffered in Scotland’s witch trials. Bear witness to the accusations, the trials and finally, the truth.
You’ll be transported back to a dark time ruled by a crazed king and his obsession with ‘otherworldly phenomenon’. Under the spell of a master storyteller you’re invited to listen carefully and perhaps think again...
Persecution of the weak, the wise and skilled? Roused by fear and envy? Inflamed by religious zeal?
There was no justice in court, nor truth in tribunals for accused ‘witches’. On this tour, our award-winning master Storytellers shine a light on the truth behind the trials and the real reasons behind the witch crazes that swept like a plague for centuries, across Scotland and beyond.
The past is calling. Will you bear witness?
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Royal Mile
You’re invited to listen carefully and perhaps think again... You’ll be transported back to a dark time ruled by a crazed king and his obsession with the dark arts, ‘otherworldly phenomenon’. Join us to walk the cobbled paths of Edinburgh’s Old Town and its centuries-old closes.
St Giles' Cathedral
Hear stories about the persecution of the weak, the wise and skilled, inflamed by religious zeal.
What‘s Included
Visit the locations where Scotland’s witches were once executed, and are now remembered
Exclusive multi-sensory tours; with master Storyteller guides
Small-Group tour
Enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
This tour is not suitable for those under the age of 18
Options
Multi-Sensory Witches Trials & Truth Tour in Edinburgh
Reviews
25 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Witches Trial and Truth
Footprints231704,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mercat Tours meeting place was very easy to find next to St Giles Church on the approach to Edinburgh Castle. I was early for the tour and given a friendly greeting by staff .. on check in I was given my audio pack and met Linda our tour guide. Linda and I chatted about the tour and she asked me about my personal interest in the plight of the accused Scottish witches. Linda is a very knowledgeable guide and gave us a very detailed account of the political background together with reformation of the church in Scotland that exacerbated fear and distrust especially of women. I would really recommend this tour and I will bring along friends next time … a story that must be told
Witchy witchy
Climber26641370114,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went on the witches tour with Steph as our guide. She was really captivating in telling the stories and taking us back to the time of the witches trails. It was a casual stroll around, but we saw some places with history which we otherwise wouldn’t have known. I can highly recommend this tour!
Witchcraft tour
eleanorray2802,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00As usual Mercat tours do not disappoint. Myself and my partner have attended a tour every time we've been in Edinburgh. Our guide Linda was very passionate on the subject which made the tour all the more engaging. Linda was conscious of keeping the group out of the rain as much as possible to keep everyone comfortable. The history and information given around people accused of witchcraft in Scotland was brilliant, and has inspired further reading into the topic, Linda was happy to recommended some books which are now on order!
Well told stories
597ellenm,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very interesting and well told stories. Linda was an excellent tour guide who told the stories about the women of Scotland in an interesting and enchanting way without being tabloid. She paid the history and the victims of this dark chapter of human history respect at the same time as it was told with dramaturgy.
Edinbugh history brought to life
jillybroon73,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a most interesting tour with well researched, and relevant history brought to life by our excellent tour guide, Linda. She is clearly passionate about the history of the witch trials, and her delivery was both clear and also entertaining. I would highly recommend Mercat Tours. I definitely must for anyone planning a trip to the old town of Edinburgh!
Ten out of ten….excellent experience
lucymM2010WA,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Linda, our guide was knowledgable, engaging, and clearly cared very much about the subject matter. She brought context and life to the experiences of the people caught up in the febrile religious tensions of the time. Fascinating, insightful and well worth it. Thank you :)
Great fun!
OnAir249207,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is something I had been wanting to do for the longest time and it did not disappoint! It was booked as a birthday gift I would definitely recommend. Really enjoyed our day/night in Edinburgh. Linda our tour rep was amazing, it was so interesting hearing all of the stories and facts, she was very informative and passionate. Looking forward to doing our next tour which was recommended by Linda for a bigger mixed group!
Amazing fun!
X7061PFchelseag,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was amazing! From start to finish the Mercat team were so helpful, I panicked and couldn’t find my confirmation email, messaged the team on WhatsApp they got back so quickly and had a new one sent out within minutes. The tour itself was great, Linda our tour guide was so friendly and really passionate about what she does. The info given was interesting and entertaining. We will definitely be back to do another tour.
Trials and Truth, a deep dive into the burning of women
melissanB5058IO,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I attended the Trials and Truth Tour hosted by Linda. She was very passionate about the topic and well informed. I really liked that the tour included so many historical facts presented in a very visual way. It was well organised in terms of the technical devices and registration aswell. Would definitely attend again.
Highly recommended!
silviapco,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Went on three tours with Mercat and each experience was wonderful - would have done more if we had the time! Highly recommend all three tours we did: Witches tour, Secrets of the Royal Mile + Castle, and Doomed, Dead and Buried tour. All guides were absolutely amazing, knowledgeable, and engrossing - many thanks to Steph, Charles, and Sarah! I have to give a special shoutout to Steph, since me and my partner were the only two people on the tour and it was pouring rain the whole time, she still managed an absolutely amazing tour that was sobering, and honored all of the women that went through the unspeakable horrors of the witch hunts. It was 100% worth it. Many thanks as well to the Mercat staff that was awaiting along with the guides - Oliver, Mhairi and Johnny; and to Mhairi and Pats who helped me change my reservations when I needed to switch up some dates! We will certainly be back on the tours if we ever return to Edinburgh.
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Operated by Mercat Tours