Photos: Berthold Werner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 AlasdairW, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Rembrandt, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo credits
Photos: Berthold Werner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 AlasdairW, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Rembrandt, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Castle Esplanade and the Royal Mile at dawn
Your local guide
Fiona MacLeod
View profile
Highlights
- Castle Esplanade before the crowds
- A worn stone stair inside a close
- St Giles' crown spire from the street
- The Heart of Midlothian in the cobbles
- Old Town layout explained stop by stop
About this tour
This session starts on the Castle Esplanade before the streets fill up, then follows the Royal Mile down past one of its narrow closes to St Giles' Cathedral. You see the fortress walls in early light, the worn stone stair inside a close, and the crown-shaped spire above the street. Fiona works in details that most visitors walk straight past, from a courtyard's washing lines to the mosaic set into the cobbles.
The call opens with a short sound check, then moves stop by stop from esplanade to close to cathedral square, with time to ask questions at each one. Fiona answers as you go and sends over a short list of the closes' names once the session ends.
It suits early risers who want to see the Old Town without the crowds that build up later in the day. It also works well for anyone planning a first visit who wants the layout clear before they arrive.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
-
Welcome and sound check 6 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Edinburgh before heading out.
-
Castle Esplanade 17 min
The camera opens on the empty esplanade at the top of the Royal Mile, the Castle's walls rising behind. Fiona points out where the One O'Clock Gun fires from the ramparts each day except Sunday.
-
A close off the Royal Mile 17 min
A narrow close leads off the main street, its stone steps worn into a curve by centuries of use. She points out a quiet courtyard tucked behind the buildings, still hung with washing lines.
-
St Giles' and the Heart of Midlothian 17 min
The crown-shaped spire of St Giles rises above the street, and Fiona finds the heart-shaped mosaic set into the cobbles nearby, explaining what it once marked.
-
Your questions 11 min
Time to ask anything about Edinburgh: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
-
A short list to keep 5 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Shortbread and New Town, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in London time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 10 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Edinburgh, showing you Castle Esplanade and A close off the Royal Mile live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the Royal Mile live with my phone, camera steady even on the cobbles.
Times shown in London time (GMT)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Reviews appear here after travellers have completed this tour.
How reviews work
Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Wed 28 Oct · 10 seats left From 27,00 €
Book