Highlights from the Royal Mile: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Tune into ancient and modern Scottish tales on one of Europe’s oldest streets on this self-guided audio tour. Experience the magic of GPS playback on this immersive stroll through Edinburgh's Old Town.

• See historical sights along all four sections of the Royal Mile: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, the High Street, and the old burgh of Canongate
• Hear from producer Martin Donnelly, a Senior Teaching Fellow at two of Scotland's top universities and Edinburgh local
• Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish
• Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it

The Royal Mile is one of Europe’s most ancient and famous streets. Along this 1 ¼ mile stretch – a Scot’s mile – crimes have been committed, royals have travelled, and famous folk like Rabbie Burns, Adam Smith and David Hume have met. On this walking tour, I’ll bring some of their stories to life.

Starting at the top of Castlehill next to the Witches Well, you’ll hear about Edinburgh Castle’s early days, when a series of infamous witch burnings took place here. As you travel down the length of the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, I’ll show you the former residence of the gentleman robber, Deacon Brodie, the inspiration behind Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. You’ll hear about religious figures like John Knox, ​​a leading figure in the Scottish Protestant Reformation, and royal tragedies like the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. I’ll also share a few tales about the barbaric punishments meted out to criminals in the 1600s, and the heartwarming story of a young lad pulled from the rubble of the Paisley Close disaster.

On this walk through the Old Town, you’ll have the chance to:

• Amble down all four sections of the Royal Mile: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, the High Street, and the old burgh of Canongate
• Stroll around St Giles Cathedral, home to the Old Tolbooth, the Heart of Midlothian mosaic, and a statue of Charles II
• Hear about the priest that was pelted to death by an angry mob, and some of the other terrible deeds that took place in the shadows of the Mercat Cross
• Find out about the city’s stench in the 1500s, and how far it travelled
• See Netherbow Port, once the main gate between Edinburgh and Canongate

As a Senior Teaching Fellow at two of Scotland's top universities, I’ve handpicked, carefully researched and curated the stories you’ll hear today, but an Edinburgh tour deserves a Scottish voice. And there’s no one better suited to the task than professional radio actor, James Bryce, who narrates all 14 stories in this tour in his charming Scottish lilt.

Enjoy all this, and more, on this entertaining and informative 45-minute stroll into the heart – and history – of the Old Town.