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Edinburgh Old Town tour

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Edinburgh Old Town tour

Easy

4.5

(14)

hikers

Edinburgh Old Town tour

00:53

3.31km

40m

Hiking

Embark on an easy hike through the historic heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, where medieval architecture and winding cobblestone streets tell tales of centuries past. This captivating route, spanning 2.1 miles (3.3 km) with a gentle 131 feet (40 metres) of elevation gain, takes you past iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and along the famous Royal Mile. You will experience historic urban landscapes and picturesque views, often catching glimpses of natural features like Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat.

Designed for all fitness levels, this tour typically takes around 53 minutes to complete. While the route is classified as easy, be prepared for some gentle hills, steps, and the occasional crowd, which can make walking a bit more demanding than expected. The paths are generally paved and well-maintained, guiding you through the city's ancient closes and wynds.

Edinburgh's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering a deep dive into Scotland's rich history, from its Celtic origins to royal power plays. The trail showcases a unique blend of medieval buildings, contrasting with the nearby New Town's Georgian styles. It provides an immersive cultural experience, revealing the city's history, folklore, and vibrant atmosphere through its bustling streets and charming alleys.

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

671 m

Tweeddale Court

Highlight • Historical Site

Tweeddale Court is one of some 80 closes located along the Royal Mile. ‘Close’ is a Scottish word for an alleyway, also known as a Wynd, Court, or an Entry. They are often named after a notable person or family that lived in the close.

Tip by

708 m

John Knox House

Highlight • Historical Site

51-53 High Street, better known as Moubray House is one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in Edinburgh. The original house was built here by Robert Moubray in 1477, but the existing building is mostly dated to 17th century. You can spot different elements from periods of re-construction across the centuries.

To the front is the Netherbow Well, which formerly supplied water to the Old Town.

Tip by

1.44 km

Greyfriars Bobby Statue

Highlight • Monument

Greyfriars Bobby is a terrier who became known for guarding the grave of his owner for some 14 years, until he himself died in 1872.

A fountain with a life-sized statue was created as a monument in 1872, with an additional monument marking the 150th anniversary of the dog's death being installed in Greyfriars Kirk in 2021.

Tip by

1.59 km

Thomas Riddell's Grave, Greyfriars Kirkyard

Highlight • Historical Site

Greyfriars Kirkyard is a famous historic kirkyard, founded in 1620. It's open to visitors all year round, but you can also book guided tours for more information about the many notable burials, monuments and vaults.

Tip by

1.88 km

Victoria Street

Highlight • Monument

Nice colourful houses in the wide curve of the street. A couple of the shops are also worth a closer view.

Tip by

2.02 km

St Columba’s Free Church

Highlight • Religious Site

Tolbooth Kirk (The Hub) This spectacular Edinburgh landmark was the Assembly Hall for the Church of Scotland. It is situated on the Royal Mile just below the castle. The church fell into disuse in the 1980s and was restored in the late 20th century by restorers who combined traditional Victorian features with bold contemporary features to create The Hub. The Edinburgh International Festival now uses it as a central ticket office and as a venue for concerts and events. There is also a café inside. The Hub is also used for festivals, cultural events, conferences and weddings.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.23 km

Edinburgh Castle

Highlight • Castle

Impressive castle looming on the hill over the city. Depending on the season the place before the castle can be either set-up for the big taptoe or filled with the queue to enter it - both blocking the direct sight. The view over the city from here is also worth the way up.

Tip by

2.40 km

Royal Mile

Highlight • Viewpoint

Edinburgh's Royal Mile is the Scottish capital's most famous thoroughfare. This ancient way runs straight through the Old Town, from Edinburgh Castle all the way to Holyrood Palace, the official British royal residence in Scotland. The Royal Mile is an atmospheric place to explore and is thronged with restaurants, cafes, inns and shops, as well as plenty of tourists.

Tip by

2.69 km

St Giles' Cathedral

Highlight • Religious Site

In the heart of Scotland’s capital city, St Giles’ Cathedral is a breathtaking building. Founded in 1124, the church became the focal point of the Scottish Reformation of the 16th century. The current church building dates from the 14th century and its distinctive crown tower is one of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks.

Tip by

2.84 km

Red Telephone Boxes on the Royal Mile

Highlight • Monument

The classic red telephone booth, telephone box or red telephone box of the United Kingdom Postal Authority from 1924 is widely known for its striking design.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.91 km

The Tron Kirk and the Royal Mile Market

Highlight • Religious Site

The Tron Kirk, like so many of the city's churches, has now been repurposed. There is a market hall here.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.08 km

The Scotsman Steps

Highlight • Monument

The Scotsman Steps were built between 1899 and 1902 by architects Dunn & Findlay as part of the construction of the building housing The Scotsman newspaper and, since 2001, The Scotsman Hotel. The 104 steps form a pedestrian link between the North Bridge and Waverley Station's Market Street entrance. The construction of the Scotsman building at the turn of the 20th century was part of a regeneration of the surrounding North Bridge area; the Scotsman building and Steps formed a turreted 'gateway' between the Edinburgh New Town and Old Town.

Tip by

3.31 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

1.49 km

1.36 km

252 m

103 m

102 m

Surfaces

1.72 km

1.27 km

216 m

103 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Tuesday 7 July

23°C

15°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Edinburgh Old Town tour

00:53h

3.31km

40m

Edinburgh Old Town tour

Tweeddale Court

John Knox House

Greyfriars Bobby Statue

Thomas Riddell's Grave, Greyfriars Kirkyard

Victoria Street

St Columba’s Free Church

Edinburgh Castle

Royal Mile

St Giles' Cathedral

Red Telephone Boxes on the Royal Mile

The Tron Kirk and the Royal Mile Market

The Scotsman Steps

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