As of 28/05/2023, 321 of our 326 Tripadvisor reviews awarded us five-stars!
BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE'S EDINBURGH - A HISTORY TOUR
Step back in time to Edinburgh as it was in the late summer of 1745. Robert, our award-winning Edinburgh tour guide, will take you on a tour of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Edinburgh. You'll learn what some of Edinburgh's people thought and did during this period of civil war. You'll find out how the supporters of both sides acted within the city before, during, and after Charlie's Jacobites captured it.
BOOK THIS TOUR
Prices start at £85 for a single-person private tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Lowest price guarantee
This tour is rated '5-star' on Tripadvisor
Please note; This tour regularly sells out. We suggest booking as soon as possible!
"We took a two-hour walking tour with Robert, a school teacher by trade. It was spectacular and so was he. He customized what we saw and the stories he told to our interests and had some very humorous takes on Scotland’s history and culture. If he’s available, do not hesitate to book his services!!"
Amy R, Tripadvisor review, October 2022
DETAILS
Meet inside the entry to Greyfriars Kirkyard, next to Greyfriars Bobby's Bar.
2-hour duration (approx).
Finishes near to Castlehill on the Royal Mile, but we can finish at a location which best suits you.
Private tours start at 10am and 2pm.
Moderate gradients, uneven paving, steps.
Tickets are sent via email. Your guide will check your details at the start of the tour - don't worry if you didn't bring your tickets.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Here are five of the places we can visit on your private tour. There are more! How long we spend on each story and how much walking we do is up to you!
Greyfriars Kirkyard;
We'll have a quick introduction to two significant Hanoverians, and we'll also look at the city's Flodden Wall.
The Museum of Scotland;
You'll learn about some of Edinburgh's important Jacobite and Hanoverian women and there's also a great story about a dress which saved someone's life!
The Netherbow;
Using some of our carefully selected archive images, we'll help you imagine the day Edinburgh fell to the army of Prince Charles Edward Stewart. You'll be in the very place where the bravery and subterfuge happened.
The Mercat Cross;
You'll discover why this was where the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 took a big step forward here and why it symbolically ended here a few months later.
The Lawnmarket;
We turn our attention to the attempts to stop the Jacobite army from taking Edinburgh. You'll find out just how comically unsuccessful this was... We will end by explaining the fighting which went on in Edinburgh's streets.
WHY TAKE THIS TOUR?
An authentic Scottish experience
We couldn't really talk about the Hanoverians and Jacobites without wearing a kilt, could we? Robert will reveal the links between his outfit and those worn by both sides during the '45. He'll also share a surprising story about kilt-wearing in Edinburgh at this time.
Picture-perfect photo opportunities
On this tour, you'll see one of the best-preserved stretches of the Flodden Wall, visit Tweeddale Court, and explore the graves of Hanoverians and Jacobites within Greyfriars Kirkyard. Each photo will have a story unknown to even most Edinburgh folk.
Pick a side!
Would you have followed the Jacobite Army of Prince Charles Edward Stewart, or the Hanoverian side? Was Edinburgh 'seized' or 'liberated'? Was Bonnie Prince Charlie the 'Young Pretender' or the actual Prince? We'll keep the story as unbiased as possible; only YOU can decide which side had your loyalty!
Walk in the footsteps of Jacobites and Hanoverians
On this tour, you'll visit places visited by Donald Cameron of Lochiel, Flora MacDonald, Prince Charles Edward Stewart and the Duke of Cumberland (time permitting).
Archive images help you see Edinburgh as it once was
On this tour, you'll explore today's Old Town; you'll also see carefully chosen pictures showing how the city looked in the mid-18th century.
Responsible tour groups
We are enthusiastic members of the City of Edinburgh Cemetery Guide Scheme. At the start of your tour your guide will explain how we will move around the burial grounds, staying on paths and we will explain how you could make a donation to the Council for the upkeep of these historic places.
TRUST US WITH YOUR TOUR
Certificate of Excellence award winner 2017 and 2018.
Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice award winner 2020 and 2023.
As of December 15, 2022, 99.6% of our reviews have been five stars.
We've been leading Edinburgh tours for ten years.
GUEST REVIEWS
(as this is a new tour, these reviews are from our other tours)
"We had a very informative and entertaining afternoon with Robert. He is very knowledgeable and pitched his information at just the right level for us. He has a great sense of humour and we enjoyed his company as well as discovering new things about Edinburgh and seeing places we hadn't seen before."
RohanFan Tripadvisor, November 2022
"I have lived in Edinburgh for 30 years and have probably been to the Royal Mile on thousands of occasions, but to go on a tour with Robert made me feel as though I was discovering my city for the first time."
Matthew M, Tripadvisor review, October 2022
YOUR MEETING PLACE
Your guide will meet you just inside this gateway to Greyfriars Kirkyard, next to Greyfriars Bobby's Bar at the top of Candlemaker Row.
Google Maps shows only an approximate location.
F.A.Q. SECTION
Q: A member of my group has special mobility requirements.
A: Edinburgh’s Old Town is formed around a ‘Crag and Tail’ geological formation which means it does have some quite steep gradients up and down, but the city is for everyone to enjoy, it might just mean making some alterations to the route. We enjoy altering our private tours to ensure accessibility is achieved.
If you contact us before you book, we can suggest some possible alternatives and can also discuss which of our other tours might be best suited to you.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: Don't worry, we will be there! As the great Scottish comedian Billy Connolly says, there's never the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing!
Q: What happens if we are running late?
A: Since we now only do private tours, your guide is only there for you. Sometimes things happen and you know you will be running late. Within reason, and with some warning, we can try to accommodate this.
Your guide may be happy to meet you at a slightly later time, but please let him know what is happening, as soon as you can. You can text him on 07590026077. We've had times when guests have been on delayed trains and Robert waited in a local cafe. Please, where possible, don't make him wait outside in the rain!
If you are running late and haven't contacted Robert, he is authorised to leave twenty minutes after your agreed start time. No refund will be given after this point.
Q: Are there toilets?
A: We strongly recommend that you 'pay a visit' before your tour as there are limited opportunities to use public toilets en route.
We recommend visiting the Museum of Scotland (just across the road from our usual Greyfriars Kirkyard starting point). The toilets are on the ground floor. The Museum of Scotland is a free-to-visit attraction and is well worth a visit. It also has two excellent cafeterias.
Greyfriars Bobby's Bar, right next to Greyfriars Kirkyard, has an excellent range of food and drink and has toilets for customers to use.
Q: Are your private tours 'child-friendly'?
A: Our tours are usually what we would describe as more 'adult' tours, however, your guide is a qualified primary school teacher and knows how to pitch our stories appropriately. He can also provide appropriate alternatives. If you let us know well in advance, we can offer more flexibility.
We do require that children under 16 attend with an adult.