Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
Ghosts of Edinburgh: A Bloody Past Walking Tour & Escape Game
4.73Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 56 min 2.9 km Edinburgh App-guided
Play in
EnglishFrenchGerman
The experience
About this quest
Step into the dark and twisted history of Edinburgh with this thrilling walking tour and escape game. Explore the city’s most haunted places, from sites of public executions to hidden corners filled with chilling tales.
Uncover the bloody stories of the Great Scottish Witch Hunts, the infamous Burke and Hare murders, and Edinburgh’s most notorious ghosts, including the Wizard of West Bow, the Grey Lady, and George Mackenzie.
In this macabre adventure, you take on the role of a mysterious staff with a human head, once wielded by Major Thomas Weir, Edinburgh’s infamous wizard. The major has gone missing, and it’s up to you to track him down and confront those who aided him in his quest for redemption.
Perfect for ghost story enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, and history buffs, this self-guided tour lets you explore Edinburgh’s haunted past while solving riddles and uncovering the city’s darkest secrets.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Friends, couples and older teens who enjoy a good scare can walk Edinburgh after dark at their own pace, hearing about witch hunts, the Burke and Hare murders and the Grey Lady across 11 stops. Allow about an hour for 2.9 km, with some clues needing a phone flashlight. Young children unsettled by tales of executions and murder, or anyone wanting a live guide to quiz, should pick something else.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Visit the most haunted places in town
Discover Edinburgh’s dark and bloody past, from the Great Scottish Witch Hunts to the Burke and Hare murders
Learn about the haunting stories of the Wizard of West Bow, the Grey Lady, George Mackenzie and more
Explore the many sites where public executions were held
Visit the hall containing a book made of William Burke’s flesh
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.73 / 5
567 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
Edinburgh
A · Start
57 The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL, UK
B · Finish
102 W Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH, Regatul Unit
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Lidia Molina Whyte .
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Lidia Molina Whyte
WHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
Good to know before you play
- Best at night
- Don’t enter the places, not part of the experience
- Use the phone flashlight for clues if needed
- Horror & Haunts
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is this a self-guided Edinburgh ghost tour?
Yes. The app leads you from stop to stop on your phone, tells the dark story of each place and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. There is no guide and no fixed group, so you start whenever you like, ideally at night.
Does the ghost walk include Edinburgh Castle?
Edinburgh Castle is one of the 11 stops, followed by the Witches Well at the end of the route. You stay outside: the places are not entered as part of the experience, and the stories and puzzles are played from the street.
Does the route pass the Greyfriars Bobby statue?
Yes. The Greyfriars Bobby statue is a stop on the route, straight after Greyfriars Kirkyard and before Surgeons' Hall Museums, so you will see Edinburgh's famous dog statue on the way.
Where does it start and how long does it take?
You start at The Mound and walk about 2.9 km through West Bow, Grassmarket, Greyfriars Kirkyard, St Giles' Cathedral and Lawnmarket, finishing at the Witches Well. It takes about an hour, and you can pause and continue later.
Do we need to book a time, and can we play as a group?
No time slot is needed. Start whenever suits you, and after dark works best for the atmosphere. One ticket covers your whole group, up to the number of devices stated, so everyone can follow along and solve the puzzles together.
What’s the challenge in this haunted walk?
You play as a ghostly staff (yes, with a human head) once wielded by Major Thomas Weir. He’s gone missing, and it’s up to you to solve riddles, face dark legends, and track down those who helped him in his fall.
Will I see spooky places I won’t find in regular tours?
Definitely. Public execution sites, alleys whispered to be haunted, stories of Burke & Hare, Wizard of West Bow, the Grey Lady, George Mackenzie—all these bits of scary history pop up in corners most people pass by without noticing.
Is this something I could do on a date night?
For sure. Imagine starting at dusk, walking through atmospheric old streets of Edinburgh, solving creepy clues together… it blends romance + mystery in a way that dinner alone doesn’t.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
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A day out, gifted.
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More adventures in Edinburgh
Edinburgh dark-history context
Documented tragedy, local legends and a fictional haunting
Edinburgh’s dark reputation draws on both documented events and stories retold over generations. Thousands of people were accused during Scotland’s witch trials, with hundreds executed around Castle Hill, while names such as Burke and Hare belong to the city’s real crime history. Ghosts such as the Wizard of West Bow and the Grey Lady are folklore, not verified events. The talking staff and search for Major Weir in this quest form an original fictional thread through those different layers of history and legend. Playable languages: English, French, German.
Halloween 2026 in Edinburgh
Plan a self-guided Halloween outing with ghost stories, haunted walks or a fictional horror game. Compare the available quests before choosing.
Check the starting point, duration, available languages, recommended age and access details on the quest page. These are app-guided games, not tickets to a scheduled Halloween event.
