History
The people, places and turning points that made Edinburgh what it is.
EDINBURGH, ON YOUR TERMS
Your group.
Your pace.
Your Edinburgh.
A private walking tour shaped around you.
The city’s big stories, its little secrets, and a guide you have entirely to yourselves.
From £25 per hour · For your whole group
Exclusively your groupDesigned around your interestsMeet wherever suits you
A CITY. COUNTLESS WAYS TO SEE IT.
No two groups.
No two identical tours.
Your time in Edinburgh should feel like your own.
You won’t be paired with other visitors or added to a larger group. It’s just you, your people, and me, with the space to ask questions, follow your curiosity, and enjoy the city together.
I design the route, activities, places we visit and stories I tell around your group’s interests and specifications. First visit or familiar streets, a family outing or friends exploring together: we’ll find your Edinburgh.
START WITH WHAT YOU LOVE
Follow your curiosity.
Choose a focus, mix a few, or tell me something entirely different. These are starting points, never fixed itineraries.
Food
Local flavours, food stories and stops chosen to suit your tastes.
Folklore
Strange tales, old traditions and the stories that linger in the closes.
Nature
Green spaces, fresh air and a different view of the city.
Bars
Characterful pubs, favourite haunts and time for a drink along the way.
City highlights
The must-see sights and quieter corners, for tourists and locals alike.
THE LUXURY OF A TOUR THAT FITS
A little more here.
A little less there.
It’s your walk.
Start where you are
I can meet you at your hotel, in town after a meal or booked activity, or at another Edinburgh meeting point of your choice. We’ll agree the start and finish locations together.
Take it at your pace
Stay longer somewhere you love. Skip something that doesn’t grab you. Take a breather. There’s no shared group or fixed schedule of stops to keep up with.
Make time your own
Morning, afternoon or evening: request any time of day. Your overall start and end times are booked in advance; how we spend the time in between is flexible.
YOUR GUIDE, ALL TO YOURSELVES
Hello, I’m Craig.
A city I know well. A tour I make yours.
I’m Craig Barnes, and I’ve been guiding around Edinburgh for over 10 years. I know the spots visitors come to see, and the places locals love just as much.
With a background in history and experience working at both the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle, I bring context, curiosity and a love of the city to every walk.
Tell me who’s coming and what you enjoy. I’ll turn that into a tour that feels personal to your group.
ONE GROUP. ONE HOURLY PRICE.
Private doesn’t mean complicated.
Prices are for the whole group, not per person. Two hours is recommended for a good introduction; the minimum is one hour.
UP TO 10 GUESTS
£25 / hour
£50 for a recommended two-hour tour.
August bookings£35 / hour£70 for two hours
MORE THAN 10 GUESTS
£35 / hour
£70 for a recommended two-hour tour.
August bookings£45 / hour£90 for two hours
August rates apply to tours taking place in August. Your group size, start time and end time are agreed in advance.
LET’S MAKE IT PERSONAL
What does your
Edinburgh look like?
Tell me a little about your group and the time you have in mind. I’ll get back to you to discuss your tour and confirm availability.
01Tell me your plans.
02We shape your tour together.
03Meet me. Make the city yours.
Submitting a request doesn’t confirm a booking. I’ll confirm the details with you by email.
Thank you for your request.
Your request has been submitted. Craig will reply by email to discuss availability and the details. Your booking is not yet confirmed.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW
Before we walk.
Will other people join our tour?
No. Every tour is exclusively for your group. You have Craig as your guide entirely to yourselves.
Can we mix different kinds of tour?
Absolutely. History with a food stop, folklore and favourite pubs, or a mix of city highlights and green spaces: tell Craig what interests you, and he’ll curate a route around your group.
Can you meet us at our hotel?
Yes. Choose an Edinburgh meeting point that suits you, including your hotel or somewhere in town after a meal or activity. Include it in your request, or agree it with Craig afterwards.
How flexible is the timing?
Your start and finish times are booked in advance. Within that time, there’s no fixed timetable of stops: spend longer where you like, move on when you’re ready, and walk at your group’s pace.
How long should we book?
Two hours is recommended, with a minimum of one hour. You can request longer and any time of day, subject to availability. The form shows a guide price based on your group size, date and duration.