Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours
Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours
5
City ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursWalking ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate Tours
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Fully customised private walking tours since 2014... An authentic, friendly and independent alternative to commercial companies and 'free' tour operators. No costumes, no gimmicks, no ghost stories, and definitely no Harry Potter! Just fact-based tales from the city's history, helping you avoid the crowds to discover Edinburgh up-close and personal. All tours led by Gareth, a professional local guide with over 20 years experience of living and working in Edinburgh. Full range of private and customised tours ONLY available to book directly through the Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours website.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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5.0
473 reviews
Excellent
465
Very good
7
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
jillyflg
Flagstaff, AZ6 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Gareth is a great guide - communicative throughout the booking process, deeply
knowledgeable about the city, able to accommodate particular interests - old or new town, history, architecture, city lore, and recommendations for other places to visit and to drink and eat well. He has a great style and sense of humor. A delight to spend time with. We will book him again on a return visit.
Highly recommend.
knowledgeable about the city, able to accommodate particular interests - old or new town, history, architecture, city lore, and recommendations for other places to visit and to drink and eat well. He has a great style and sense of humor. A delight to spend time with. We will book him again on a return visit.
Highly recommend.
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim S
San Francisco, California, United States3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We did a 3 hour walking tour of ‘New Town’ Edinburgh with Gareth and it was the highlight of our visit to the city. Gareth is a great host and guide; warm, friendly, knowledgeable and funny. He choreographs the tour perfectly to communicate a historical narrative that explains the present Edinburgh experience. My wife and thought the tour a great value that we recommend 100%.
Written 19 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thetravelersthree
Philadelphia13 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
Not only is Gareth Davies extremely knowledgeable about Edinburgh's most interesting sites and history, but he is an absolute master of figuring out each group's desires and abilities, and adjusts his tour accordingly. I cannot say enough about the delight his personalized tour delivered to our family. There is no doubt that when we return to Edinburgh, we will book Gareth for another tour of this beautiful city.
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel T
Auckland, New Zealand29 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Gareth was a great tour guide, the three hours covered things just nicely. Totally recommend using him for a private tour around this amazing city.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benjamin B
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Friends
Ok… so we booked a 3-hour tour with Gareth under a recommendation from a friend and it did not disappoint. What you will get: a funny, charming and handsome tour guide who weaves history and heaps of personality, into a beautiful walk about the city making 3 hours seem like short work and left us wanting more. He also has a healthy tongue-in-cheek disdain for Harry Potter tours which I respected.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jayfogle
1 contribution
Sep 2023
We had a very short time in Edinburgh and Gareth helped us make the most of it. He was right on time, met us at our hotel, was extremely knowledgeable, and very friendly. I couldn't think of anything I'd want to change about our tour. If I get a chance to come through Edinburgh again, I'll book again for more info about this great city.
Written 16 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria R
Fairfax County, VA87 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We enjoyed our tour with Gareth; it was a beautiful morning in Edinburgh, and he was very knowledgable about the unique history of the city. He was prompt in meeting us and responsive to all our questions. The tour was easy to book and pay for. I would recommend this walking tour without hesitation!
Written 2 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne C
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Gareth took a party of nine of us (aged 16 to late seventies) on a tour through Edinburgh Old Town, and adapted it specifically to our needs. His historical knowledge is extremely impressive, and he made it all come to life as we wound our way through some of the most beautiful and interesting parts of the city. He really knows (and separates) the fact from the fiction and is a great story-teller in both! I would take another tour with him in a heart-beat.
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry M
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Gareth was an excellent guide and we had a lot of fun. He knows a ton of history and was able to answer all our questions. The tour was well thought out and we were able to see many places we otherwise would have never known even existed. Gareth's tour was far superior to any typical touristy walking tour we've ever done. Even locals would learn a lot.
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2016traveller383
Philadelphia, PA2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Gareth kept two generally-sulky teenagers and their parents fully engaged for a 6-hour walking tour. His tour was well-planned, informative, and funny. Despite themselves, our kids learned about history, architecture, economics, and politics. Moreover, he found us a lunch venue to accommodate our need for gluten-free food. We cannot recommend Gareth enough for anyone visiting Edinburgh.
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marion_Perle
Paris, France4 contributions
Which languages does Gareth speak ? I am looking for a French speaker. Thanks a lot !
Lovetotravel7559
Arvada, CO409 contributions
I’m not sure if he speaks French. You might try contacting him on his website.
rappaportmitchell
Cheltenham, UK
If we have a chance to tour Scotland, why might we want to spend time touring the City of Edinburgh?
mpkelley
Los Angeles, CA2 contributions
Because it's freakin' beautiful and full of great stories
Susan85014
Westlake, OH2 contributions
What is the cost
lovetootrav
Los Angeles, CA217 contributions
Ours was $115 for three hours, two people. (I looked at my credit card bill).
Beda F
Aruba29 contributions
Did you feel like you got a good idea of the city and the sites? Did the tour include some historical facts as well as humor?
How long was it and how difficult was the walk? I have a torn meniscus in my knee but try to walk a lot.
Thank you very much
Carrie S
Texas21 contributions
Gareth will accommodate you in many ways with what you want out of your tour. He will walk at your pace & is mindful of who he is showing the sites. Very knowledgeable about Edinburgh and knows the history in depth. Highly recommend him & will not be disappointed. FYI... Gareth is a lot of fun too along with Monty the Bulldog.
Lesley Y
1 contribution
Hello!
I will be visiting Edinburgh for the first time this July and I am considering reserving the Royal Mile walking tour with my mother, who is in her early 70s. She's fine with moderate walking about town, but I was just curious about how intense/demanding the walking would be (hills, etc)? Also, just a comment that I love that Monty the dog often helps lead the tours! 😊 Thanks in advance!
mtritchler
San Antonio, TX33 contributions
Hi Lesley. The walking isn't too strenuous - lots of strategic stopping. At the same time, its a lot of walking. There are more stairs in the old town than along the royal mile and it's generally flat. Walking is a great experience but definitely gauge your mother's stamina before committing.
Rocco53
48 contributions
I had the pleasure of getting cross trained by the Scottish soldiers there in Edinburge. Their Camp was very closed to main down town and Edindurge Castle. I can't remember the name of this Camp. Does anybody know the name?
As you left the Fort/Camp they had a large public park, not to far from the entrance.
Gareth D
Edinburgh, UK103 contributions
Hi, I suspect you're describing the City of Edinburgh Universities Training Corps site on Colinton Road - but without a bit more detail I couldn't say for sure!