Explore Edinburgh and uncover its history...
My guided walking tours cater to all budgets and offer an alternative to the typical 'tourist tours'.
Previous guests have described me as insightful, engaging, knowledgeable and friendly.
What I Offer...
Give the Gift of Discovery
Gift a privately guided walking tour of Edinburgh.
Popular with Edinburgh residents, my gift experiences are valid for two years and allow the recipient to choose a date and time that suits them. Purchasers receive a PDF, which contains all the details on how to book plus tour descriptions, to either print out or send digitally. I currently offer two different types:
Edinburgh Uncovered Gift Experience - £75
One tour for two people with six local history walks to choose from.
Edinburgh 900 Years in the Making; Industrial Abbeyhill; New Town East; New Town West; Calton Hill; Holyrood to Duddingston. Tours last between 2-3 hours and cover about 2-3 km.
Bespoke Gift Experiences - usually between £200-£400
One tour for up to six people. You tell me how long you want your tour and what you’re interested in - different areas, historical eras, specific topics - and I’ll create a tour tailored to you.
Examples: Water of Leith villages; Stockbridge to Holyrood; Leith Heritage; 17th-century Edinburgh; Medicine; Architecture; etc.
Terms & Conditions apply.
I don't have an online shop so either use the form below to purchase or enquire about Gift Experiences.
Find Out More...
Check out some highlights from previous tours...
About Me...
Hi! I'm Hetty. Although I've been a city dweller for almost 30 years I grew up in Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of Scotland. A community centred around farming and fishing, life in Orkney is close to nature, I can recognise wild-flowers and hand-milk a cow - not that there's much call for that particular skill in Edinburgh! While I've been lucky enough to travel to places in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, it was my childhood in Orkney that gave me a love of landscapes and where my life-time interest in history began. With everything from Neolithic villages to Second World War navy bases it’s hard to ignore the past in Orkney.
Moving to Edinburgh in 1992 I spent 25 years working in a variety of sectors, from hospitality to higher education, before sitting my university entrance exams on my 40th birthday and becoming a student myself. I graduated with a first-class MA (Hons) in Social and Architectural History from the University of Edinburgh in 2018. With a particular interest in people, buildings and landscapes, I started this business in 2019 to offer walking tours for people curious about the "how's and why's" of Edinburgh's past rather than just the "oohs and aahs" of its history as entertainment!
Along with running my business I also enjoy getting involved in the local heritage scene. I've previously volunteered with Museums and Galleries Edinburgh and very much enjoyed being a Doors Open Day guide at the Assembly Rooms. Since 2021 I've provided tours in support of the Abbeyhill Colony of Artists annual Arts Festival, while in 2022 I became a tutor for the City of Edinburgh's Adult Education Programme. I'm also a member of various groups, including the Scottish Local History Forum and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, and I currently sit on the council of the Old Edinburgh Club.
Heritage Services
Local History Walks
Private Guiding
