Tall Tales Walking Tours

Tall Tales Walking Tours Discover fascinating stories behind some Edinburgh's iconic statues, as your qualified STGA guide leads you through the picturesque Old & New Towns.

Guided walking tours from 24th June to 25th July 2021. In 2020, we held a series of popular and successful guided walking tours in Edinburgh's historic and elegant West End called "West End Stories". This year we have moved up to the Old Town with our brand new tours called "Tall Tales". Tickets can be booked directly on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tall-tales-walking-tour-tickets-156386451085

The Tall Tales Walking Tour team for Weekend in on 25th September 2021 attracted around 80 enthusiastic participants...
27/09/2021

The Tall Tales Walking Tour team for Weekend in on 25th September 2021 attracted around 80 enthusiastic participants, which was wonderful. Thanks to everyone who came along.

Back row: Alan Pryde; Doreen Boyle; Paul Gladwell; Hugh Salvesen; Sarah Cagossi Austin

Front row: Mary Birch; Susan Smith

The tour was repeated as a virtual event on Sunday 26th September.

The Tall Tales Walking tours were organised and run by members of the Edinburgh & S E Scotland branch of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association.

What a glorious day for our penultimate "Tall Tales" tour with our fabulous guide Anne M. ! We will be back with more st...
25/07/2021

What a glorious day for our penultimate "Tall Tales" tour with our fabulous guide Anne M. ! We will be back with more stories to tell and new sites to show!
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In the pic: special guest Iris M.
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Coming on a "Tall Tale" tour will mean not only to discover about the subject of a "monumental" recognition, but also to...
21/07/2021

Coming on a "Tall Tale" tour will mean not only to discover about the subject of a "monumental" recognition, but also to get to know the artists involved in the making of these celebratory landmarks.

Take for example the Scott Monument: the completion of this neo gothic 200 ft tall (61 m) "rocket" dedicated to the writer Sir Walter Scott involved the skills of many people. Not only the designer George Meikel Kemp, but also builders and plenty of sculptors, some of which still remain unknown.

60+ statues were created in several phases by different 1800s Scottish artists, 56 of which represent characters from Scott's books.

So, how many of the sculptors were females?

Amelia Robertson Paton Hill, author of the neighbouring statue of David Livingstone, sculpted 2 characters from "The Pirate" and a statue of the historical figure Richard The Lionheart mentioned in 3 of Scott's novels, including "Ivanhoe".
Katherine Anne Fraser Tytler depicted Constance from the poem "Marmion".
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In the pics:
1) The Scott Monument
2) Some lovely "Tall Tales" customers immortalised by our guide Mary B.
3) Amelia Robertson Paton Hill by Alexander Blaikley (Scottish National Portrait Gallery).
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Book your 🎫 here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tall-tales-walking-tour-tickets-156386451085
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The Black Watch memorial on the Mound commemorates those who lost their lives during the South African War. Over 20 000 ...
20/07/2021

The Black Watch memorial on the Mound commemorates those who lost their lives during the South African War. Over 20 000 casualties were too many to bring their bodies back home and the government had to come up with a difficult decision of setting up a monument instead. The year was 1910 and less than in a decade war memorials will become a familiar sight all over Britain. Learn more about this unusual memorial at a Tall Tales Walking Tour.

Hello everyone, if you have not been already, make sure you sign up to one of our fabulous walking tours! Only 5 days to...
19/07/2021

Hello everyone, if you have not been already, make sure you sign up to one of our fabulous walking tours! Only 5 days to go, which means 10 more tours with professional guides waiting to share with you a series of unexpected stories which will blow your mind!
Book now https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tall-tales-walking-tour-tickets-156386451085
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In the pic: Hugh, Adrian, Mairi, Sarah C.A., Kerstin and Peter
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There was once a bartender working in an Edinburgh hotel. The only unusual thing about him was that many of his customer...
17/07/2021

There was once a bartender working in an Edinburgh hotel. The only unusual thing about him was that many of his customers would order their drink with a military salute and the phrase “Double whisky, pan General”. The name of Polish commander Stanisław Maczek was well known throughout Europe and, being one of the greatest heroes of WWII, he was offered honorary citizenship in several Dutch towns. Yet he chose Scotland to become his new home. Hear the incredible story of the genius commander who knew no single defeat in his whole career by joining a Tall Tales Walking Tour.
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Tours available until the 25th of July!
Book your ticket here🎫: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tall-tales-walking-tour-tickets-156386451085
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The memorial to David Livingstone in the Princes Street Gardens is one of the very few Victorian statues created by a wo...
17/07/2021

The memorial to David Livingstone in the Princes Street Gardens is one of the very few Victorian statues created by a woman. Amelia Robertson Hill (Née Paton) experienced all the bitterness of being an artistic woman in a male-dominated society and used her great talent and close acquaintance with the famous explorer to prove her point. As the creator of multiple portraits and statues, modelled in the personal presence of Dr. Livingstone, she managed better than anyone else to vividly express his complicated character. Join one of our Tall Tales Walking Tours and our professional guides will unveil all the secrets of this largely unnoticed masterpiece.
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Tours available until the 25th of July!
Book your ticket here🎫: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tall-tales-walking-tour-tickets-156386451085
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Despite being a second son, young Walter Scott was only 13 when he became the 5th Duke of Buccleuch and the 7th Duke of ...
16/07/2021

Despite being a second son, young Walter Scott was only 13 when he became the 5th Duke of Buccleuch and the 7th Duke of Queensberry. His legal guardian was none other than his namesake Sir Walter Scott. The latter was remarkably busy with planning King George IV’s visit to Edinburgh and decided to introduce his stately ward into high society by lodging King George at the Duke’s family estate. It was just the right start to the brilliant career of the young laird. Discover more fascinating real-life stories on our Tall Tales Walking Tours.
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Tours available until the 25th of July!
Book your ticket here🎫: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tall-tales-walking-tour-tickets-156386451085
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West Parliament Square
Edinburgh
EH11RE

Opening Hours

Wednesday 2pm - 6pm
Thursday 2pm - 6pm
Friday 2pm - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 2pm
Sunday 11am - 2pm

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