The Headless Horseman in Edinburgh

You have made two new acquaintances in an online ghost hunter forum. They have found an old journal and are trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of its owner. Teacher Ichabod Crane’s two-hundred-year-old notes contain descriptions of a headless horseman and what seems to be a curse plaguing Edinburgh. Maybe the journal offers the clues needed to find out what happened to Ichabod?

You are invited to join an investigation, which starts by the Anchor Close on the Royal Mile. Your new friends have mapped out the locations of relevance in Ichabod’s life, and you plan to follow all the leads the journal provides. But, one of the people you were supposed to meet never shows up at the agreed location…

Go on a ghost tour and solve a mystery

Walk in Ichabod Crane’s footsteps through central Edinburgh. Participate in the story in each location through gamification. Control conversations between characters, examine mysterious items and crack secret codes while you explore the city’s historical surroundings. Your companion will tell you everything he knows about the journal and the Headless Horseman as you walk.

Will you be able to reveal why Ichabod disappeared, and find your friend?

The StoryTourist app will show you the way

To walk this tour, you’ll download the user-friendly StoryTourist app. The app is equipped with a map, GPS, a narrator and digital guide which makes sure you walk in the right direction. Once you have purchased the tour it is yours to keep. You can use it at any time and as many times as you wish.

Through the StoryTourist-app, you’ll hear the story of how the Headless Horseman haunted Edinburgh. The only thing you need to be able to explore the city in a brand-new way is a smartphone with headphones.

This self-guided city exploration game is an adaptation of Washington Irving’s short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. You will find practical information about the tour under the “instructions” tab.

How this tour works:

Your smartphone is your guide on this tour! Once you have purchased a tour, this is what you do:

Download the StoryTourist app from Apple App Store or Google Play, while connected to Wi-Fi.
Log into the app using the same email address you filled in when purchasing the tour. You will create your password the first time you log into the app. The tour you have purchased will be ready to download in the tour library once you have logged in. Make sure you are still connected to Wi-Fi while downloading the tour.
Go to the starting point of the tour, open the app, put your headphones on and head out on your StoryTour adventure!

Important information:

This is a location based experience. You have to be at the tour starting point by the High Street entrance to Anchor Close in Edinburgh, Scotland, to start this walking tour.
The tour ends by Fleshmarket Close.
Once the tour is downloaded to your phone, you can use it offline.
There is a map, GPS and a digital guide in the app, making sure that you’ll walk the right way.
This tour is available in English.
Once you have purchased the tour, it is your to keep. You can use it whenever you want and as many times as you would like. You can start, pause and end the tour whenever you would like.
This tour is pet friendly – feel free to bring your dog on this walk!
Public transport is available close to both the tour start point and end point.
This tour is not accessible with a wheelchair due to stairs.
We recommend participants to be 15 years old or over, due to the dark theme of the tour.

What to bring:

Your smartphone, with the StoryTourist app and the tour you purchased already downloaded.
Headphones, for the best possible listening experience
Make sure that your smartphone battery is fully charged. If you know that your phone has poor battery capacity, it can be a good idea to bring a powerbank as well.

Anchor Close

This close (which is a Scottish term for alleyway) was the location of Smellie’s Printing House, who printed Robert Burns works and the first ever editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Ichabod's home

Some of the buildings here in James’ court date back to the 16th century. The close has been the home of Scottish writer James Boswell and 18th century philosopher David Hume.

Ichabod's school

In the 1800’s, this used to be a school known as the Normal Institution. It was managed by the Church of Scotland and provided residence for teachers and 500-600 children.

The Grassmarket

The stone circle marks the site where many Covenanters were hanged in the public gallows. Covenanters were Scots who rebelled against the King in defence of Scottish religion in the 1600s.

Greyfriars Bobby statue

According to legend, the dog Greyfriars Bobby was so loyal to his late master, nightwatchman John Gray, that he spent the rest of his life by his grave at the haunted Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Under the bridge

You are standing under the now closed West College Street Bridge, connecting the National museum of Scotland to the University of Edinburgh’s Old College

Tron Kirk

In 1697, 18-year-old student Thomas Aikenhead ridiculed the Bible outside Tron Kirk, the church across the road. He became the last person in Scotland to be executed for blasphemy.

St Cecilia's Hall

This is St Cecilia's Hall, built in 1763 as the first purpose-built concert hall in Scotland. After being used as a warehouse, school and Freemasons lodge, it’s now hosting concerts again.

St Patrick's Church

St Patrick's Church, built 1771-1774, became a Catholic church in 1856. Excavations at the site indicate that this would have been the location of the town boundary in the 14th century.

High Street Hostel

Above the hostel entranceway you can see a crown and two unicorns - the national animal of Scotland. This was the royal emblem of Scotland before the union with England in 1603.

Fleshmarket Close

Fleshmarket Close used to be the location of a butcher's market. The blood from the meat would run down the alley to the slaughter house and the lake at the bottom of the hill.

Locations you'll visit on this tour:

The Royal Mile, with its narrow alleys
James' Court, with historic buildings and where The Writers Museum is located
Castlehill - where you can see Edinburgh Castle
The Covenanters memorial at Grassmarket square
The Greyfriars Bobby fountain and statue, in honor of the loyal dog that stayed by its master's grave
Tron Kirk
St Patrick's Church