Edinburgh Poetry Tours

Edinburgh Poetry Tours offers walks on Edinburgh’s dramatic and historic Royal Mile, led by poet Ken Cockburn.

Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature, and has the only purpose-built poetry library in the world. Poetry has been its heartbeat for centuries – the ‘makars’ of the old Scottish kings, Robert Burns in the 18th century and Robert Louis Stevenson 100 years later, 20th century writers like Norman MacCaig and Muriel Spark, plus the many poets of the city today. Weaving through narrow closes into open squares and gardens, you’ll find out how Edinburgh has inspired writers over the centuries. Whether you love poetry, are interested in Scotland’s history and literature, or just want to discover some secrets of the Royal Mile, this tour is for you.

Ken Cockburn is poet, translator and writing tutor based in Edinburgh. Formerly Fieldworker and Assistant Director at the Scottish Poetry Library (just off the Canongate, in Crichton’s Close), he has run poetry tours in Edinburgh’s Old Town since 2007, for organisations and projects including The Old Town Festival, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh City of Literature, Artlink, the Scottish Storytelling Centre and the Scottish Storytelling Festival. He has also worked in many other sites across the city, presenting poetry in libraries, galleries, pubs and the Scottish Parliament.

Tours are available for private bookings, and can be run for between 1 and 20 people.