Scotland’s ‘best walking tour’ named as Harry Potter experience – see full list

A Harry Potter walking tour has been named the “best in Scotland”.

With families all across Scotland and beyond looking for fun ways to make the most of the summer holidays, there is nothing quite like a walking tour. Combining fresh air and exercise with fascinating stories and stunning beauty spots, they are the perfect way to spend a sunny day out.

Combining price per person and review data, outdoors experts at Millets have revealed the country’s best-rated walking tours. Coming in at number one is the Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh.

On this tour, you will be taken around all of the locations in the Scottish capital that inspired J.K. Rowling when writing the Harry Potter books. You will also see filming locations from the film adaptations, as well as landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle.

Scoring 9.83 out of 10 according to the experts, the £16 tour is rated five out of five on TripAdvisor based 2,209 reviews. Meanwhile, 98 per cent of reviewers would recommend it to others.

One recent Tripadvisor review reads: “It was a lovely walk and Kieran was really informative and great fun for Harry Potter fans.”

Following behind in second place is the Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales, also in Edinburgh. This walking tour will take you up and down the network of cobbled streets and back alleys that make up the historic heart of the city’s Old Town.

Running for around two hours, top sights include St Giles Cathedral, the Mercat Cross, the George Heriot School, and Edinburgh Castle. With 97 per cent of reviews recommending the tour, the experts scored it 8.10 out of 10.

Meanwhile, in third place is the Glasgow City Centre Daily Walking Tour. Costing £12, this tour takes walkers around all of the top sites in Scotland’s biggest city, providing an excellent opportunity for locals and tourists alike to learn more about its history and culture.

The tour stops at George Square, the City Chambers, Glasgow Cathedral, The Necropolis, and the Gallery of Modern Art. With an overall score of 6.37 out of 10, one reviewer said: “What a perfect way to get a real feel for Glasgow, history, culture, progress.

“Our guide was so accommodating for guest[s] that required accessible surfaces, and a little extra time, that it created a warm friendly walk through history. We could all hear… and had time to snap photos as well. Great value for the cost. I highly recommend Sara as your guide.”

Elsewhere, rounding out the top five walking tours in Scotland according to Millets are the Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket and Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends. Both receiving scores of 6.12 out of 10, 96 per cent of reviews would recommend the former while 95 per cent would the latter.

Author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets Natalie Byrne commented: “Walking tours have become popular in cities all across the UK, allowing people to get outside and among the sites and culture of various parts of the country. However, if you’ve never been on a walking tour, it can be difficult to know exactly how to prepare, what to bring and what to wear.

“Well, of course, what to wear can be heavily dictated by the weather, so keeping a close eye on forecasts is always a good idea. If there is a chance of rain, you can always bring a backpack and layer up; bring a waterproof jacket or umbrella. On the other end of the spectrum, you could also throw sunglasses and sun cream into a backpack in case of any sunny spells throughout the day.

“However, the most important piece of attire will be your footwear, since you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Wearing a comfortable, broken-in, well-cushioned pair of shoes is going to make your day much more enjoyable, as again, there will be plenty of walking but also a lot of standing as you take in the sights. It may also help if your shoes are waterproof in case of rain.”

More information can be found on the Millets website.

The best walking tours in Scotland

1. Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh
2. Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in Edinburgh
3. Glasgow City Centre Daily Walking Tour
4. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
5. Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

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