The First World War of 1914-18 traumatised the whole of Europe, and Scotland, as with Britain in general, did not escape lightly, losing much of a generation of young men who were killed, or wounded both physically and psychologically. Befitting that huge communal trauma, even today, the landmarks related to the war in Edinburgh exist in quiet dignity, without fuss, publicity or self-advertisement. However, approaching the theme carefully and with sensitivity, it can be discovered that Edinburgh’s connections with the ‘War to end War’ are deep, varied and fascinating. Some of the only remaining training trenches in Britain? The birthplace of our most senior wartime General? The hospital where our greatest War Poets met and wrote? The site of the greatest assembly of warships in history? Edinburgh’s First World War heritage is virtually unparalleled in Britain for scope and depth, and that is what you will be discovering on this full-day private tour.

The locations you’ll see include these:

Original training trenches at Dreghorn Barracks, dug in 1914-15 by the troops themselves in preparation for the Western Front.

The hospital where war poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon met and jointly edited the hospital magazine (with museum exhibit).

The Morningside lodgings of pre-war German spy Dr Armgaard Graves, who later turned double agent.

Memorial to the fallen of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, who joined up together at the start of the war.

The consulting rooms of Edinburgh’s WW1 medical heroine Dr Elsie Inglis.