Edinburgh and its Lothian hinterland is not just a supremely beautiful area, but also one which harbours ancient secrets and traditions. If you know where to look, there are places of wonder, healing and ancient mystery to be found – often in odd, unusual locations. Look behind a well known suburban restaurant, to find an ancient healing well; stroll along a quiet street of bungalows – to come upon a powerful and enigmatic standing stone from 5000 years ago; Discover one of the world’s most enigmatic buildings, ripe with symbolism, in Edinburgh’s quiet hinterland. And enter, through a narrow leafy passage, the beauty and wonder of The Great Yew.

Come with us as we lead you to these ancient and mysterious places, many far, far from the standard tourist trail!

St Anthony’s Chapel and Well

We start our journey into the mystic in beautiful Holyrood Park, where sits the mysterious ruin of St Anthony’s chapel; it is of great age, though its function is still an enigma. Ley lines are said to cross each of its stone arches. In its lee we will see the ancient stones of St Anthony’s Well, now dry, but the site of ancient healing ceremonies and ritual washing on Beltane.

Dr Neil’s Garden, Duddingston

We’ll proceed to the freshness, colour and healing beauty of the Secret Garden of Duddingston Village, in an unmarked site close to the ancient Duddingston Kirk. Here lives and thrives the wonderful Physic Garden of healing plants, planted some 50 years ago by Edinburgh medical couple Nancy and Andrew Neil.

The Balm Well of St Catherine

We proceed south, stopping off to find the 500-year old stone building which houses another ancient holy well. In this case, the water is naturally tarry, and was used since earliest times as a healing balm for skin conditions of all kinds.

The Caiy Stane

Right at the edge of the city, secluded amongst quiet housing, rears perhaps the most ancient object in the whole of Edinburgh – the huge and forbidding Caiy (pronounced Kay) Stane, thought to be as many as 5000 years old, and still retaining great aura and power. It has the classic ‘cup and ring’ marks found on many of Scotland’s oldest stone monuments.

Rosslyn Chapel

Brought to worldwide fame by the best-selling novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’ – Rosslyn Chapel is one of the UK’s most enigmatic and mysterious buildings, dating back to 1446. See the beautiful and strange stone carvings, including the famous Apprentice Pillar. (admission extra – 20 minute free introductory talk by local guide, availability permitting)

The Great Yew of Ormiston

A place of mystical power to rival Callanish and Stonehenge, the Great Yew is thought to be a millennium and a half old – already living before the town of Edinburgh existed! This wonderful tree has created its own cathedral (or perhaps audience chamber) from its own enormous, spreading branches, creating a powerful and beautiful space around its ancient and massive trunk. This is a special place, visited by very few people, and currently on no other tour!

Glenkinchie Distillery

After a day seeking out the ancient spirits of Scotland, what better way to finish our day than sampling the liquid spirit of Scotland, uisge-beatha, the ‘water of life’, at the Lothians’ foremost distillery and visitor centre, just along the road from the Great Yew?