IWD 2026 - Women of the Enlightenment Walking Tour

The Enlightenment may be seen mainly as a male phenomenon, but women were there too! This International Womens Day join Ruth for a free tour to hear about writers, painters, botanists, scientists, philosophers, and more besides. Starting on Castle Esplanade you will wind your way down the Lawnmarket, onto the High Street, down the mound and finish in the New Town near the Assembly Rooms on George Street.

The tour will take two hours (120mins) in total, and will be outside with no shelter so please wrap up according to the weather conditions! There will be no toilet stops and very few seats along the way.

FAQs

Where and when do we meet?

Please meet at the top of the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, to the left of the drawbridge entrance, 5-10 minutes before the tour is due to start.

Where will we finish?

On George Street, near the Assembly Rooms.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, phone ticket is fine

Safety issues

Please be aware that there are no seats available along the route, so the tour will be on your feet, walking and standing. You are responsible for your own safety. Taking part in the tour means you are participating at your own risk. If you have pre-existing conditions that may be relevant or feel unwell during the tour, please let your guide know. You are also responsible for looking after your own belongings.

Data protection

Your privacy will be maintained at all times. We will never share or sell the information contained in our database to any third parties. Your details will be kept by Ruth Boreham in the run up to the event, and for the purposes of sending you an email after the event with details of people and books mentioned during the tour, as well as occasional emails about future tours. You can ask her to delete your details at any time after the tour. Your phone number is in case of any issues on the day.

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Host or Publisher Ruth Boreham