The Royal Mile Closes: A Walking Guide to Edinburgh's Hidden Lanes

Close, court or wynd: how to read the street signs

A close is usually a narrow passage leading away from the main street. Courts open into small shared spaces, while a wynd often runs more clearly between streets. Historic names survive on signs even when the form and access have changed.

Look for the close names above the entrances. When a gate is shut or a passage leads into private space, continue to the next stop; much of the pleasure is in noticing what opens off the main street.

An eight-stop walk from Lady Stair’s Close to White Horse Close

Route at a glance: Lady Stair’s Close → Riddle’s Court → Advocate’s Close → Old Fishmarket Close → World’s End Close → Bakehouse Close → Dunbar’s Close Garden → White Horse Close. Allow roughly one mile and 90 minutes, following the entrance visits described below.

1. Lady Stair’s Close and Makars’ Court. Enter through the signed arch on the north side of the Lawnmarket. The courtyard holds the Writers’ Museum in Lady Stair’s House. Leave by the same arch so you are back on the Lawnmarket.
2. Riddle’s Court. Cross the Lawnmarket from Lady Stair’s Close to the carved arch on the south side. Look into the restored courtyards, then return through the same arch to continue east along the Lawnmarket.
3. Advocate’s Close. Walk east and downhill along the Lawnmarket, cross the George IV Bridge junction and continue onto the High Street. Look for the upper entrance to Advocate’s Close on the north side, opposite St Giles’ Cathedral. From the top, the view down the stepped lane frames the Scott Monument. This route pauses at the entrance; if you descend towards Cockburn Street, return to the same entrance before continuing.
4. Old Fishmarket Close. From Advocate’s Close, cross back to the south side of the High Street and continue east for a short block to the arch marked by an iron fish. Look down the close and return to the High Street. A full descent leads towards Cowgate and requires an uphill retrace or a longer detour, so it is not part of the one-mile route.
5. World’s End Close. Keep walking east and downhill, cross the North Bridge and South Bridge junction, and stay on the south side to the entrance near the World’s End pub and brass pavement markers. Step into the open mouth of the close, then return to the High Street. Its name recalls the former Netherbow Port at the edge of the walled burgh.
6. Bakehouse Close. Continue straight into the Canongate for roughly 500 metres. Enter on the south side beside the Museum of Edinburgh at Huntly House. Visit the stone court, then leave by the same entrance. Museum hours matter only if you also plan to enter the museum.
7. Dunbar’s Close Garden. Cross the Canongate almost opposite Bakehouse Close and enter the signed close on the north side. The passage opens into a formal garden. It is an in-and-out visit rather than a shortcut, so return to the Canongate after the garden. City opening hours and temporary closures apply.
8. White Horse Close. Continue east and downhill on the north side of the Canongate for about 250 metres. Enter the arch into the residential courtyard, look quietly and return through the same entrance. This is the finish, near the foot of the Canongate and above the Scottish Parliament.

To shorten the walk, stop after World’s End Close. To avoid steps, keep Advocate’s Close and Old Fishmarket Close as entrance views and stay on the Royal Mile. Descending either one changes the distance, duration and amount of backtracking.