Rick Conte Walks

A walking tour of Edinburgh based on Benjamin Franklin's visit to the city in 1759; during the Scottish Enlightenment and 17 years before America's Declaration of Independence. Edinburgh was still protected by medieval walls and the N'or Loch. The "New Town" was still just windswept fields, and cries of "Gardy Loo!" preceded the tossed contents of chamber pots from above. But still, one could stand at the Market Cross and "shake the hand of fifty geniuses in half and hour!"

Explore the Old Town with Rick, a Georgia USA native living in Edinburgh since 1989. A master storyteller, this tour is born out of research for his Edinburgh Fringe show, "An American Love Letter to Edinburgh" 2023-2026 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and the 2026 Atlanta Fringe Festival.

Find out why Benjamin Franklin described his trip to Scotland as "the densest happiness I have met with in any part of my life."

"Conte has a charming round-the-houses way of telling a story that knows the value of context." THE SCOTSMAN 4****

"Delightful, hilarious, beautifully performed". North West End

"Fascinating, charming, funny, and enlightening". The Quintessential Review

"This is storytelling at its best". Scotsgay Arts

A general level of fitness is required. We will navigate some steep hills, uneven surfaces, and narrow closes. Distance covered : 1.8km or 2400 steps. The weather in Edinburgh can be 'changeable' but the tour will go on, rain or shine, so dress accordingly. It can be a lot of fun touring Edinburgh in its natural element!