Welcome to

Thistle & Dram

Don’t just Tour Scotland - Experience it!

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Showing you the real Scotland through its stories and culture!

A whippet dog standing in Riddle's Court courtyard with tall, yellow-old-looking buildings, a blue sky, and a decorative doorway with plants.

Stories of Old Town Experience

Let me take you on a journey through the winding streets of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. Learn the origins of Scotland’s Capital and see how it transformed into one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I’ll regale you with all my favourite stories of the people who once walked the streets of this great city.

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Dimly lit bar with shelves of liquor bottles backlit in warm light, bottles arranged on a grid-style shelving unit.

Tales of Edinburgh Pub Tour

Edinburgh’s greatest artists and thinkers exchanged ideas while sharing a drink in a good old fashioned pub. Let’s follow in their footsteps! Between the first, thirst quenching beer, to the last golden dram, be immersed in the story of Edinburgh as we weave our way up the Royal Mile.

Experience Scotland’s music, history and culture.

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View of the Gothic-style Scott's Monument seen through a stone archway with a small street lamp in the foreground and city buildings around.

Complete Edinburgh Experience

From rebellious Queens to scandalous ministers. From corpse selling killers to controversial philosophers. From rowdy punk rockers to ambitious revolutionaries. Become captivated in the tales of Edinburgh’s past and present as we weave our way through the Old and New town. I’ll show you how the people of Scotland once lived, and how we live today.

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A man with a beard and dark hair wearing a black t-shirt is drinking from a whisky glass at the World's End bar in Edinburgh.

Hi, I’m Damien

Founder of Thistle and Dram, I take great pleasure in meeting people from around the world and sharing the stories of my home town.

I started tour guiding in 2018, but I’ve been a historical reenactor since 2010 and I’ve always been passionate about history.

My aim is to show the real Scotland. The good, the bad, the ugly and the darn right beautiful. I don’t want you to just tour Scotland, I want you to experience it!

My Story