Greyfriars Kirkyard

Greyfriars Kirkyard is a historic burial ground on Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh's Old Town, a short walk south of the Royal Mile via George IV Bridge. The ground was established in the 16th century on land once belonging to a Franciscan friary, and it became central to Scottish history in 1638, when the National Covenant was signed here by those opposing changes to the Church. After the Covenanters' defeat at Bothwell Bridge in 1679, hundreds of prisoners were held in an enclosure in the kirkyard, remembered today as the Covenanters' Prison. Visitors walk among weathered gravestones, ornate memorials and mausoleums, with views of Edinburgh Castle above the wall. The statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier said to have guarded his master's grave, stands outside the gates and is one of the city's most photographed small monuments. The kirkyard also has literary associations, and some visitors seek out graves linked to well-known Edinburgh names. A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. The kirkyard is open during daylight hours, and the adjoining church, Greyfriars Kirk, has separate opening hours. Evening ghost tours are operated by private companies, so visitors who want an atmospheric visit at night should book those separately. The gate area is busiest in the middle of the day, when tour groups arrive, and quieter in the early morning. Respect for graves is expected, so visitors should avoid leaning on or climbing monuments, and keep voices low.