If you’ve booked a tour with The Local Lad, chances are you’ll soon be meeting Joe Dingwall.
Joe was born and raised in Edinburgh, which means this city is more than just somewhere he works. It is home. The streets, closes, stories, characters and odd local details that make Edinburgh special have been part of his life for as long as he can remember.
That is one of the reasons guests often say the tour feels different. It is not a stiff history lecture or a script being repeated word for word. It feels more like being shown around by a local friend who knows where the best stories are hiding.
Joe started guiding because he genuinely enjoys meeting people from around the world and sharing the city he loves. Edinburgh attracts visitors from everywhere, but many only see the surface. They visit the castle, walk the Royal Mile, take a few photos, and miss the hidden closes, darker stories, local legends and small details that make the city unforgettable.
On The Local Lad tour, Joe brings those stories to life. You will hear about Edinburgh’s dark history, strange traditions, famous writers, criminals, graveyards, hidden corners and the parts of the Old Town that many visitors walk straight past.
There is plenty of history, but the focus is always storytelling. Joe’s aim is not to overload you with dates. It is to help you understand the city, laugh along the way, and leave with stories you will actually remember.
One of the best parts of the tour is what happens afterwards. Joe shares local recommendations with guests, including places to eat, drink, explore and enjoy views across Edinburgh. These are the sort of recommendations you usually only get from someone who actually lives here.
So if you are visiting Edinburgh and want to see the city through a local’s eyes, come and find Joe with The Local Lad umbrella on the Royal Mile.
You will leave knowing more about Edinburgh, but more importantly, you will leave feeling like you have properly met the city.