“Perhaps the best part of the walk besides the poetry – deftly and lovingly performed by Cockburn himself (and some of it in its original language of Scots) – was the way the poems literally slowed down our intimate group to their humble metre. Cockburn’s sharing was less performance and more meditation. And in the flurried throes of a final festival weekend, it was a reprieve of sorts to be able to experience the city so specifically and quietly from the perspectives of each of the poems.”
Grace Wallis, A Youngish Perspective, 2025 (for the full review click here)

“Local Edinburgh poet Ken Cockburn hosts the literary walking tour of Edinburgh – Embro, and through this, he showed me an Edinburgh alive with literature. Using poetry, Cockburn brings to light the history of Edinburgh through the eyes of poets like Victor Hugo, Edwin Morgan, and even prose from Dorothy Wordsworth. This tour has it all. I was able to see an Edinburgh I had not imagined I would see and was enraptured from the beginning.”
Katie L., Broadway Baby, 2025 (for the full review click here)

“We were very fortunate to attend the first tour and enjoyed it immensely – highly informative, thoughtful and a great way to discover bits of Edinburgh we’d never seen before… Highly recommended!”
Walker, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2025

“The  walking experience… through the streets, closes, lanes, gardens… gave me an ecstatic journey and changed my notion that I knew the Royal Mile…”
Walker, 2025

“A lovely start to our Festival day out. The fact that we were a small group made it so much more relaxed for me.”
Walker, 2024

“It was a privilege… to enjoy the poetry and discover places and features that I didn’t know down the Royal Mile. I would never have explored them on my own.”
Walker, 2024

“I have just read your small book, Edinburgh, which totally captures the antiquity of the city. Wonderful. I loved the Deacon Brodie poem when you read it by before the Excise House… and like it even more now.”
Walker, 2023

“The images you presented were wonderful, and I learned a lot. I particularly liked your translation of Hugo’s work and your poetically passionate tour of Edinburgh without need for an umbrella.”
Attendee, online event, 2021

“Thank you so much for your presentation on the Royal Mile. Everyone really enjoyed the experience and found your selection of poetry very interesting.”
Attendee, online event, 2020

“The Edina Europa tour is a great way to explore the Canongate. If it’s your first time in Edinburgh you’ll enjoy being off the tourist route, and if you already know the city well you’ll enjoy rediscovering it through the words of poets across the centuries.”
Walker, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019

“I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the tour during the Fringe this year. Interesting poetry, full of contrasts and excellent presentation.”
Walker, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018

“Highly informative and entertaining 90 mins. A nice stroll through the quieter parts of the city during the bustle of the Festival, spotting gravestones, plaques and statues to famous poets, and with Ken giving softly-spoken recitals (with English paraphrasing where necessary!) of poems and letters. Well worth a try!”
Walker, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018

“A most enjoyable tour… well paced and absorbing and the content was nicely balanced between the poetry/prose and the historical context.”
Walker, ‘Ye Jacobites By Name’, 2018

“A great hour-and-a-half walk through landmarks and buildings accompanied with historical stories from 17th century to today with well-chosen poems, beautifully narrated by our guide.”
Walker on Facebook, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017

“An excellent tour for both the historian and the poetry lover: Ken is a brilliant guide and his love for the poems shines out and illuminates them for us.” Mary Woodward, reviewing Come Down the Mile, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016, for Scotsgay – read the full review here.

“beautifully recited… a compelling narrative… a beautiful story of the city.”
Walkers, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2016

“My husband and I enjoyed an entrancing two hours today with Ken as we walked around the Royal Mile and High Street. Ken read excerpts from poems and prose and effortlessly linked them to the buildings and streets around us. The next time you are in Edinburgh, book yourself a tour – you won’t regret it!” Walker, 2016

“Really enjoyed the whole tour, mixing the history of the places with the poems inspired by them.” Student, Edinburgh College of Art, 2016

“Lots of interesting places I wouldn’t have found on my own.”
Student, Edinburgh College of Art, 2016

“Ken leads a very captivating tour, one that evokes the city from long ago and welcomes us to be a part of it.” Jess, Canada, 2015

“Through Ken’s readings I glimpsed and tasted Edinburgh’s life both past and present.” Elaine, Canada, 2015

“Brilliant choice of poems… perfect pace – both walking and reading. Many thanks for a lovely afternoon.” Alison, Edinburgh, 2015

“I enjoyed seeing new places in the city, and connecting known places with stories; also the possibility to ask questions, and a little introduction into Scots language.” Kathleen, Germany, 2015