REVIEW · CHEESE
Edinburgh: Cheese Crawl with Local Guide
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by See Your City · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Edinburgh and cheese pair unusually well. This 2-hour walk mixes tastings with old-town storytelling, plus a guide who turns cheese facts into a game.
I love how the route is built around real shops and producers, not just a single counter stop. You’ll also get an extra perk: a glass of complimentary wine at the end.
One thing to weigh: this isn’t the most comfortable tour if you’re hoping for lots of places to sit. It’s generally a walking experience, and one reviewer wished there was more seating time.
In This Review
- Key highlights you’ll care about
- Two Hours of Cheese and Old-Town Stories from Comely Bank
- Where You Start, and How the Walking Tour Works in Real Life
- George Mewes Cheese and Herbie of Edinburgh: Why Passing Stops Still Matters
- The Tastings and the Cheese Quiz: How the Tour Keeps It Fun
- Stockbridge Finish at Mellis Cheese Stockbridge, Plus the Wine
- Price and Value: Does $47 for Cheese Sampling Add Up?
- Who This Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)
- Weather, Timing, and Small Comfort Details You’ll Feel on Day-of
- Should You Book This Edinburgh Cheese Crawl?
- FAQ
- Where do I meet for the Edinburgh cheese crawl?
- How long is the tour?
- How much does the tour cost?
- What’s included in the price?
- Is wine included?
- What language is the tour guide?
- Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
- Is this tour suitable for vegetarians?
- Is it suitable for people with gluten intolerance?
- Is there free cancellation?
- Does it offer a reserve now, pay later option?
Key highlights you’ll care about
- Real cheese shops and producer stops with samples along the way
- Edinburgh old-town history woven into what you’re tasting
- A guide-led cheese quiz (and even group cheese puns)
- Complimentary wine included at the finish
- English-speaking local guide at the helm
- Wheelchair accessible, but you still need to be okay with a short walk
Two Hours of Cheese and Old-Town Stories from Comely Bank
This isn’t a museum tour where you sprint from point A to point B. It’s a slow-burn food walk in Edinburgh where you learn as you go, tasting different styles and getting the why behind them.
The vibe is playful. Guides such as Xander, Kieran, Jenny, and Monique are described as upbeat and easy to talk with, and the tour includes a cheese quiz to keep the group engaged. If you like your facts with a wink—this fits.
You can also read our reviews of more guided tours in Edinburgh
Where You Start, and How the Walking Tour Works in Real Life
You meet at Saint Stephen’s Comely Bank Church, with your guide holding a blue flag. The format is simple: meet, get a quick intro, then walk between stops for tastings and stories.
Multiple guides have kept the pace manageable. One review noted the walking distance felt short overall—around 30 minutes total from the meeting point—so this doesn’t read like an all-day hike. That said, it’s still a walking tour. Wear sensible shoes.
If weather hits, you’re not stuck in it alone. One guide handled heavy rain by keeping the group comfortable as best they could, using an umbrella while still getting everyone through the stops.
George Mewes Cheese and Herbie of Edinburgh: Why Passing Stops Still Matters
The route includes George Mewes Cheese and Herbie of Edinburgh as pass-by points. Even when you’re not fully stopping there, it helps the tour make sense: you’re getting a sense of where the local cheese scene lives and how the neighborhood relates to Edinburgh’s wider story.
Think of these as framing stops. They’re part of the walk’s geography and context, so when you reach the tasting-focused shop(s), you’re not just sampling—you’re also connecting the dots.
The Tastings and the Cheese Quiz: How the Tour Keeps It Fun
Your guide starts with a short history primer—about Edinburgh and about cheese heritage—then you head out for tasting stops. The tour is designed so you try many different types of cheese, not just one safe crowd-pleaser.
The experience leans into the idea that cheese has personality. Expect your guide to share stories and fun facts, and to mix in a cheese-related quiz. You’ll also do group wordplay, including cheese puns, which sounds corny until you’re doing it with strangers in a warm cheese shop.
A few practical notes from what you can infer about the format:
- You’ll likely stop at multiple cheese venues (one review mentioned three different cheese shops on the tour).
- Not every stop has the same “inside the shop” feel, so your best moments for sampling and chatting may cluster around the main tasting locations.
Stockbridge Finish at Mellis Cheese Stockbridge, Plus the Wine
The tour ends at Mellis Cheese Stockbridge. This is where the whole experience lands: you wrap up the tasting portion and get your glass of complimentary wine.
Stockbridge is a smart choice for a finish because it feels like a neighborhood with its own rhythm. The tour gives you a chance to see a less central slice of Edinburgh, rather than only circling the most tourist-heavy corners.
In terms of the experience itself, the wine matters because it changes the pace at the end. You’re not rushing. You’re comparing what you liked earlier, asking more questions, and deciding what you might want to buy.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Edinburgh
Price and Value: Does $47 for Cheese Sampling Add Up?
At $47 per person for a 2-hour guided walking experience, the value comes from bundling three things that can cost money if you do them separately:
- A live local guide who provides context and keeps the group moving
- Cheese samples across multiple stops
- A glass of wine included at the end
If you’re already the kind of traveler who likes food stops but doesn’t want to plan every detail, that bundling is the point. You’re paying for coordination plus education plus tasting time.
Also, the duration is short enough to fit into a packed Edinburgh itinerary. You get a curated-feeling experience without burning a whole afternoon.
Who This Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)
This tour is ideal if you:
- Like cheese and want to sample several styles without guessing
- Enjoy guided history that isn’t heavy or academic
- Want a social, low-pressure activity that isn’t just standing in lines
It’s less ideal if you’re:
- Vegetarian (not suitable)
- Gluten intolerant (not suitable)
Because cheese is the centerpiece, the tour depends on dairy products and likely cross-ingredient risk you can’t assume will be handled to your needs. If you have dietary restrictions, it’s worth double-checking before booking since the tour specifically says it’s not suitable for certain groups.
And if you prefer lots of breaks and seating, keep your expectations realistic. One reviewer wished there was somewhere to sit, which makes sense: you’re walking, sampling, and continuing.
Weather, Timing, and Small Comfort Details You’ll Feel on Day-of
This is a walking tour, so your comfort mostly comes down to shoes and weather. Reviews mention guides doing their best during tough weather conditions—one guide even handled heavy rain while keeping everything moving.
The other comfort variable is how you like to eat on the go. You’ll taste cheese, so you might be standing, tasting quickly, and moving on. If you want a long sit-down meal experience, this isn’t that. It’s more like a guided tasting route where you get enough samples to make it satisfying.
Group dynamics are part of the fun. Reviews describe guides as friendly and chatty, and people often enjoy meeting others during the quiz and tasting conversations. If you’re traveling with friends, it can be a great shared laugh.
Should You Book This Edinburgh Cheese Crawl?
Book it if you want an easy-win food experience that also gives you local context—especially if you love learning while you eat. The included samples and the wine at Mellis Cheese Stockbridge make the price feel purposeful, not just for walking around.
Skip it if you’re vegetarian, gluten intolerant, or you hate standing/walking for two hours. Also consider booking only if you’re okay with limited seating time.
If you’re heading to Edinburgh and you want one activity that’s both fun and genuinely edible, this cheese crawl is a strong choice.
FAQ
Where do I meet for the Edinburgh cheese crawl?
Meet your guide in front of Saint Stephen’s Comely Bank Church. Your guide will be holding a blue flag.
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts 2 hours.
How much does the tour cost?
The price is $47 per person.
What’s included in the price?
You get a live guide, a walking tour, cheese samples, and a glass of wine.
Is wine included?
Yes. A glass of complimentary wine is included.
What language is the tour guide?
The tour guide speaks English.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the tour is listed as wheelchair accessible.
Is this tour suitable for vegetarians?
No, it’s listed as not suitable for vegetarians.
Is it suitable for people with gluten intolerance?
No, it’s listed as not suitable for people with gluten intolerance.
Is there free cancellation?
Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Does it offer a reserve now, pay later option?
Yes. It offers reserve now & pay later, so you can book and pay nothing today.
