Heading to Edinburgh for a Stag do? Here are some ideas (from a local)

Every weekend, stags (and hens) come to Edinburgh for the biggest day (or night) out of their lives. What Edinburgh can offer is something different to other larger cities around the UK. While the nightlife is smaller, you get access to the history, culture and atmosphere of a city that has sat on a hill since the 1000s.

Iomhar is an Edinburgh local and knows all the best places - so let's get into what we think are the best ideas for stag dos in Edinburgh.

1. Grassmarket Pub Crawl (The smallest pub in the UK & locally brewed beer).

If your stag do doesn’t include a messy night in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, did you even come?

This cobbled strip is full of proper old-school pubs and buzzing bars, all stacked together. Start early in The Last Drop, to the The Beehive, and keep things moving.

It's packed with restaurants, outside seating and other groups spending the day in the pub.

Of all the places there, Cold Town Brewery is a fantastic place to end up. There is live music on a weekend, the beer is locally brewed (it is hella expensive though) and good amount of seats. The locals don't tend to go there, so if you want a local experience, head along to the Cowgate.

There is plenty to see at the Grassmarket, so you could spend all day there is needs be!

2. Throwing Axes and Throwing Down Whisky.

Get out your inner Highland warrior. First up is axe throwing. Like you’ve thrown for freedom in Braveheart.

It’s surprisingly addictive, dangerously satisfying, and perfect for a bunch of stags looking to channel their inner angry Scotsman. There’s even a bit of skill involved. Just a note - you can't drink beforehand (if the reasons aren't obvious, then you're in some trouble).

Once you’ve worked up a healthy amount of testosterone and competitive rage, it’s time to cool things down with a proper whisky tasting.

Sip on smoky drams, hear about whisky's rebellious past, and argue over which one tastes the most “peaty” like you're a connoisseur — when really, you just like how it burns.

Axes. Whisky. Lads. No better way to feel like a true Scotsman (other than wearing nothing under a kilt).

For more info on the axe throwing click here! More info on the whisky experience, click here: https://holyrooddistillery.co.uk/

Escape Rooms + Escaping Reality.

Start with an escape room — because there’s nothing like being locked in a room together to kick off a stag weekend. Especially with your mate's father in law to be. Get him smashed, spin him around and make him leader of the escape.

Edinburgh has some brilliant themed rooms (prison breaks, haunted houses, spy stuff), and once you’ve cracked the codes and made your great escape. Edinburgh then has plenty of places to go - beer tours, whisky tasting and traditional pubs with old locals.

If you want to wind the groom up - give him aftershave and tell him it's top shelf (don't - but it would be funny 👀 )

More info here: https://escapehunt.com/uk/edinburgh/

4. Go Karting Grand Prix at Knockhill or Indoor Circuit

Go karting for a stag do is a classic idea. There are indoor circuits and a very famous track at Knockhill.

Loser buys the first round later.

After a little bit of go karting, if you still need some speed, there is plenty of other activities in venues like Lane 7 and Flight Club in the city centre. Pub games - but hyped up.

Make sure to keep the drinking for after the Go Karting.

Click the link for more info: https://legacy.knockhill.com/karting/

5. Ghost Tours (but hammered).

Edinburgh has a few haunted houses. Serveral creepy streets. It also has a haunted bus.

I'm not entirely sure if it inspired the bus in Harry Potter - or if Harry Potter inspired the bus. Some of the Potter books were written in the city, and it has created a multi-million pound industry.

Regardless, the city’s underground vaults, graveyards, and narrow closes have been the inspiration for gothic fiction for hundreds of years and the city's streets are often crowded with people enjoying a ghost tour.

Grab a pint, then follow a slightly unhinged guide into the depths of the city, hearing tales of body snatchers, witches, and ghosts...who aren't the other people in the group.

Hit the pub beforehand, and you can haunt the guide with fart noises and asking to go to the toilet.