Mercat Tours to offer a special guided tour in Edinburgh

The tour operator has joined with heritage teams to recreate a walk of a 19th-century firefighter

This year, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is celebrating 200 years of world’s first municipal fire and rescue service, created in Edinburgh in 1824.

As part of the celebrations, the SFRS, Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage (MoSFH), Scottish Fire Brigades Heritage Trust,  Museum of Edinburgh and Mercat Tours are joining together to bring a range of events to the public. 

This summer, the public can head along to events which mark the heritage of the service. 

At the Museum of Edinburgh on Thursday, 11 July guests can listen to a specialist talk from Dave Farries QFSM about the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: 200 years of history.

Taking place at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, the ‘Festival of Fire’ where members of the public can get up close and personal with heritage fire appliances and uniforms will take place on Saturday, 20 July and Sunday, 21 July.

flames and an outline of Edinburgh's landscape with the text "royal flames, a firefighters historic journey through the old town"

On Thursday, 25 July, Saturday, 27 July and both Saturday, 7 September and Saturday, 21 September, Mercat Tours will provide a guided tour through the ancient cobblestone streets of Old Town Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and reminisce about the daily life and fiery trials of a 19th-century firefighter.

With a range of free, ticketed and paid for events, and even more listed online, there really is something for all of the family.

To find out more and book tickets to events, visit the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage or the Scottish Fire Brigades Heritage Trust website.