If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Its really dark and Im on a boat in The Edinburgh Dungeon breathing as deeply as I can. Head bowed in shame I join the queue of tourists filing on to the next part of the attraction and take a place net to a small boy, the youngest of the group,who giggles at me when yet another member of the Bean clan shuffles past me and forces me to cower on a strangers shoulder. Sawney Bean welcomes you to her home (ahem, cave). "The Sawney story was a dig at Scots - a people so barbarous they could produce a monster like Sawney, who lived in a cave and ate people.". I was the unfortunate one picked twice for the torture chamber and another act but took it on the chin and enjoyed it. Have the hunters become the hunted? As the story of the Sawney Bean clan wasnt told for over 200 years after it supposedly happened, it is hard to take it seriously. Guest Information: Sawney Bean is busy preparing for his next dinner guestshis cave is undergoing a refurbishment and will be unavailable until March 27th. Finally captured, Alexander Bean and his family were taken alive and bound in chains to the Tolbooth in Edinburgh to await their execution. Lyndsay Hebert, performance manager at the dungeon, says there were "lots of contradictory versions of the Bean legend" so they took the King James VI story with the king's men chasing down the clan in their gory lair. Sawney Bean and his monstrous family enjoyed a 25 year reign of terror. All reviews boat ride great fun sawney bean drop ride at the end scary fun audience participation burke and hare great attraction scares witch scenes jumps thrill . The experience also includes a Drop Ride to Doom, which is a free-fall ride, staged as a public hanging. "I always thought it would make a great movie," he says. For 25 years Sawney Bean and his incestuously bred cannibal clan were reputed to have skulked about the barren shores of Galloway in the south west of Scotland. Know before you go - did you know we're now cashless? The Edinburgh Dungeon was founded in 2000 by Vardon Attractions (now Merlin Entertainments) founder and later CEO, Nick Varney. Thismeans if you do want a souvenir it will have to be from the gift shop at the end where they sell photos of you in the form of keychains, magnets and picture books. Book together From 37.95 per adult Dungeon + Bus Tour NEW! The clan were reported to the magistrates of Glasgow who, in turn, informed King James. Highlights from BBC Radio Scotland and elsewhere. Tom Barclay, the local history librarian for South Ayrshire Council believes that the setting of Girvan and Ballantrae can be traced back to Samuel Rutherford Crocketts 1896 book The Grey Man which features Sawney Bean. The dungeon has a "boat ride" in which the visitors become part of the king's party trying to flush the Beans out of their hiding place in the sea cave. "The Sawney story was a dig at Scots - a people so barbarous they could produce a monster like Sawney, who lived in a cave and ate people.". We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The story of Alexander Bean and his fiendish family is one that generates real passion and debate: while some believe it to be legitimate history, inconsistencies in the story and the lack of documented evidence of Beans existence or even his trial and execution means that most historians are in agreement that it is more likely to be a tale. They killed or captured the majority of the group, but Christie managed to escape into the mountains. Its writer and director Wes Craven said he used the story of Sawney Bean as a primary source for his script. Awaiting inside the cave lay a gruesome scene of gore and filth; body parts were both pickled in jars and hung from the walls, while possessions of the victims were unceremoniously left in piles. You've found Sawney Bean's Family. Will you escape, or become the cannibals next fresh meat? Unless credited elsewhere, all content (written and photographic) is property of The Hostel Girl and should not be used without permission. All 716 of his works, read by some of Scotland's biggest names. Sawney Bean is busy preparing for his next dinner guestshis cave is undergoing a refurbishment and will be. The historian says when James's life was actually thought to have been in danger, such as the Gunpowder Plot, he made sure his subjects knew about it. It was scary at first and funny at the same time, I was comfortable and felt fine going further. The Edinburgh Dungeon is part of the Merlin Entertainments Group, and is one of eight Dungeons in Europe. You should do something that scares you every day. His fate is unknown, but there is a suggestion that he moved to the town of Dumfries under the name David Maxwell. Guest Information: Sawney Bean is busy preparing for his next dinner guestshis cave is undergoing a refurbishment and will be unavailable until March 27th. As a result, the group developed a taste for human flesh and with Christie as their leader; they roamed the countryside looking for victims. The Edinburgh Dungeon is an award-winning, 70-minute interactive and immersive walk-through experience covering 1000 years of Edinburgh and Scottish history through 11 live actor shows, theatrical sets, special effects, and a thrilling ride. Booking guarantee - reschedule your tickets for free*. The dungeon has a "boat ride" in which the visitors become part of the king's party trying to flush the Beans out of their hiding place in the sea cave. According to legend, Christie would pull victims off their horses with a cleke (a hook), and this is how he got his nickname Cleek.. Left unfulfilled by this ordinary existence, he left town with his wife, Black Agnes Douglas, and made a home for themselves in a cave near Ballantrae in South West Scotland. From famous cannibal Sawney Bean and serial killers Burke and Hare to torturers and plague victims, this live action interactive horror show brings to life some of Edinburgh's darkest moments. The mountain town buried by California winter chaos. Do be careful pre-booking your tickets though as they are non-refundable and you must arrive within the arrival time stated on your ticket! They came unstuck when they set upon a man at a fair who fought back with a pistol. The 62-year-old actor is now playing the cannibal in a new Scottish film Sawney: Flesh of man. Italy's impressive subterranean civilisation. Have the hunters become the hunted? Sawney Bean is busy preparing for his next dinner guestshis cave is undergoing a refurbishment and will be, Entry to the Edinburgh Dungeon for a full-on adults-only Dungeon tour. So if you are a solo traveller like me willing to risk a pounding heart in The Edinburgh Dungeon prepare to wave goodbye to everything you were taught about stranger danger and get cuddling! Bean and his progeny were believed to have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds or even thousands over a 25 year period during the 16th century. I had heard previously that many people have difficulty understanding some of the accents used during the show. In 1577, an English chronicler by the name of Raphael Holinshed wrote about a Scottish man he called Tristicloke who fed on the flesh of women and children in 1341. Contact Us CONTACT US Got a question that you need help with? Got a question that you need help with? While the Sawney Bean story is probably a myth, it is likely based on a real episode of murder and cannibalism in Scotland during the 14th century. Kept everyones attention with a bit of audience participation. Thanks for the review! This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. A new horror movie, starring David Hayman, is being premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival, but who was Sawney Bean? Even the storys location is open to question. He says: "We used to go for holidays to Girvan, so one day, I think I was 10, my father took us to the actual cave and we went into it. In the tales, Alexander 'Sawney' Bean is said to have been born in East Lothian sometime either during the reign of James I of Scotland in the early 15 th century, or (more commonly) during the reign of James VI of Scotland (known also as James I of England) around the end of the 16 th century. Dr Yeoman says the later King James was a very keen hunter but he was unlikely to have put himself in danger by leading this perilous trek. They carved a monstrous living ambushing travellers on the road, whether individuals or small groups, robbing them of their possessions, and murdering them before dragging their bodies back to the cave where they would be dismembered and eaten. Forget Hannibal Lecter, Caledonian cannibal Sawney Bean makes him look like a fussy eater. William B, Guest Relations Manager at The Edinburgh Dungeon, responded to this review Responded 1 March 2022. Dr Yeoman says historical inaccuracy is just one of the reasons why Sawney Bean is thought to be legend rather than reality. The boat ride in to the cave of the Sawney Bean clan is over. Ms Hebert says Sawney Bean is not as well-known as Burke and Hare, one of the dungeon's other exhibits, but it is a very familiar Scottish tale. This sounds like a really fun attraction, although Im like you and cant handle too much tension without absolutely panicking. While the Sawney Bean clan is far better known, the story of Christie Cleek is far older; the cannibal was first mentioned in a chronicle of Scotland by Andrew of Wyntoun in 1420. Certainly Sawney Bean and William Wallace used actors with very strong Scottish accents unlike anything we had heard around Edinburgh itself. The Edinburgh Dungeon is situated just off Waverley Bridge (3 minutes walk from Princes Street / 2 minute from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station) Experience the ultimate underground journey through Edinburgh's darkest history as you see, hear and errr smell Edinburgh's murky past! CLICK HERE TO BOOK: https://bit.ly/2m8NJhj For the lovers of the EXTRA SCARY! While on holiday to Edinburgh went to the dungeons because of the reviews online. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. edinburghdungeon, Marketing Manager at The Edinburgh Dungeon, responded to this review. In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. He began life as a hedger and ditcher, but, being prone to idleness and inclined towards dishonesty he ran away from home with a woman who was as viciously inclined as himself. Some sources place Sawney in the reign of James I of Scotland in the early 1400s but most seem to have him in the time of James VI of Scotland (who was James I of England) around the turn of the 17th Century. Glad you enjoyed it overall! "But it is a period piece and we are making a low-budget film, so we have made a modern-day version. Read about our approach to external linking. Sawney Bean's family would love to have you for dinner. Guests are encouraged to participate in all shows. . He wrote about a figure called Chwsten Cleek who set up traps to slay children and women and he ate them all that he get might.. "It's like calling a cartoon Irishman Paddy. The Edinburgh Dungeon is the ultimate underground journey through Edinburgh's darkest history, using live actors, theatrical sets, and a thrilling drop ride. An likewise a their kin. I have to say just go for it! So why have a carry on about it! The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Since its opening, it has evolved to feature walkthrough theatrical shows, such as Witch Hunt (based on the witch trials of the mid-17th century), and the cannibal cave of Sawney Bean, based on the legend of the notorious cannibal family who resided in a cave in Galloway for decades. The premiere of the film at the Glasgow Film Festival is a sell-out and the makers are discussing worldwide distribution deals. Take a look around our help centre, which has answers to almost all questions that we get asked. Sawney Bean was the head of a nearly 50-strong clan of cave dwelling murderers and cannibals. This all adds up to making Edinburgh the scariest Dungeons to date. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I have my eyes closed and each index finger pressing in to each ear in case any sudden loud noises should make me jump. The legend runs that the Bean clan took up residence in a sea cave which was hidden every high-tide and they raised a brood of 14 children and 32 grandchildren - all from incest. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. According to legend, the Bean clan killed and ate 1,000 people in a 25-year reign of terror, while hiding out in a sea cave on Scotland's south-west coast, between Girvan and Ballantrae. All in all, it's worth the trip for sure and not just for kids but everyone. I would not take little children to this (no <5 years old, maybe 6-9). Over 80-minutes you'll take a trip around 1,000 years of Edinburgh's horrible history and meet lots of sinister characters along the way. Be careful who you invite to the Dinner of the Dead. He was a butcher in the town of Perth but almost became a victim of a famine in the middle of the 14th century. But the Sawney Bean story has captured peoples imaginations well beyond the Ayrshire border. The infamous tale of Sawney Bean has, over the years, inspired novels, plays, operas, and at least one major Hollywood movie - The Hills Have Eyes. The Scotsman. The penguins given world-first cataract surgery, When chasing Bollywood stars at any cost is your job, Putin's 'frustration and resentment against the West' VideoPutin's 'frustration and resentment against the West'. The film's director Ricky Wood also says it is a story he has heard since he was a child. Staff are very good at letting you know if there will be strobe light use etc. If youre fed up of long and tedious walking tours but still want to know a little of a citys history then The Edinburgh Dungeon is for you. Overall, the gang murdered up to 30 people until one day, an armed government force arrived in the Grampians and found the cannibal group. The tale of Sawney Bean, arguably Scotland's most shocking and gruesome legend, was said to have taken place on the usually idyllic coast of the south-west. Does this mean that while the legend of Christie Cleek in the Grampians is a myth, it is based on the real-life cannibalism of a Scotsman and his wife? Excellent - glad you had a scary fun time! Scottish historian Dr Louise Yeoman says: "It sounds like the plot for a box-office topping horror film and that's because it was invented to serve a very similar purpose - to sell books. I would like to thank The Edinburgh Dungeon and Smart City Hostel for arranging this experience, but as always opinions are honest and my own! Thanks for the detailed feedback, we'll pick up with the admissions team to smooth out the process! Read about our approach to external linking. Based on the same concept as the London Dungeon, early characters included Vikings, William Wallace, Burke and Hare, and scenes from Edinburgh's famously plague-ridden 'closes' (alleyways). We like to think our live actors and immersive shows are worth a few bob, but we also have good deals if you hunt around and are always cheaper online! . Every Friday Dungeon Lates Adults Only Visit the Edinburgh Dungeon with no kids allowed! Went here with the family after getting 2 free tickets with The Sun newspaper, the girl at the front was quite rude to my mum as she had only saved one barcode for the tickets,my mum was panicking and didnt have a signal to get the email for the other ticket so offered to pay,the girl then said it was ok as she could get the other ticket on the system?? Children are welcome to visit, however, the recommended age to visit The Edinburgh Dungeon is 8 years and older. Energetic actors and spooky stories with a few jump scares worked in. It is a grown-up tale to shock, thrill and captivate the adults once the children have gone to bed with their heads full of more innocent tales of the Loch Ness Monster. The 62-year-old actor is now playing the cannibal in a new Scottish film Sawney: Flesh of man. An episode of the BBC SF-serial Torchwood dealt with members of the organization uncovering and fighting a clan of cannibals living in a remote village (albeit set in Wales ). The premiere of the film at the Glasgow Film Festival is a sell-out and the makers are discussing worldwide distribution deals. Before a visit to the Edinburgh Dungeon, it can be easy to dismiss the experience as a cheesytourist attraction, especially when compared to the more historical ghost walks on offer in the city. With their existence reported, a search party consisting of over 400 men with bloodhounds and supposedly led by King James (James I of Scotland or James VI of Scotland depending on the tale) was dispatched to apprehend the clan. The horror of the Sawney Bean legend continues to intrigue, with an exhibit at the popular Edinburgh Dungeon attraction being devoted to the legend. "Interestingly enough, this is the year that Johnson and Boswell's Tour of the Hebrides was published - so perhaps the schlock horror story was cashing in on a bit of a vogue for strange tales from Scotland," Dr Yeoman says. In 1338 she heroically defended Dunbar Castle against an English siege. 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