The Burryman

What happens on the day

In the morning the Burryman is dressed at the Staghead Hotel, his body and face covered in thousands of burrs pressed onto layers of clothing, topped with a hat of flowers. He cannot bend his arms, so he holds two flower-decked staves and is guided by two attendants. From about 9am he walks a seven-mile route lasting nine hours or more, calling at houses, shops and every pub in town, where he is given whisky through a straw. A bell is rung ahead of him, and people come out to greet him and offer money for luck. By late afternoon the pace has slowed considerably, and the final return to the Staghead is greeted with real affection.

How it began

Nobody knows exactly why the Burryman walks. The custom is linked to the Ferry Fair, whose charter dates from 1687, but it is widely believed to be older still. Similar figures once appeared in fishing towns such as Buckie and Fraserburgh to raise the herring after poor seasons, and South Queensferry’s is the last in Scotland. Theories range from a scapegoat carrying away the town’s bad luck to a harvest or fertility spirit. The role is passed from one local man to the next and held for many years. Whatever its origins, the town holds on to it with great pride.

Tips for the day

The Burryman is always a local man, so visitors watch. Start on the High Street in the morning, then follow at a respectful distance or wait at one of the pubs on his route. He is slow and walking for hours, so be patient and give him and his attendants space. It is free to watch, and it is customary to drop a coin in the collection. Combine your visit with the Ferry Fair’s other events that week.

Where to watch

The Ferry Fair’s own Burryman page says the route is published in advance, and that it starts and finishes on the High Street. That’s what you want for planning a sighting — far better than guessing from an old photograph. Pick a published stop that suits you and wait there, rather than chasing the procession by car. If you’d like to see the start or the finish, ask the organisers how it works this year and where visitors can stand without getting in the way of the attendants or the neighbouring premises. Save the route before you leave your accommodation, and agree a meeting place if some of your group want a shorter visit. The official website still has an event page dated August 2022, so its times are history. Check the year on every listing before building a trip around it.

A brief timeline of the day

The organisers’ guide to Ferry Fair week separates the Burryman’s Friday tour from the procession and crowning the following day. In 2026 there was also entertainment and other activity on the High Street on the Friday. Worth getting straight if your group is picturing the formal fair parade when you mean the Burryman: decide which tradition you’re after, or allow more than one day. Read the next full programme before booking around any activity, since the line-up and dates belong to a particular year. You don’t have to follow the whole walk to appreciate the custom. A planned sighting leaves room for a meal or another visit, without turning the Burryman into a show that has to fit your timetable. Remember that the people involved, and the residents who welcome him, are taking part in their own community occasion, so give the attendants room to get on with their work.

Questions people ask

Where it is

The pin shows the approximate area. Open in OpenStreetMap