If the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh’s city centre gets too much for you, take a break with a visit to Dean Village, a beautiful village where time seems to have stood still.
Visit Dean Village for a relaxing stroll
Dean Village is only a twenty-minute walk from the west end of Princes Street, but once you are there, you will feel you have stepped into another time, a place of peace and quiet. Our free New Town and Dean Village walking tour ends right here.
It began as a milling community founded by the monks of Holyrood Abbey, using the waters of the Water of Leith to grind grain, an industry that thrived for around 800 years. It was absorbed into Edinburgh in the 19th century as the city grew, and today it is a lovely residential area that still keeps its tranquil, idyllic atmosphere.
A photographer’s paradise
As well as strolling and relaxing, you can take some of the most striking photos in Edinburgh among the cobbled lanes and picturesque corners of Dean Village. The houses by the river and the village square are the most characteristic.
Don’t miss Well Court, the most iconic building in the village, built in the 1880s as housing for the mill workers.
Another popular photo spot is the Dean Bridge, built over the valley in the early 19th century so that people could cross the river without going down into the village, which is why the village has been preserved as it is. Many visitors simply cross the bridge without realising what lies below!
The best place to admire the bridge, designed by the famous Scottish engineer Thomas Telford, is from below, on the walkway that follows the river towards Stockbridge and Leith.
Part of the Water of Leith Walkway
The village lies on the banks of the small river that runs through Edinburgh, the Water of Leith. Along it, you will find a walkway that passes through some of the city’s most characteristic neighbourhoods, such as Stockbridge, all the way to the port of Leith, at the river mouth.
You may not want to walk the whole river from Balerno, so Dean Village is a great place to start. From here to Leith is about an hour’s walk, and at the end you’ll be rewarded with a neighbourhood full of history and some of the best restaurants in the city.
If you prefer two wheels, you can also do the route by bike, on a well-signposted, paved cycle path. Just take care, as there are plenty of walkers in some sections.
Make the most of your visit to Dean Village
The walk to Dean Village is a chance to see other places along the way, such as Charlotte Square, the square in the New Town with the finest Georgian architecture in the country, home to the Georgian House, an 18th-century townhouse.
Very close to the village is the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, with its fine collection of modern and contemporary art.
And as you are nearby, why not explore Edinburgh’s West End? It is one of the areas of the city with the best choice of places to eat, drink and go out.
If you want to discover this beautiful area in more depth with a local guide, join our Free Dean Village & New Town Tour. Starting on the Royal Mile, it takes you through the elegant streets of the New Town to Dean Village, combining history, architecture, beautiful views and some of Edinburgh’s most charming hidden corners.
Location
At the west end of Princes Street, Queensferry Street begins. Follow it to the end and you will reach the Dean Bridge. Just before the bridge, on the left, walk down Bells Brae, which leads into Dean Village. You can also get there on foot or by bike along the Water of Leith walkway.
Get directions to Dean Village.