Dean Village Walk | A True Edinburgh Hidden Gem
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Dean Village is a lovely thirty-minute walk from the city center of Edinburgh. The Dean Village walk is what makes reaching Dean Village all the more special as it takes you along the Water of Leith Walkway, a hidden gem in itself. There are many Edinburgh tours that take you to Dean Village, but honestly, you don’t need a tour to see the Edinburgh Dean Village!
Now, you can reach Dean Village by taxi or taking the city bus (more on that below) but honestly, the best way to experience this area of Edinburgh is by doing the Dean Village walk from Princes Street, to Stockbridge, then down the Water of Leith walkway to Dean Village. There’s a map of the direct route below.
SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS DEAN VILLAGE IN EDINBURGH?!
In the 1880s, Dean Village was a water milling site. The Edinburgh World Heritage restored the building that housed the water mill workers making it now probably the most photographed area of Dean Village.
The village as a whole is super charming, and the historic buildings right on the water are a sight to see.
Visiting Dean Village can be done as just a nice walk, or as we recommend, by making it an afternoon affair. Pack food and drinks and enjoy the walk to Dean Village, then, picnic at the Dean Gardens before wandering around the village.
Alternatively, pop into an outdoor market in Stockbridge before making your way down the Water of Leith walkway, spending extra time in another super cute area of Edinburgh.
THE DEAN VILLAGE EDINBURGH WALK
As you walk down the Water of Leith walkway towards Dean Village, you’re greeted with this view just as you enter Dean Village.
Continuing the Dean Village walk, you’ll find yourself inside the village itself, just taking in the charm of the old buildings and darling colors!
After wandering around the inside of the village, don’t miss walking back over towards the water. Here you’ll find the views that make Dean Village such a popular place.
From here, continuing your walk through Dean Village, taking the Dean path and bridge over the Water of Leith. But.. don’t forget to stop and take photos on the way!
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEAN VILLAGE WALK
- There are no bathrooms at Dean Village or along the Water of Leith Walkway. Be sure to use that bathroom before heading down to explore Dean Village.
- Likewise, there are no restaurants at Dean Village. It’s a residential area of Edinburgh, so don’t think you’ll be able to pop into a restaurant to use the loo. Eat before or after your walk to and through Dean Village!
- While many residential areas have small shops, Dean Village does not. Be prepared by bringing something to drink and snacks with you in case you want to spend more time in the surrounding area!
- You can continue down the Dean Path past Dean Village and walk to two different art galleries, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, one and two. We aren’t too huge on museums, so we didn’t visit this place, however, the reviews are great!
DEAN VILLAGE WALK MAP
If you couldn’t tell already, we highly recommend walking to Dean Village. The map below shows the route that we suggest taking to get to Dean Village from Princes Street in Edinburgh. This route takes you through the very popular Stockbridge area of Edinburgh, and right down Circus Lane, a hidden gem in Edinburgh.
Here are more views of Dean Village and the surrounding area you get to enjoy when doing the Dean Village walk…
GETTING TO DEAN VILLAGE
Walking (most recommended)
Walking to Dean Village is the best part of seeing Dean Village. The walk takes roughly thirty minutes, leading you through other hidden gems in Edinburgh – Circus Lane and The Water of Leith Walkway. The “Dean Village Walk” down the Water of Leith Walkway has multiple stops with old water mills, statues, and wells, truly making you feel like you’re outside the city!
City Bus (cheapest alternative)
You can hop on many of the city buses from Princes street heading out of town (opposite of Calton Hill) to get to Dean Village. The Lothian buses run every 10 minutes, so there’s not much scheduling or planning you need to do to take the bus. Check here for bus routes and which bus number you want to take.
You could always walk to Dean Village and then take the bus back to the city centre if you need to get back quickly. Just find a bus heading to Princes Street, you’ll be dropped right below Edinburgh Castle.
Taxi (closes drop off point)
Taxis will allow the closest drop-off point to Dean Village and allow you more time to walk around Dean Village itself. Obviously, this alternative will not allow you to walk down the Water of Leith Walkway. However, this is a great option if you are only interested in seeing Dean Village itself.
If you do want to do the entire Dean Village walk along the water, have the taxi drop you off at Stockbridge Market. From there you’ll have about a short walk (about 15-minutes) along the water, straight to Dean Village.
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