The historic mills, green gully location near the New Town and quirky monuments make Dean Village a beautiful escape from the crowds in Edinburgh.
Escaping the crowds in Edinburgh
Particularly in August during the Fringe Festival, Edinburgh can get overcrowded and overwhelming. Many visitors find themselves wanting to get away from the crowds and find some breathing space.
The two most popular escapes within the city are Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat, but a quieter, arguably prettier option is little-known Dean Village.
What is the Dean Village in Edinburgh?
The Dean Village is an odd remnant of the rural landscape that used to lie beyond the New Town. Most of it is tucked into a deep, green gully, where the minor rapids of the Water of Leith river bubble alongside.
The gully was carved by a glacier. The land to the north of here was once as high as Everest, but over the millennia, ice has pressed it down.
The mills of the Dean Village
Within the gully is a small stone monument. On closer inspection, it is made of mill wheels – a nod to the gully’s heritage. There have been mills here since at least the 12th century.
That past explains the rampantly heterogeneous architecture that’s completely at odds with the grand Georgiana on top of the cliffs. Some of it is mills converted into social housing, some of it was built by philanthropists wanting to give the artisans and labourers somewhere to live close to their work, some of it was there way before the New Town plans kicked into gear.
Trinity Church in the Dean Village
The most dramatic part of this unexpected oasis is underneath the high, graceful arches of the Dean Bridge. Next to it stands the Trinity Church, which isn’t quite what it seems.
It’s now an electricity sub-station. Like a lot of Edinburgh churches, it has been converted into something else.
Where is the Dean Village?
The Dean Village is a 1.2 mile walk west of Edinburgh Waverley Station – it should take about 25 minutes. A visit can easily be combined with a walk along the Water of Leith towards the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Dean Village tours
If you really want to know more about the Dean Village, the best bet is to visit with a tour guide. Local Eyes Tours runs small group walking tours of the Dean Village and Circus Lane, costing £18.
More Edinburgh travel tips
Other Edinburgh articles on Planet Whitley include:
- National Museum of Scotland review: Which bit to visit first?
- How to get into Edinburgh Castle when the tickets have sold out.
- The best things to do near Edinburgh Castle.
If you’re looking for Edinburgh tours, activities and experiences, there’s a massive selection here.
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