Hidden Edinburgh: Dean Village

Get off the beaten track and discover a hidden Edinburgh

$380

Private

N/A

Semi-private

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Tour Details

About the Tour

Private Tour: $ 380
Category: History
Duration: 2.5 hours
Location: Edinburgh

Photos & Highlights

Discover a village full of history and charm within Edinburgh
Led by a local expert
Water of Leith and Stockbridge

Tour Description

Away from the traffic of Edinburgh's busy streets, but still within walking distance of the New Town, are the outlying historic settlements of Stockbridge and the Dean Village. This 3-hour Dean Village and Stockbridge Tour from Edinburgh visits these two relatively hidden places and paints a portrait of Edinburgh quite distinct from the more mainstream tourist sites.

Dean Village and Stockbridge Tour

Our walk starts at the edge of Edinburgh’s 18th century New Town as we pass Thomas Telford’s Dean Bridge over the Leith water. Here, a surprising and different world awaits us as we descend the brae past eccentric houses, former taverns, and medieval reminders of the past life of this village.

Having reached the valley floor a charming village is revealed where weavers, quarrymen, and baxters (bakers) used to live and work. 16th century houses harken back to its previous existence; meanwhile, mills and the village school have been turned into trendy housing. A picturesque fantasy of Germanic flavor was an experiment in model housing, endowed by a local philanthropist. Flowers abound around the pretty stream which formerly provided water for the mill wheel.

Along the River

We continue along the riverside path passing former mill buildings, which now serves as a site of special scientific interest with abundant plants and birdlife. Passing St Bernard’s Classical temple, where health-giving waters were taken in the 18th century, we arrive at the historic settlement of Stockbridge, which mainly features Georgian architecture, but also contains a medieval past. The painter Henry Raeburn, who was born here, influenced the varied layout of this much sought-after ‘suburb’ with its grand classical houses intermingled with interesting vestiges of a humble past. There are many fascinating streets containing significant buildings including Playfair’s vast St Stephen’s Church and the Old Market.

Take Aways

At the end of our journey can return to the center of town by bus or weave our way on foot through the impressive Classical terraces. Visitors will come away with a deeper understanding of Edinburgh and its history, having discovered the historical legacy of two integral parts of Edinburgh not commonly considered by travelers.

Want to learn more about Edinburgh's history? Try our Edinburgh Old Town Tour. Hungry? Try our Edinburgh Food Tour.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Maggie

Educated in modern languages at Bristol and Oxford, Maggie subsequently received an MA from Edinburgh. Before becoming a professional Scottish tour guide she taught, mainly literature, in a variety of educational establishments in England and Scotland. Additionally, she has organized voluntary work placements in Romania and Hungary. She has lived in Edinburgh for most of her life and is very familiar with its history, architecture, and art. Through her family she has close associations with museums and galleries, and enjoys showing guests around this wonderful city full of architectural detail, mysterious medieval passageways, and glorious vistas.

Alice

Alice was born and raised in Edinburgh against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat. A member of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association, she gained her Blue Badge following training through the Association and the University of Edinburgh. Her main interests are Scottish history and literature. She also remains a practicing registered nurse.

Helen

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9 Reviews

Alex was terrific. The tour was designed to be off the beaten path...and proved to be deeply interesting, touching on history, art and architecture, economics, political history, town development, and much else. And he’s very pleasant, open, and patient — all you can ask for in a guide.

Paul

Aug. 18, 2018

A very interesting tour-Helen was great! Thanks!

Angela

May. 27, 2018

Our docent was very knowledgeable, He had many anecdotes and knew the area very well. He gave us great suggestions of other things to do, and places to dine.

Betsy

Sep. 6, 2017

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Tour Experts

All Context Experts are scholars or specialists in their field.

Maggie

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Alice

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Helen

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