Dean Village Tour: Hidden Edinburgh

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 2.5-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.

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.

On reaching 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 the village's previous existence; meanwhile, its 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.

We continue along the riverside path passing former mill buildings, which now serve 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 building,s including Playfair’s vast St Stephen’s Church and the Old Market.

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.