Visiting Dean Village and Circus Lane are must do experiences when you’re in Edinburgh. But because they are on the New Town side, a lot of visitors sadly miss out on these two beautiful places.
In this post, we’re sharing how you can visit Dean Village and then do a self-guided walk around the village, along the Water of Leith walkway, and on to Circus Lane. It is a wonderful little nature walk on paved paths that are easy to navigate.
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Route Overview
This self-guided walk begins at Dean Village. From there, it’s just over a 0.5 mile walk to Stockbridge. Once in Stockbridge, it is only 0.2 miles to Circus Lane.
This walk is on mostly flat terrain with the hilliest bit being the short walk to Circus Lane. If you are staying in Old Town and plan to walk back to your accommodation, your walk will probably be at an incline. Check out our post on the Best Places to Stay in Edinburgh if you need help finding the perfect accommodation for your trip!
While you won’t find taxis between Dean Village and Stockbridge, once you are in Stockbridge or near the Circus Lane area, you could hail a cab to take you back to where you’re staying if you wanted. At the end of this post, we also list a couple of unique experiences you can do if you don’t want your day to end once you complete the walk!
This walk is great for nature lovers and those wishing to escape the swarms of tourists that can typically be found on the Royal Mile. We recommend doing this walk on a Sunday if possible, as you’ll be able to add the open air Stockbridge Market to the itinerary if you do!
Dean Village
A Little History
Dean Village is a picturesque village tucked away on the New Town side of Edinburgh. It was an industrial village for over 800 years, with grain milling being the primary trade. In the 1800s, the village saw a decline in industry as more modern flour mills began popping up in Leith.
While remnants of the mills can still be found around the village, today, you’ll find Dean Village to be a tranquil oasis. Despite millions of people visiting Edinburgh each year, very few visitors go to Dean Village.
It’s a shame that so many people miss out on such a beautiful part of Edinburgh. But it’s also great, because it’s a wonderful chance to escape the crowds that are typically found in the city center.
Getting There
If you’re staying on the Old Town side, we recommend taking a taxi to Dean Village. It’s a lot easier to get a taxi in Old Town and the busier parts of New Town than from Dean Village or Stockbridge (the end point of this self-guided walking tour). So by getting a taxi at the beginning, it saves your legs in case you end up walking back to your accommodation at the end of the day.
If you are staying on the New Town side, it may be a simple walk to Dean Village. You may also consider doing this walking tour in reverse order and ending at Dean Village.
Exploring Dean Village
The most widely shared photos of Dean Village are from the Water of Leith side. The river quietly flows in front of the ornately bricked buildings that line the bank and disappears under an arched bridge. It would be the perfect setting for a fairy tale!
We recommend crossing the river via the little footbridge to see the backside of the buildings. There is a beautiful private courtyard (entry is not allowed, but a little peek is) as well as interesting architecture that make for good photo ops.
If you wind your way behind the buildings, you can circle back around to the river side. You’ll cross the arched bridge which offers a different vantage point of the village and river. You then simply follow the signs labeled “Water of Leith Walkway”.
Water of Leith Walkway
The Water of Leith Walkway is just over 12 miles (19.5km) in total. This post only covers the small chunk between Dean Village and Stockbridge, which is around 0.2 miles (0.3km).
The walk is on flat ground and mostly shaded by forest and greenery. It feels very secluded and is much quieter than the other parts of Edinburgh filled with bustling tourists and the sound of bagpipes.
As you make your way alongside the river, you’ll see remnants of the flour mills, walk under an arched bridge, and see a few interesting little buildings. You’ll also pass by St. Bernard’s Well (pictured below), which was once believed to have healing powers. Inside the well, stands a statue of Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health.
If you are interested in getting closer to the water’s edge, there are little paths that branch off from the main one that will safely lead you down.
You’ll know you’re nearing the end of the Water of Leith Walkway when you pass under the ornate bridge below. If you continue on straight after going under the bridge, you’ll find yourself in Stockbridge.
Stockbridge
We highly recommend doing this walk on a Sunday, because the Stockbridge Market takes place every Sunday from 10 to 4. This is a great place to eat delicious food and get locally made souvenirs.
The market is always setup on Saunders Street. The Water of Leith Walkway runs straight into it, so you won’t be able to miss it if you’re there on a Sunday!
If you visit Stockbridge on a non-market day, Scran and Scallie is an excellent place to stop for lunch and made our list of The Best Places to Eat in Edinburgh. It’s also right around the corner from the Royal Botanic Garden which is home to a rich variety of plant species including some of the world’s rarest which are housed in stunning glasshouses.
One of the things you won’t want to miss though is taking a stroll down Circus Lane while you’re in the area!
Circus Lane
Circus Lane is super easy to get to from the Stockbridge Market. Simply take Kerr Street (the road that runs beside the market) up 2 blocks and turn left onto Circus Lane.
Entering Circus Lane from this side will help you get the iconic shot with the pretty curved street with the spire of St. Stephens Church steeple in the background.
The day we visited, the street was pretty quiet. The walls of the buildings were covered in ivy and beautiful flowers. It was great to have such a beautiful spot to ourselves and made the perfect opportunity to have a mini photoshoot.
Where to Go After Circus Lane
While this self-guided walking tour concludes at Circus Lane, if you don’t want the fun to end, there is a unique opportunity near Circus Lane that we recommend – afternoon tea in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Childhood Home.
In this Airbnb Experience, you’ll get to learn more about the author behind famous works like Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. After listening to some readings and seeing the home’s stunning interior, you’ll get to enjoy tasty treats and tea. Amanda gifted this experience to Kayla for her birthday, and we really enjoyed it!
This afternoon tea experience is definitely something you will need to book in advance.
If literary sites aren’t your thing, The National Portrait Gallery is only a 0.5 mile walk from Circus Lane. It is an absolutely beautiful space and has really interesting portraits throughout.
One of Kayla’s favorite’s was an optical illusion of Mary Queen of Scots where the painting looked like a skull from one angle and Mary from another. It was so clever, and we were amazed that it dated back to the 1500s!
Have you visited Dean Village and Circus Lane? Let us know your experience in the comments below!
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Some great ideas. My visit to Edinburgh was fleeting but I must go back again. You’re photos are lovely too, it looks so quiet and peaceful.
Unfortunately I missed these when in Edinburgh. My son’s been encouraging me to explore the Waters of Leith path on my next visit.
Argh what a fail. I have visited Edinburgh a few times but I have totally missed both of these. Dean Village looks loooovely, especially Water of Leith Walkway (totally up my street!) I will keep this in mind for when I finally get my husband up to Scotland.
Definitely recommend it for your next visit! If it makes you feel any better, the first time we went to Edinburgh, we completely missed the entire Grassmarket area. We felt so silly when we went back the second time and realized what a huge part we’d missed out on. If you miss out on something though, it just gives you all the more reason to go back!