This quaint little village has been on my list of places to visit for a while, ever since I first came across photos of it on Instagram. We’ve visited Edinburgh so many times, yet had never come across Dean Village. So this weekend when the sun was shining, blue skies were upon us, and we had nothing else to do, we jumped in my car and took a drive there.

Dean Village is a 5 minute walk from Princes Street in the city centre, making it an ideal stopover for those wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Water of Leith runs through the village, along which there are several walkways and walking trails.

We knew we were getting close to the village when we came upon the narrow cobbled street – Dean Path– where we spotted a handful of couples and family groups, cameras swinging around their necks.

If you’re going to drive here, you might get lucky and find a free parking spot on the cobbled downhill street itself. We decided to park at on-street parking bays which were all empty, right in front of the Dean Parish Church. Luckily for us, parking charges only applied Monday to Friday. Getting free street parking in one of the most expensive cities in Scotland certainly felt like a win to us!

From the Dean Parish Church, walking down towards Dean Path, you’ll come across Dean Cemetery, which houses some Commonwealth War Graves. Walk across the cemetery at the right time during sunset and you can catch beautiful sun rays streaming through the gates during the golden hour.

When we first came upon this scene at the village, I thought the buildings looked like they were from another European city – like Vienna or Geneva. It certainly didn’t have that ‘Scottish look’. It has such a quaint charm to it – perfect for taking a wander on a date, or an easy walk with your kids. Just be aware of the midgies by the water and don’t keep your mouth open in awe for too long!

The name Dean Village comes from ‘Dene‘, which means deep valley. I wonder if that can apply to ‘Deena’ too …hehe.