Itinerary 4 Dean Village and Botanic Gardens
Circus Lane, Belle Brae to Dean Village and the Water of Leith
This guided tour will give you an idea of what is on the first part of this itinerary:
You can either walk down Lothian Road to Charlotte Square or else take the bus. The N° 9 to Abercromby Place will bring you to close to where you want to go. From Charlotte Square walk down Howe Street to Circus Lane (on your left just before the church at the bottom of Howe Street).
Circus Lane could be used in an advert for a time gone by, closer to Jane Austen than to Irvine Welsh. Walk the length of Circus Lane and make your way to Bells Brae via Moray Place, Ainslie Place and Randolph Crescent.
Opulent living in the New Town.
When you get to Bells Brae, follow this small road at the side of the bridge (but do not go over the bridge). This will lead you to the most bucolic of the itineries.
Dean Village (4.5 on Tripadvisor)
Walk down to Bells Brae and then turn off left onto Hawthornbank Lane.
Follow the road around to the pedestrian bridge (and pop up to The Dean coffee shop) if you want refreshments.
The Dean Café
This might be your chance to visit the Gallery of Modern Art (not the best of the museums in Edinburgh but still worth the visit if you are an art lover). The museum, below, is 10 minutes from Dean Café by foot and is free. More information on the museum itinerary.
Then go back from the cafe to go over the pedestrian bridge and walk round past Well Court to the small stone bridge over the Water of Leith and turn off onto Miller Row (where you can see the brown sign indicating the route to St Bernard’s Well). Follow the path to St Bernard’s Well.
St Bernard’s Well
Anne Street
On the way to the Botanic Gardens and Leith, if you would like to see what is reputed to be the handsomest street, one of the “best places to live” in Edinburgh and with it one of the most expensive, make a detour via Anne Street:
Part 2 From Anne Street to the Shore and the Royal Yacht Brittania
From Anne Street, make your way to the West Gate of the Botanic Gardens (FREE).
On the way, you will pass through Stockbridge, with its little shops.
https://edinburgh.org/neighbourhoods/stockbridge/things-to-do-in-stockbridge
Maybe linger a little to do some window shopping or grab a coffee. Stockbridge Market is from 10 to 4 on Sundays.
Open every Sunday from 10am to 4pm in Jubilee Gardens, the Stockbridge Market is a big hit with local Edinburgh residents. Artisan breads, cheese, smoked salmon and even handmade dog treats sit alongside handmade soaps, jewellery and carefully created crafts. Satisfy your palate with delicious handmade crepes, melting marshmallows or a warming drink as you stroll through this delightful market.
Since it opened in 2021, The Neighbourhood Market has also proven to be a popular seasonal attraction. Featuring an array of street food stalls and live music, the market runs from 7th May – 27th July Wednesday to Sundays from midday to 10pm.
Sprio & Co: A family-owned café on St Stephen’s Street known for its good coffee and food.
If not, it is in the late afternoon or early evening, try:
The Antiquary Bar: A basement bar on St Stephen’s Street, popular for its extensive drink selection and food.
Smith & Gertrude: A cheese and wine bar offering a flight of wine and paired cheeses.
The Scran & Scallie: A warm and welcoming gastropub showcasing Scottish food.
The Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh are spectacular and so make for a very pleasant walk and a good place for kids to run around int. Once you are at the Botanic Gardens, there is a pleasant cafe in the middle of the gardens.
The Shore Leith
Leave the Botanic Gardens by the East Gate and if you are still willing and able, walk down to the The Shore in Leith. If you walk from the East Gate to the Shore, it will take you half an hour and it is not the most picturesque part of town (so this is maybe the time to consider public transport).
The No 9 bus will take you back into the centre and then, if you wish, back to the house.
The 36 bus (once every 30 mins), direction Ocean Terminal, is the most direct way to get to The Shore from the Botanic Gardens.
The 36 bus
But you could also follow the Water of Leith Walkway:
www.waterofleith.org.uk/audio-trail/
The Shore The Shore and Leith Docks are a bit reminiscent of the Old Port in Copenhagen suggesting the strong ties to the Baltic in the past. Leith used to be a bit neglected and it was here that the film Trainspotting was mostly set. However, it is gentrifying quite quickly and the old Port represents a chance for a walk and perhaps even a visit to a restaurant.
To get back from The Shore to the house on public transport, get the tram to The Mound and then take the N° 9 bus (direction Kings Buildings … and so up the hill from beside the National Gallery).