Dean Village, Edinburgh

Nestled along the Water of Leith, only seven minutes walk away from Princes Street, Edinburgh, is the quaint Dean Village. It was originally a grain milling area, and the first known mention of Dean Village occurred during the reign of King David around 1145 AD. So, it's kinda old. ;) 

It's a quiet area of Edinburgh, mostly made up of residential homes and flats. Nearby is the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, which is on my list to visit next. (I'm a big fan of art museums...) 

We ambled down the cobblestones, across the bridge, which was opened to the public in 1833, and looped around across a small footbridge, and back up the other side of the river. The only other people we saw out and about were dog walkers. I expect it's probably a bit busier in the summer with tourists, but I really enjoyed the solitude and quiet. 

Behind my serene face was the worry of how exactly we were going to get that pram back up the hill without simply carrying the whole thing. There is a bit of an incline going down to Dean Village. It's an easy slope on the way down, but on the way back? Well, let me just say, I definitely got my workout in that day. The road is also cobblestoned and a bit bumpy for a pram, so if you plan on going down with a baby, I would highly suggest wearing instead of using a pram. 

Green thumbs abound here in Dean Village apparently. 

Love this. 

Dean Village is an area of drastic economic turnaround. Apparently, in the 1960s, the entire area was known for poverty and being rundown, but due to redevelopment and restoration by the city of Edinburgh, the village was able to pull itself up to where it stands today as a charming, somewhat secluded area of Edinburgh. In fact, I would love to live in Dean's Village in a lovely flat, overlooking the river. Just need to work on my green thumb so I can have some lush, green, window boxes too!