The Dick Vet Way - a walking tour of Edinburgh

A walking tour exploring the history of The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh city centre

You can download a pocket-size PDF of the tour route, with a map, here.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is one of the oldest veterinary schools in the world. Founded by William Dick in 1823, the School celebrates its Bicentenary in 2023 - marking 200 years of veterinary teaching.

The route takes around two hours to complete. It is non-chronological, but follows a convenient path across town, finishing up at Summerhall, and takes in many of the city’s key veterinary sites.

For the complete Dick Vet story so far, join frequent Lothian bus services to Easter Bush to explore the site of the Home Farm, 1960s Field Station, and modern campus including the Roslin Institute.  

With thanks to 

Imogen Gibson, Kirk Secretary, Canongate Kirk | Edinburgh Bus Station | The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh | Centre for Research Collections, University of Edinburgh | Colin Warwick MBE, Honorary Fellow, R(D)SVS  

References 

Bradley, O.C. (1988 facsimile of the 1923 edition) History of the Edinburgh Veterinary College. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Library.  

Warwick, C.M. & Macdonald, A.A.  (2006) John Barlow: A Mind of No Common Mould. Veterinary History 13(2): 100-110. 

Gardiner, A. (2007) Elephants and exclusivity: an episode from the ‘pre-Dick’ history of veterinary education in Edinburgh. Veterinary History 13: 299-309. 

Warwick, C.M. & Macdonald, A.A.  (2007) Current and Historical Sites Associated with Veterinary Education in Edinburgh. Privately printed leaflet.  

Warwick, C.M. & Macdonald, A.A. (2011) Early contributions to the development of veterinary education in Scotland. Veterinary History 16(1): 10-40. 

Warwick, C.M. & Macdonald, A.A. (2013) The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies: What’s In a Name? Veterinary History (17)1: 33-65.