Journal

The timings, the boys and the breeding. Tupping time on a Scottish hill farm.

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The photograph shows the pioneering mountaineer the Reverend AE Robertson at Eastside Farm road-end in 1946.

In 1885 the Scottish Rights of Way Society first surveyed paths, negotiated with the landowners and erected the first signposts to facilitate access on most of the Pentland paths. The same year they also published the first walking guide book to the Pentlands titled : The Pentland Hills: Their Paths & Passes. Copies of the guide were presented to the Edinburgh Trades Council for distribution amongst working men ‘in order that healthful enjoyment and recreation afforded by rights of way across the hills be better known.’ Now the hills are enjoyed by many all thanks to Rev Robertson, who was a bit of a dude by all accounts, he was also the first man to climb all the Munros in Scotland!

This morning we were playing hide and seek with the cloud as it rose and fell in the glens.

When the mist cleared we would grab a chance to move the binoculars over the ewes, checking each before the mist closed in again. Slowly moving through the clouds for closer inspections.

When above the cloud with the sun on my back I would be accompanied by a friendly Brocken Spectre. It was just him, me and the Pentland peaks for a while before the mist receded and we found some new born twins, up and running just a few hours old.

Last July we rushed to put out a wildfire on the Scald Law with the help of the fire brigade. Having had some wild campers that were in the process of starting a fire!!... can we reiterate how important it is to not to light ANY fires or throw any cigarette butts/ glass etc onto the hillside. The ground come summer is so dry it is like a tinderbox, the damage to flora & fauna especially ground nesting birds at this time of year could have been devastating. We are so so grateful to the fast reactions of kind people & our wonderful fire brigade.

Selling our hill grown lambs and ewes is always a busy time of year. Then off to the tup sales to choose the fathers of next years lambs.

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The Eastside Christmas tree hunt : Harvested on the farm each year a few hours are usually spent walking the woodlands to make sure we get the perfect specimen for the Eastside farm yard. This years tree comes from the Braid Law hillside rising up the South side of our little glen. Now in situ looking just as spectacular in the farm yard as it did on the hill.

Heather on the hills needs managed for both the sheep and the grouse, plover and other wild birds we share it with.

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As with this entire year everything got put back as the country came to a stand still. We were closed for 3 months all cottages lay empty & the building work we had started stopped. We have started building again though, slowly and safely.

Our new builders are working out the details and materials. Iain drawing beautiful architectural details as we go. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ as dad always says but we’ve made a good post lockdown start.

Lambing ewes require our constant attention. Most lamb without intervention but we are always on hand if any need a little help. Learn about our 'lamb warming box' and other life saving lambing kit in our sheep-shed maternity hospital!

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Clipping at Eastside starts in June through July. With 1400 ewes, 400 hoggs & 30 tups, it's a lot of work!

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The autumn colours are often spectacular on a hill landscape with the purple of the heather, the orange browns of the bracken dying back for winter and the crimson and bleached ash of the hill grasses.

This property is now under offer. An amazing opportunity to buy this beautiful cottage in one of the most stunning locations near Edinburgh. First time on the market. A former shepherd's cottage overlooking Loganlea Reservoir in the heart of the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

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