Press & travel blogs

Kristy Ashton Photography & Richard Jackson | The Whimsical World of Koala

LET YOUR LOVE FLOW EAST | March 2018

Read all about Kristy & Richard's stay at the Woodshed, hill walks, castles, Edinburgh & chasing that 'golden light'. #outlander

..."The house was amazing, subtle against its environment but modern inside… I marvelled at the use of cross ply laminate in the build, perhaps a little too much and ended up looking like an obsessive! Koala didn’t seem to notice as she looked longingly to the surrounding hills, still shrouded in snow … and a lone tree on the ridge line. I saw it too….and put away the bottle opener resigned to a sunset hill walk before the Shiraz.

...The cottage lights below beckoned us back down the ridge...

...Eastside was such an oasis. The cottages felt really remote, but at the end of the valley, down the farm track was the main A702 road into Edinburgh.. and Edinburgh beckoned. Less than 30 minutes later, we were in a multi storey car park negotiating the truck into a space designed for shiny clean city cars not a mud splattered Mitsubishi..."

Love From Scotland

Love From Scotland / Westside Woodshed review / April 2018

Kate Hopper is a munro bagging, OS ambassador-ing inspiration! The perfect person to review the brand new Woodshed and make the most of its spectacular location.

Kate and Barry used a sunny Saturday to head out over the Pentland Peaks, hiking from the Woodshed, over the Kips and Scald Law all the way to Flotterstone (Inn) for a well earned refreshment! Kate’s advice : bring wellies & walking sticks! #getoutside

"10 miles south of Edinburgh between the hamlet of Silverburn and the village of Carlops, Eastside Farm nestles beneath the peaks of the shapely Kips and towering Scald Law. Turn towards the hills and at the end of a farm track (take it slow, it is a little bumpy!) is the Westside Woodshed, an incredibly stylish Scandi-inspired cottage for two hidden amongst the trees.

With tea and delicious scones awaiting you, the cottage is all set up for your arrival. The cottage has everything you need for an Edinburgh self catering break, with a full kitchen complete with all those things you forget – from organic oil, good coffee, and even herbs for cooking with, to plenty of logs for the wood burner – although with underfloor heating, a heat pump and eco-friendly design – even in the depths of the Scottish spring the cottage is toasty warm.

The downstairs double-height kitchen/ dining/ living room and cosy loft bedroom have sleek retro style – I particularly loved the cottage’s gorgeous velvet cushions inspired by the moody coastal landscapes in the Scottish Highlands – although I flipped them upside down to reflect the Pentlands!

All that’s left to do is swing open the patio doors, pour yourself a cup of tea (or a gin & tonic) and watch the chickens and sheep wander past your door.

Wellies, walking sticks and long walks are a very welcome part of life at the Westside Woodshed."

Love from Scotland / your Scottish travel guide

The Chaotic Scot

The Chaotic Scot / Westside Woodshed review / May 2018

Read all about Kay's stay at the Woodshed, roaring fires, hilltop hikes and the best of COOKs homemade meals delivered to your cottage door.

"I’m always excited see quirky, non-traditional accommodation appear in Scotland, and the Westside Woodshed is exactly that. Perfectly formed with Scandinavian timber, the aesthetics are unique and contemporary, yet still blend in seamlessly with the bonnie backdrop of countryside.

The interior is neutral and modern with stylish splashes of bright and bold colours. It’s obvious that every fabric, feature, and item of furniture has been carefully and tastefully selected to enhance the guests’ experience. The dreamy open-plan kitchen and super-cool foldaway dining table are ideal for self-caterers, and the shower is AMAZING; in this case ‘experiencing’ is believing.

I took great enjoyment in peering down on the signature sofa and my roaring-fire achievement from the bedroom on the mezzanine floor. This clever design makes optimum use of the space, while the large windows and French doors flood the interior with natural light and pretty views.

What a wonderful place to wake up."

The Chaotic Scot / Scottish travel blog packed with fun, food & inspiration

The Scottish Sun

29th April 2018 / A wee mention in the Scottish Sun : ‘you’d be baaa-rmy’ lol!

"You'd be baaa-rmy not to want to check into one of four cottages for let on a working sheep farm with spectacular views of the Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh. Eastside Cottages are fab for couples, friends and families to enjoy a self-catering break year round. Each has a fully equipped kitchen, sitting room with wood-burning fire, cosy bedrooms and private garden. Two of the cottages, the Stable and the Steading, are heated by a biomass boiler burning timber growing on the farm. Guests recieve tea and scones on arrival, a bouquet of locally grown flowers and free logs (grown on the farm)..."

Host Unusual

Host Unusual / what's new travel blog / May 2018

...how do you fancy an architect-designed oasis of calm with its very own private hot tub? We love the Scandi-style design of Westside Woodshed, whose elegant silver timber cladding works in harmony with its natural surroundings and whispering trees. Head to the mezzanine floor, and be greeted by a luxuriously cosy, white linen-dressed king-sized bed, adorned with artist-designed cushions, whilst downstairs a crackling fire in the sophisticated open-plan living space presents the perfect setting for a romantic weekend away from the bustle. With hikes and hill walks aplenty on your doorstep, you'll be in the perfect place to breathe in a healthy quota of fresh Scottish air and recharge those batteries.

​Host Unusual / what's new travel blog

Visit Scotland's Ambassadog

May 2018 / Celebrity visit

We had a very special guest this month (a Visit Scotland 'ambassadog' no less)! He was terribly well mannered had lovely flowing golden hair and a winning smile. He was of course the Instagram star @golden_george who gave the Steading cottage his seal of approval and had some wonderful walkies in the hills. He promises to be back if he can fit us into his busy schedule!

G is for Georgina

G is for Georgina / Westside Woodshed review / June 2018

Read all about Georgina's stay at the Woodshed, hilltops, hot tubs and adventure in the #great_wide_somewhere

"After a lovely long lie-in, we devoured a hearty breakfast and set off into the Pentland Hills. Nestled within the rolling heather-clad hills, the Woodshed is the perfect spot to explore the Pentlands from. A short walk from the front door takes you right into the middle of this gorgeous landscape"...

..."Tired but happy, we stopped for a well-earned cup of tea, happily drinking in the view.

As the weather started to turn, we made our way back... Thanks to our generous hosts, a tray of tea and scones were ready and waiting for us – the perfect sight for weary hillwalkers!

We spent the rest of the afternoon listening to the rain fall outside, pattering gently on the windows. We lit the wood-burning stove and spent a blissful few hours reading and snoozing.

It’s the perfect bolthole and its location is ideal – so close to the city, but far enough away to feel like a different world."

‘Give me adventure again, and again, until my legs ache and lungs burn, and I know every single road home.’ {Tyler Knott Gregson}

‘Would you like an adventure now or should we have our tea first?’ {J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan}

G is for Georgina / all things Edinburgh, travel & adventures

Life with Munchers

Life with Munchers / Steading Cottage review / July 2018

Read all about Pamela and families stay at Eastside, the perfect base for many adventures.

"Quite simply the best thing about the Central Belt of Scotland for a family holiday is just how accessible everything is. Whether you want city, country or coast… it’s all there within an hours drive, making it the perfect Scottish holiday location.

We based ourselves in the Pentland Hills, at a wonderful holiday cottage near Edinburgh. Eastside Cottages is a family run set of holiday cottages, which gave us the peace that us adults so very much desired...

...We were welcomed with scones on arrival and being surrounded by sumptuous landscapes inspired us to pack it up and make the most of the glorious weather. The Steading Cottage, which sleeps 4 and has the most quaint country garden, complete with BBQ (which we got to use practically every night!)

The rolling hills that surround the cottages and the amazing Scottish sunsets made for a magical time. Whilst the flexibility of such a central location meant we could go off and explore everything the area has to offer.

There are of course the obvious tourist attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Zoo, The Falkirk Wheel and The Helix, but because there is so much to do… You could take this trip a few times and still have something different to do..."

Life with Munchers / modern family living

Scottish Field

August 2018 / Reviewed by the Scottish Field : 'Far from the madding crowd'...& cooking spaghetti!

"Although Eastside Farm is only a short drive from Edinburgh,it really feels like an escape to the countryside. After slowly driving along the bumpy farm road to the Woodshed, you are deep in the heart of the Pentlands with scenic views in every direction...

...The whitewashed wooden walls and glass doors mean it is bright and airy and allows beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. It is ideally situated as a jumping-off point to some of the best Pentland hills walking routes, but for those who prefer to relax, it comes equipped with an outdoor wood-fired hot tub.

It takes about three to four hours to get the tub to a suitable temperature. My boyfriend was in his element out in the sun, tending the fire, beer in hand with only the sound of sheep and chickens for company. He enjoyed it so much that by the time we tried to get into the tub, the water was more suitable for cooking spaghetti than a relaxing dip. However, it wasn’t long until it cooled down to the perfect temperature and we stayed out there for hours. It was the perfect getaway."

Monkey & Mouse

Monkey & Mouse / Steading Cottage Review: 'Best of both worlds' / October 2018

"At the weekend we stayed somewhere extra special, a little gem of a cottage in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh. On our first day we went for a late afternoon walk up the hills behind the cottages... It may have been a bit chilly when we started out, but we soon warmed up climbing up the path to the Kips above Eastside Cottages... it’s really not that far, even for little legs like our 4 year olds!

You can see all the way across to Edinburgh and the Forth Bridges. Of course it’s a great vantage point to see down to the cottages too, watching the tractor moving around and horses trot along the track. We had great fun sitting and watching. But it was late and the sun was going down as we were at the top, so after a quick break we were on our way back down ready for dinner.

We stayed in the lovely Steading at Eastside Cottages. A beautifully converted hay shed, which now has 2 bedrooms and can sleep 4 people comfortably. Of course the main feature downstairs is the awesome spiral staircase, which for our stay turned into Gryffindor Tower for Harry Potter shenanigans. Wingardium Leviosa!!..

Outside there is a lovely garden that the kids would have been out in a lot if the weather had been better. Perfect for picnics and barbecues! There’s also a sheep pen at the back of the property, where the kids were excited to see the sheep in on the Sunday morning, not sure the sheep were so keen on being watched.

You could easily spend a lot of your time at the cottage exploring the variety of walks around the area. We loved getting up to the top of the hills behind the cottages and we would all have loved to go a bit further.

There are loads of other places to visit with an hour of the cottages, you can easily travel to both Edinburgh and Glasgow, the coast over in East Lothian, down into the Scottish Borders and over toward Biggar in South Lanarkshire. Activities can vary from leisurely walks along beaches and in woodlands, visits to museums and sculpture parks or surfing, biking and skiing. There is easily something for everyone in the local area!"

Monkey & Mouse / Our Colourful Life

Hidden Scotland

Jack & Karla spent a few days in the Woodshed producing some absolutely beautiful photographs and short film of their stay. Perfectly capturing the seasonal textures, colours and characters on the farm. Slow living, log fires and hill hikes.

Wanderlust : Your definitive travel guide

November 2018 / Byre Cottage Review : 'Beauty of the Highlands but closer to home'

'This hilly oasis has a real majesty, rising up in a rugged spine of peaks to the city’s south.

It well deserves its accolade of being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and one of the comments I often get from friends I take is ‘this could be the Highlands’. It could with its hills, glens and lochs. Winter is a great time to book a break to the Pentlands. It’s a good time too for spotting the bountiful birds of prey, who will be out hunting for scarcer food sources. If there is a dusting of snow the park’s deer are also much easier to spot...'

'...when you reach the summit, you’ll instantly see what I love about the Pentlands as a wildscape of hills unfurls all around, as well as lochs and a broad swathe of the Lothians down towards the Borders.

A day trip will give you an alluring snapshot of what the Pentlands offer, but I thoroughly recommend staying over if you can. On my latest visit I chose Eastside Cottages. This quartet of luxurious stone cottages is built around a working sheep farm and boasts lashings of character to back up décor that real thought has gone into.

My girls loved the fact that we could see rugged hill sheep just outside the window from the Byre (a brilliantly refashioned old cow shed) and also have the occasional horse or pony amble by.

As we had my two girls, Tara and Emma, with us, as well as their wee pal Amelia, we appreciated the big kitchen diner at the Byre Cottage and the living room upstairs with its cosy wood-burning stove.

Eastside Cottages made for the ideal base for exploring the Pentlands. Walking is one of the great highlights of the area – with 100km of waymarked trails – and we set off right from our cottage to tackle a couple of the hills. I’ve been up most of them, but not East and West Kip, which handily rise up in front of Eastside. We were soon up on a ridge and then sat on the summit gazing back towards the Forth bridges in our hometown of South Queensferry...'

'...Eastside is that sort of place. It’s family-run and family-friendly. It would be great for cosy couples too and groups of friends taking a few cottages.

One place we’d not discovered before, that we visited this time on the recommendation of Jenny at Eastside, was the Secret Herb Garden. This 7.5- acre herb nursery boasts a lovely café as well as a shop stocked with vintage furniture if you want something really special to take home. You can explore their gardens too. The girls thought this quirky oasis glorious fun – it was, the antithesis of soft play centres and they loved the bug catching kit they picked up.

The next morning we decided to branch out and explore the area’s rich history. Castlelaw Hill Fort put us instantly in touch with our Iron Age hill fort ancestors. It sits on an impressive defensive site, which is woven around a trio of ringed ramparts and ditches, with an earth house to explore.

The girls were amazed to imagine people eking out a living right on this spot thousands of years ago and they were intrigued that Roman artefacts have been found here too.

There is plenty more to explore nearby and if you are not from Edinburgh the Pentland Hills actually make for a really handy base, being such a short drive away from the city, with a decent bus connection too with the bottom of the farm track at Eastside. Rosslyn Chapel also lies within easy reach for history buffs and fans of the Da Vinci Code book and film.

Back in the Pentland Hills proper it’s not just all about walking. The trails here – which were originally forged by drovers herding their cattle over the hill passes to market – are ideal for horse riding and mountain biking too. My girls have been out pony trekking in the Pentlands Hills with the people at Swanston Farm and enjoyed ambling around the trails.

If fishing is more your thing you can take or hire a rod and enjoy a session at Glencorse Reservoir. The prized catch here is trout. We didn’t get the chance, but landing a fresh trout and cooking it up for supper at Eastside would have been ideal and not an experience you’d imagine so close to Edinburgh...'

By Robin McKelvie

Dwell

November 2018 / Dwell / Woodshed : Home tour

'Responding to its stunning location, this cross-laminated timber home near Edinburgh, Scotland, trades the traditional notion of the stone country cottage for a more contemporary Scandinavian look.

..."We wanted to move away from the solidity and introversion of traditional stone-built farm buildings to something with a lighter touch. This meant views out to the hills, and an awareness of the outside when within. It also meant one main double-height space rather than the more traditional approach of compartmentalizing into smaller spaces."

'It was important to the couple that the cottage fit into its rugged, hilly environment, so they preserved the existing trees on the site. Kebony wood was used for exterior cladding, which quickly weathered to a natural silver to match the surrounding trees.

The ground level has polished concrete floors, while the stairs and loft-level floor are made of engineered oak lightly glossed with whitening oil. The subtle silver and white tones of the timber work beautifully with the oak and concrete.

Although its finishes are modern, the home respects the traditional cottage vernacular found throughout the region. By combining a gabled roof with a carefully chosen palette of materials, the architects gave a nod to the cottage's inspiration—the traditional agricultural woodshed.

"The Westside Woodshed is a sanctuary in the hills that’s uplifting, light, and spacious, yet at the same time snug and protective."

Because the site is exposed to wind and rain at certain times of the year, they knew the cottage needed to be not just attractive, but practical too. The corrugated steel roof is a carefully choreographed shade of grey that doesn't draw attention. Traditional dry stone dykes run through the landscaping and along one side of the building to further a sense of ‘belonging’ within the landscape.'

By Michele Koh Morollo

Dwell / Woodshed : Home tour

Scotland on Sunday

May 2019 / In many cases the architecture of a building plays second fiddle to the interior design but at Westside Woodshed it’s been well and truly embraced.

“As a family we’ve always liked sharing our little glen with holiday makers. It’s such a brilliant location and we thought with Westside we could offer people a different experience of The Pentlands. Lots of people walk them but at Westside you can stay in them.

For the Woodshed “we were inspired by some of the amazing cabins you get in Scandinavia, we liked the idea of a practical building that can withstand the elements but at the same time a building that brings the outside in so that you’re aware of the building’s surroundings. In the previous Westside you hardly noticed the beautiful views outside because it was a traditional cottage with small windows which was trying to keep the weather out. This new property is in the exact position as the old one but you’re acutely aware of what is on your doorstep – the hills and the views and it really takes advantage of where you are."

“From the palette of materials that we chose we wanted to create something modern and simple but very much of the landscape. We chose timber that will weather to silver and used muted colour tones. We’ve incorporated traditional dry stane dykes, kept existing trees but also planted new ones. Whilst the woodshed is very modern in many of its aspects it is respectful of its landscape and actually the exterior follows quite a simple, almost traditional, Scottish cottage vernacular."

The result is a simple and sharp design over one and half storeys. The ground floor houses an open plan, double height kitchen, living and dining area along with a sleek, modern shower room and upstairs on the mezzanine level is a cosy bedroom under the eaves...

By Nichola Hunter @dinkymedia

The Finicky Wanderer

May 2019 / The Finicky Wanderer : Woodshed Review

George Orwell wrote “1984” in Barnhill Farmhouse in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. Ian Fleming brought Bond to life at his Goldeneye Estate in Jamaica. Virginia Wolf took us “To the Lighthouse” from her writing hut in Sussex, England, while Henry David Thoreau “went into the woods” to “live deliberately” in a humble cabin along the shore of Concord, Massachusetts’ Walden pond.

With co-working spaces and cool cafes available for nomad-writers in cities across the world, perhaps the idea of the “writer’s retreat” seems archaic and unnecessary. Not so for those in need of less chatter and a slower pace to hear their creative callings. For writers and artists who toil at their respective crafts, a haven to escape the quotidian and recharge can make a big impact on creative output.

Finding the perfect retreat – one that provides solitude, comfort, easy access to nature, and aesthetic pleasure – is like finding the Holy Grail. As a writer who’s also obsessed with evocative interior design, I believe I just found mine at the Woodshed– a gorgeous, modern Scandinavian style cottage that invites you to “coorie” (the Scottish equivalent of hygge) in the rugged Scottish hills.

Its owners, graphic designer Jenny Cowan and photographer Michael Rummey, who also help run the family’s Eastside Farm collaborated with Edinburgh-based Roxburgh McEwan Architects to ensure this incredibly cosy holiday rental does justice to its stunning location within Scotland’s breathtaking Pentland Hills Regional Park.

“We wanted to move away from the solidity and introversion of traditional stone-built farm buildings to something with a lighter touch, but still as sturdy. This meant views out to the hills, and an awareness of the outside when within. It also meant one main double-height space rather than the more traditional approach of compartmentalising into smaller spaces,” says Cowan, a descendent of Penicuik papermaker and philanthropist Alexander Cowan, whose family has owned Eastside estate for generations.

From the cottage, you can easily get to West Kip, East Kip and Scald Law, three of the nine major peaks, or the gentler rises of Cap and Green Law. There was something mildly addictive about walking the Pentlands as each day I found myself increasingly eager to head out in seek of new trails. If like myself, you do not have a car, expect to leave the world as you know it behind for a full immersion into green hills and glens, sheep meadows, bird-filled heather moorlands, Scot Pine and Larch forests, waterfalls, and reservoirs, and wake up each morning to the splendor of nature, and a mind ready for creative pursuits.

By Michele Koh Morollo

The Finicky Wanderer : Woodshed Review

Trace Lifestyle

March 2020 : Slow Travel/ Trace Lifestyle

ALL OF THE HYGGE

The Woodshed blends perfectly into it’s surroundings, with silvered timber cladding and whitewashed wood panels that make it almost disappear into the hills behind. The large glazed doors mean the light floods inside, allowing a constant view of the rolling hills and the ever-changing sky.

The interiors are paired back but thoughtful with a laid back vibe that fuses understated, minimal design with comfort and style. Toasty underfloor heating, bare wood walls and soft furnishings come together to create the perfect space for a proper hygge experience. The mezzanine style interior means that the Woodshed manages to feel both open and snug at the same time.

KEEPING COSY

Storm Ciara hit on the Saturday morning of our weekend stay and the weather outside was wild! Anywhere else I might have been sad to be trapped inside but it was actually wonderful. We kept the fire lit, drank hot coffee and watched the storm out of the huge glazed doors. I felt so cosy nestled up by the fire with my book while the wind whistled around the cabin. In our fast paced world it was the perfect opportunity to properly slow down and actually relax, it was the calmest I’d felt in such a long time.

Our weekend at the The Westside Woodshed was the absolute definition of slow travel, we both came home feeling so relaxed and recharged. I think it is good for the soul to be lost in nature for a few days.

By @trace.lifestyle

The Times

July 2020 : Plan now, go later: Top 30 fabulous self-catering stays in the UK

NUMBER 5 : WESTSIDE WOODSHED

You’re only 25 minutes from Edinburgh, but city life feels a thousand miles away at this two-storey pine-clad cabin in the Pentlands. Opened at the end of 2018, it stands at the end of a bumpy track on 3,000-acre hill farm with Scandi-style interiors: cool minimalism softened by sheepskin throws and deer-hide rugs. A double-height lounge and Finnish spruce-wood-fired hot tub look down across a wild, heathery glen. The friendly farmer owners provide homemade scones, tea and jam — perfect after hill walks from the back door.

Travel away

September 2020 : Seven Stunning Scottish Holiday Retreats Where You Can Reconnect with Nature

While there are many holiday stays to choose from in rural Scotland, only a few will meet the demands of discerning architecture & interior design lovers. Here are seven of the finest & most beautifully furnished Scottish nature retreats where you can enjoy the wilderness outdoors & exquisite design indoors.

Westside Woodshed

Just a 30-minute drive from Edinburgh is the Pentland Hills Regional Park, a 20-mile long, 30-square-mile range of hills that stretch over the Scottish counties of South Lanarkshire, Midlothian, & the Scottish Borders. Set within the Park is a 3,000-acre farmland estate called Eastside, where you can rent the Westside Woodshed – a snug holiday cottage with modern, minimalist interiors.

The 544-square-foot cottage has a double-height, open-plan living, kitchen, and dining area with walls and ceilings of cross-laminated timber and polished concrete floors. From the living area, a sky-lit staircase leads up to a mezzanine sleeping loft with an antique dresser and wardrobe, a dreamy king-sized bed, and armchair made to lounge in while looking out the window towards the sheep-dotted hills.

By Michele Koh Morollo