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White cow parsley blooms in front of a stone cottage with skylights
Lothian

The Steading

For four, with two bedrooms, a sauna and room for the dog. Three nights at least. From £172 a night. Arrive from 4pm, leave by 10am.

Licence ML-00073-F

Book on their website
Welcome

The Steading is a cottage for four on Eastside, a working hill farm hidden up a quiet glen in the Pentland Hills, a mile up a farm track and a 10-mile drive from the centre of Edinburgh.

It was once a hilltop hay shed, and its 18th-century stone walls still look over the old sheep fold to the hills beyond. A spiral staircase rises from the open living room, where there's a wood-burning stove and a tiled floor, and the kitchen is painted blue with a big farmhouse sink. Upstairs there's a double bedroom and a twin. Outside, a wooden gate opens into the garden, there's a fire pit for the evenings, and miles of walks start from the door. It's baby and child friendly, and you can book a private session in the farm's wood-fired sauna.

So close to Edinburgh, but far enough away to feel like a different world.
Eastside

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What is here

There’s a wood-burning stove with logs from the farm’s own timber, kindling and firelighters, a fire pit and an outdoor dining table in the garden, and a washing machine and tumble dryer in the covered archway outside.

Sauna
Wood for fires
Firepit
EV charging point
Dishwasher
Dog friendly
Dryer
Garden
High chair
Kitchen
Stair gates
TV
Travel cot
Washing machine
Wifi
Wood-burning stove
Good to know
Sleeps
Four in a double and a twin.
Stays
Three nights or more.
Dogs
Up to two, on leads.
Children
Welcome; a stair gate and fireguard.
The sauna
A private 1.5-hour session to book.
Getting there
A mile up a farm track.
Parking
One car, 30 seconds' walk.
Food
Bring all your own food.
Shops
Penicuik's Tesco and Lidl, 3 miles.
Laundry
Washer and dryer outside.
Wifi
Superfast fibre, the farm's own.
Car charging
Two chargers in the car park.
Water
Spring water from the hill.
At Eastside
Stone cottage courtyard with slate roof, chimney and rolling green hills behindThe ByreSleeps 4
  • The old cow shed
  • A double-height kitchen
Check datesThe WoodshedSleeps 2
  • A silvered timber cabin
  • A wood-fired hot tub
Free 8–11 NovA black kitchen counter with flowers on the worktop stands before a curved timber slatted screen opening onto a bedroom.The CartshedSleeps 2
  • By Studio IMA
  • Big picture windows
Free 9–11 NovWash House, EdinburghThe Wash HouseSleeps 2
  • By Studio IMA
  • A marble shower room
Free 11–13 NovThe whole placeEastsideAll five cottages on the farm, and the hills around them.See Eastside
Where it is

Eastside sits up a quiet glen in the Pentland Hills Regional Park near Penicuik, in Midlothian, a mile up a farm track from the main road.

Central Edinburgh is a 10-mile drive away (Waverley Station is 13 miles) and Edinburgh Airport is 15 miles. A Houstons 101 bus into Edinburgh stops at the end of the track, a mile’s walk from the cottages, and Penicuik, 4 miles off, has a frequent Lothian Buses service. A car makes life easier, as some taxi firms won’t drive up the track.

Getting hereEastside is a mile up a farm track in the Pentland Hills, 4 miles from Penicuik and 13 from central Edinburgh. The Woodshed is across the valley at Westside, a ten-minute walk over the fields. The owners recommend a car: some taxis will not drive the track, and the 101 bus stops at the track's end.

Close byNearby.
  1. Timber-clad courtyard buildings with corrugated roofs and a gravelled seating areaThe Free CompanyRustic farm dining just over the hills, most of the menu grown a stone's throw away.16 miles 32 min by road
  2. An intricately carved stone ceiling arches above a stained-glass window depicting robed figures in Rosslyn Chapel.Rosslyn ChapelThe carved chapel at Roslin, with Rosslyn Glen to walk while you are there.7 miles 18 min by road
  3. Metal footbridge crossing a river beside trees and a stone buildingDalkeith Country ParkMiles of woodland, with walks fine for wheelchairs and buggies, and a good coffee shop.14 miles 26 min by road
  4. Grass-covered spiral mounds curve around still ponds at Jupiter ArtlandJupiter ArtlandA sculpture park in a country estate: lunch in the cobbled courtyard, then the art.17 miles 31 min by road
  5. Climber in harness scales an indoor wall above an orange bouldering matEdinburgh International Climbing ArenaClimbing walls built inside an old quarry at Ratho, under a roof: one for a wet day.20 miles 35 min by road
  6. Lost Shore Surf Resort, EdinburghLost ShoreA surf resort in a disused quarry, its waves made to order.20 miles 34 min by road
  7. Timberyard sign above red-framed windows on a grey shopfrontTimberyardA family-run restaurant in an old timber yard in Edinburgh.11 miles 30 min by road
  8. The dining room of The Little Chartroom on Bonnington Road by candlelight, with chefs at work in the open kitchen beyond the tables.The Little ChartroomRoberta Hall-McCarron's small, perfectly formed restaurant in Leith.21 miles 39 min by road
  9. Timber-beamed dining room with arched windows, laid tables and hanging floral displayThe WitcheryOld-world dining at the top of the Royal Mile, with a great wine list.12 miles 34 min by road
Walks from here
  1. The Kirk RoadThe Kirk Road2 miles2 miles away
  2. Scald LawScald Law7½ miles, about five hours4 miles away
  3. GlencorseGlencorseabout an hour and a half4 miles away
  4. Caerketton and AllermuirCaerketton and Allermuirabout three hours for the hill round7 miles away
  5. The Hermitage of BraidThe Hermitage of Braid2½ miles, about an hour and a half10 miles away
Directions
Clermount Cottage, EdinburghPenicuikClermount CottageSleeps 2 · 2.2 miles
Celtic cross gravestone among tombs leading to a spired stone churchAttractionsGlencorse Old Kirk5.3 miles
CarlopsWilderkin CabinSleeps 2 · 6.2 miles
Diners at outdoor tables outside The Original Rosslyn, flag flying above the entranceRestaurantsOriginal Rosslyn Inn7.1 miles
Stone steps lead through a red sandstone archway in dense woodlandAttractionsRosslyn Castle7.9 miles
Whitewashed thatched cottage with chimney, surrounded by flowering shrubs and conifersAttractionsSwanston8.2 miles
Standing stone beside a stone wall and house on a residential streetAttractionsThe Caiy Stane8.2 miles
Green fields and woods near Roslin on a grey day.AttractionsBattle of Roslin Monument8.2 miles
Green hillside overlooking Edinburgh's suburbs and the Firth of Forth beyondAttractionsAllermuir Hill9.4 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from The SteadingAll days out from here
  1. A walk up the Kirk Road into the Pentland HillsA walk up the Kirk Road into the Pentland Hills2 miles away A few hours
  2. Round Harlaw Reservoir in the Pentland HillsRound Harlaw Reservoir in the Pentland Hills3 miles away A few hours
  3. Flotterstone, Glencorse Reservoir and Castlelaw walkFlotterstone, Glencorse Reservoir and Castlelaw walk3 miles away A few hours
  4. Turnhouse, Carnethy and Scald Law hill walkTurnhouse, Carnethy and Scald Law hill walk4 miles away A day out
  5. The Water of Leith walk from Balerno to ColintonThe Water of Leith walk from Balerno to Colinton4 miles away A few hours
  6. Pony trekking at Swanston, under the Pentland HillsPony trekking at Swanston, under the Pentland Hills5 miles away A few hours
  7. The Alpine Coaster and tubing at HillendThe Alpine Coaster and tubing at Hillend5 miles away A few hours
  8. Round Caerketton and Allermuir from HillendRound Caerketton and Allermuir from Hillend6 miles away A few hours
  9. West Linton's carved kirk and lunch at Whitmuir FarmWest Linton's carved kirk and lunch at Whitmuir Farm6 miles away A few hours
  10. Rosslyn Chapel and Roslin GlenRosslyn Chapel and Roslin Glen6 miles away A day out
  11. Colinton Tunnel and the Dells with the dogColinton Tunnel and the Dells with the dog6 miles away A few hours
  12. Edinburgh Printmakers and a walk along the Union CanalEdinburgh Printmakers and a walk along the Union Canal7 miles away A few hours
  13. The Spear Sauna at Lost Shore, near EdinburghThe Spear Sauna at Lost Shore, near Edinburgh7 miles away A few hours
  14. A surf lesson at Lost Shore, RathoA surf lesson at Lost Shore, Ratho7 miles away A few hours
  15. The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill walkThe Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill walk7 miles away A few hours
  16. Lunch at the Canny Man's and a film at the DominionLunch at the Canny Man's and a film at the Dominion8 miles away A few hours
  17. Morningside, a show at the King's and supper at DulseMorningside, a show at the King's and supper at Dulse8 miles away A day out
  18. Almondell country park walk along the River AlmondAlmondell country park walk along the River Almond8 miles away A few hours
  19. A day at Edinburgh ZooA day at Edinburgh Zoo8 miles away A day out
  20. The Great Polish Map of Scotland and Cross Kirk in PeeblesThe Great Polish Map of Scotland and Cross Kirk in Peebles9 miles away A few hours
  21. A walk on Corstorphine Hill to its towerA walk on Corstorphine Hill to its tower9 miles away A few hours
  22. An evening at the King's TheatreAn evening at the King's Theatre9 miles away A few hours
  23. This 6‑Stop Literary Trail Ends with a Drink at Rebus’s Favourite PubThis 6‑Stop Literary Trail Ends with a Drink at Rebus’s Favourite Pub9 miles away A day out
  24. Dean Village, the Water of Leith and lunch at the PantryDean Village, the Water of Leith and lunch at the Pantry9 miles away A few hours
What guests remember

Having driven for a mile up the farm track into a hidden valley it feels as though you have escaped from the world.

A guest, quoted by the Cowans
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