This is Eastside

15/02/2025

Throwback to the glorious Sweaty Betty shoot last autumn. Hill shoot/ sheep farm.

14/02/2025

🤍 this

14/02/2025

Our great great grandfather helped fund the formation of the Scottish Rights of Way Society, such was his belief back then about the good that could come from exploring our wonderful landscapes.

This old sign on the farm was one of the original sign posts guiding Pentland walkers since 1885. One of the few surviving in its original position.

ScotWays are looking to preserve the sign. It will be gone for a short while but returned; to guide future generations back to Nine Mile Burn from the wonderfully foot-worn grassy track at the Cap Law crossroads.

14/02/2025

24/01/2025

Today we lost many old friends. Tomorrow a sad day for surveying the damage.

03/01/2025

Yesterday we had a wonderful office. The sun shone on bright powder snow as we methodically made our way through the ewes health checks; they are leaving the inby to return to the hill for winter. Wild, well, woollies makes for happy shepherds.
We are truly lucky to call this home. Shared today with the West Kip hikers and the young skiers carving wiggly tracks through the drifted snow.

24/12/2024

The Eastside team is checking out from Facebook as our Christmas guests settle in. Almost a full house with wild hill walks, warming saunas, steaming hot tub and twinkling trees.

Thanks to all the wonderful people we have met this year, staying with us and really making this place so special. Biggest love from all at Eastside, we shall be back with more tales from the hills in the New Year.

13/12/2024

Christmas is just around the corner. With crisp frosty days, our iconic Christmas tree in the farm yard and wreaths and roaring fires in each cottage. Eastside is perhaps the perfect festive bolt hole in the hills. Christmas week still (incredibly) available in Cartshed. Proper Finnish festive saunas as standard. Come stay.

13/12/2024

Ever grateful for kind words:
…’These cottages are like walking into a dream. Absolutely perfect in every way.’

13/11/2024

It’s been a while; but woke us from our insta slumber. Collecting flowers and plants from the hills and cottage gardens we were guided to smooth and roll and cast these beautiful fleeting incredible structures, recording them within clay then plaster.
We are so privileged to have been an able to play a wee Eastside residency part in the British Isles grand tour.
Now to wait; patiently for the drying process and the final pieces. What a talent and a tonic you are Katy, thank you thank you from mum & me. X

22/08/2024

22/07/2024

Eastside rewetting project: As part of our 5 year agri-environment plan we are working to (create and) manage our wetlands and water margin to optimise these biodiversity superchargers! Throughout the Eastside glen we are creating a string of wetlands, water margins and scrapes to hold water, slow the flow and act as an insect engine house.

Each big idea starts with small steps. Donaldson Forestry & Fencing completing the fencing - it really is an art form as it weaves along the contours and water courses. Watergates beautifully designed to react to the ebbs and flows of our strange new climate.

Our wetland grazing plan has been carefully designed to reduce the risk of fluke (a parasite) that wetlands inevitably bring to our organic flock. Working with The Moredun Foundation alongside our ecologist The Farm Environment Ltd our timings are optimised for reduced fluke risk and boost ecological outcomes.

There is a huge amount of thought, planning and work that goes into these projects from a great many skilled folk. It has been an absolute pleasure working with each and every one.

Next the diggers & drain blocking.

17/07/2024

Shearing started in earnest yesterday. One of those seasonal jobs at Eastside that gets done much as it was in yesteryear.

We have a shed now to get sheep and shearers out the worst of the wet or sun. But still clip (granted with an upgrade to the old hand shear), roll and pack the wool sheets. Our organic wool clip going to Galashiels to be sorted, graded and sold on to carpet, tweed, mattresses or insulation makers.

We raced the thunderclouds and won this time, gathering and sorting amongst black clouds and a distant rumbling. 618 down, roughly the same to go.