The Westside Woodshed Review: A Luxury Cabin Holiday In The Pentland Hills

Are you looking for a peaceful break in the countryside? One where you can enjoy great walks from your doorstep? A holiday where you can cosy up in front of a log fire? What about a quiet week where you can enjoy peace in a bubbling hot tub yet be only a 30 minute drive from Edinburgh?

Well, a stay at the Westside Woodshed in the Pentland Hills, Scotland might be just what you’re looking for. 

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Part of Eastside’s selection of beautiful accommodation, Westside Woodshed is tucked away on a secluded part of this working sheep farm. You can also stay in the Eastside Washhouse, the Eastside Cartshed, the Steading Cottage, or the Byre Cottage. 

I spent a gorgeous week here recently. It was my second visit to the scandi-style Westside Woodshed after a stay in September 2021. I already want to go back for a third stay ASAP.

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We drove from Yorkshire on a sunny Friday, stopping at Tebay services along the way. A car packed full of cosy clothes, food for the week, an inflatable paddleboard and walking boots for the hills, a week in the Pentland Hills awaited.

Arriving at Eastside, driving about a mile up the country track and avoiding the sheep along the way, we felt a million miles from anywhere as soon as we turned off the main road. And, as it was our second stay here, the moment we pulled up to Westside Woodshed, with its welcoming lights shining through the windows, relaxation mode quickly set in. 

I used to think returning to the same place was a waste of time. Why go back somewhere when there are so many other places to see? And while there is still that sense of excitement and anticipation when visiting somewhere new, I now realise there’s a lot to be said for going back to somewhere you’ve really enjoyed. There’s no pressure to experience and see everything. You don’t have to rush to cram it all into your precious week off. You can just take your time off at a slower pace.

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And that’s just what we did this time around. We still went out on a few walks, went to the beach, and visited Edinburgh for the day. But this time, we definitely spent more time just being, and doing the bare minimum: reading books, playing on the Nintendo Switch, cooking food on the BBQ, watching sunset from the hills, catching up on sleep, and drinking wine and beer in the hot tub.

It was bliss. An experience I want to repeat every year. And one that I think you should enjoy too.

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What Is There To Do At Westside Woodshed?

If you enjoy getting out and about in the countryside, Westside Woodshed is perfect for walking. Whether you want a steady stroll in the Pentland Hills or do a more challenging hike up its peaks, there are plenty of trails in this Regional Park. 

I recommend the circular walk from Westside Woodshed via West Kip, East Kip, Scald Law and South Black Hill. The views are spectacular across the valleys and on a clear day you can see across to Edinburgh. This walk is about 6km and with plenty of photo and snack stops will take less than 2.5 hours. 

Alternatively, you can do absolutely nothing at Westside Woodshed. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside, read books and drink wine by the roaring log fire on a cold day, or cook delicious meals in the well equipped kitchen. You can even spot wildlife from the comfort of the huge sofa. During our stay, we saw stoats running across the drive, squirrels foraging in the trees, pheasants wandering from the fields and even rabbits hopping about. The farm’s dog might even come and say hello one morning too.

If you miss the buzz of human chatter, Edinburgh is only 10 miles away. Take an easy drive into the city and park in one of the city’s car parks. We paid £12 for a 10 hour stay which was more than enough time to explore the main sites. Or you can use the nearby Park and Ride.

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What’s The Style Of Westside Woodshed?

A little grander than a woodshed, Westside is a luxurious scandi-style cabin in the Pentland Hills. A clean, modern interior complete with high ceilings, heated concrete floors, a gorgeous large grey sofa, an open plan kitchen, and a rainfall shower in the white wood paneled bathroom create the atmosphere for a relaxing, homely stay. 

I loved looking down into the living area from the bedroom balcony on the mezzanine floor, curling up on the sofa as the afternoon light flickered in, and coming back from long walks to a homely space where I could just relax.

The bedroom is spacious with a large, comfortable bed and a reading seat and window looking on to the hills.

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What Food Should I Bring?

Westside Woodshed is the dream place for a luxury self catering cabin holiday in Scotland. With a kitchen fitted with everything you need – an oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher, all the utensils and a unique pull down dining table – you can cook food every night or take advantage of COOK, a service which will provide gorgeous meals right to your door. It truly is a home away from home.

We did some shopping at the nearby Tesco in Peebles. There is also a Tesco and Lidl in Penicuik and a M&S Foodhall off the A720 at Straiton Mains. Things like lasagne, jacket potatoes, pizza, and fried rice are ideal if you don’t want to cook too much. There’s also a BBQ at Westside Woodshed – we enjoyed a delicious steak from Forsyth and Sons Butchers in Peebles with homemade chips one night.

I’d also recommend picking up some snacks and treats for those days where you don’t want to go anywhere or do anything apart from read a book, take a dip in the hot tub and watch a good movie. 

What Else Do I Need To Know?

If you’re planning on using the hot tub, start heating it up way in advance. On our first day it took about 4 hours to get to a good temperature. However, after the first day, it only took about 1 hour to heat up. The lid keeps the hot tub insulated so it doesn’t take as long to warm up after the first use.

The track up to Westside Woodshed is your typical country lane. Make sure your tires are up to scratch and take it slowly as it can be bumpy in places. Plus there are sheep everywhere so it’s good to be careful.

Westside Woodshed is wonderfully warm. We stayed in September and were cosy the whole time. The eco-friendly design, heat pump and underfloor heating help keep the temperature pretty constant.

There is Wifi here! We didn’t have any problems with it so if you’re generally using your phone or watching Netflix in the evening, you’ll be fine! I can imagine it also makes a great place to work remotely too if you need to.

How Much Does It Cost To Stay At Westside Woodshed?

Week long stays start from £910 with a Friday check in. Westside Woodshed does have the occasional short 4 night stays and it’s worth enquiring if you want to stay longer than 7 nights.

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So what are you waiting for? Check availability at Westside Woodshed and book your stay at this gorgeous bolthole in the Pentland Hills for your next Scottish cabin holiday.