Cabin Casting Collaboration: EASTSIDE COTTAGES, PENICUIK
For my final stop on my botanical grand tour of 2024, I didn’t have to travel far. A quick 40-minute drive brought me to Eastside Farm, nestled in the heart of the Pentlands. Here, within the grounds of a working farm, I would spend the next few days in the most peaceful and picturesque setting imaginable. As an avid walker and swimmer, I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors, but embarrassingly, I had little experience exploring the Pentlands before this trip. I typically gravitate toward the coast on weekends. But now, after my stay, I’m completely hooked—turns out, I’m a die-hard Pentlands fan girl now.
Eastside Farm offers some truly stunning, architecturally designed accommodations that are perfect for unwinding and reconnecting with nature. The property is still very much a family-run business and the cottages sit within a working sheep farm run by Jenny’s parents and it’s clear that a love for the land is at the heart of everything they do. Their commitment to slower, more thoughtful tourism, with beautiful spaces and relaxed experiences leaves guests feeling both rested and inspired. I stayed in the elegant and minimalist Cartshed, one of two newer accommodations on-site. Jenny and her husband, along with Roxburgh Ewan Architects, transformed this 18th-century farm building into something special, paying attention to every detail. It’s a space that’s as beautiful as it is functional. Every element of the design has been thoughtfully considered, and I loved the space’s muted, minimalist aesthetic.
I arrived on a crisp autumn evening and immediately set off for up Kips Peak to catch the last of the day’s light, careful not to disturb the sheep grazing peacefully on the hills. The sunset was so spectacular that I knew I had to catch it again the next morning. So, I set my alarm for 6 am, made a coffee, and retraced my steps to watch the sunrise. It was one of the most unforgettable moments of the year: just me, the sheep, and a panoramic view of the Pentlands bathed in a soft glow of orange and pink.
By 9am, I was back home, full of energy from my sunrise scramble, so I set up a little casting studio in the garden. I spent a few hours carefully casting the flowers and foliage I had collected around the grounds, serenaded by the gentle sounds of sheep and birds.
After a day of walking and creating, there’s nothing more blissful than unwinding in the wood-fired yurt sauna. It’s included in every stay at Eastside, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer. My sister came to visit for the night and helped me film some of my work. We spent the evening sweating out the day’s efforts in the sauna, followed by a freezing dip in the converted sheep dip—a perfect way to cool off after a day of adventure.Once we were thoroughly relaxed, we headed back to the Cartshed. The Scandinavian-inspired interior, complete with a crackling fire, was the perfect setting to wind down. We settled down to a simple dinner and a movie on the giant TV cleverly hidden within the cottages interior.
One of the highlights of my stay was the opportunity to spend time with Jenny and her mum. We had some wonderful chats, and I even hosted a casting workshop in the garden as part of my creative exchange with them. I’m excited to dry off the beautiful hanging casts they made and deliver them back after a trip up Scald Law—I’m officially a Pentlands obsessive now!
This was the ninth collaborative stay I’ve had the privilege of experiencing as part of my Grand Tour of the UK. The idea for this project was inspired by my love of Grand Tour intaglio collections, which I learned more about during a recent trip to Stoke-on-Trent. In the 18th century, young aristocratic men would collect small plaster intaglios on their travels through Europe. These pieces were often mounted in books or cases and displayed as souvenirs of their adventures, showcasing the artworks and decorative objects they encountered along the way.
I’ve decided to embark on my own version of the Grand Tour, focusing on the UK. But rather than following in the footsteps of these aristocratic men, I’m taking a more personal approach, with a focus on female ownership of this tradition. My goal is to capture the flora and fauna of Britain through the art of flower casting, creating a visual record of the seasonal life of the landscapes I visit.
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You can follow my other cabin adventures here on the blog, and if you own a cabin (or know someone who does) and would like to be part of my Grand Tour, I’d love to hear from you. I’ll even make a free artwork for your cabin as part of the exchange!
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