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Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh

Photo gallery for Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh

Exterior
Exterior
New Years Day 2025, the aurora over the bothy, a very special moment.
Living area
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Fenced yard
  • Internet access
  • Fireplace

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Soap · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh

Walstone Bothy is a cosy cottage in the beautiful Pentland Hills Regional Park, 11 miles/30 mins drive south of Edinburgh City centre. A former shepherds’ bothy, renovated with a modern twist, with log burning stove. Private paved patio with dining table. Free off road parking, easy access north/south. Ideal base for action packed family holidays and exploring Edinburgh/Scotland, or simply relaxing. Discount for weekly stays. Car essential . EPC rating C. Licence no ML00044F

The heart of the bothy features an open plan dining area with lovely oak floors and log burning stove, and separate open plan kitchen, well equipped with electric cooker, gas hob, microwave, dishwasher and fridge freezer, plus washing machine and tumble dryer.

Also on the ground floor is a 5' king bedroom (ziplock beds) and shower room with walk in shower.

A steep flight of stairs leads up to two further bedrooms with low sloping ceilings. There is one 6' superking bed (ziplock) and a small twin (two 3' singles beds), plus a bathroom with bath and separate shower enclosure. The beds are built into the eaves.

Outside there is an entirely private fenced courtyard with picnic table and comfortable seats, plus off road parking for up to two cars.

The bothy is connected to the main farmhouse, where your hosts live, by internal doors which are kept locked from both sides at all times.

The bothy is in a residential steading of four homes, and we are grateful to our guests for maintaining the peaceful atmosphere. Quiet time between 9pm and 8am.

Check in before 9pm only to avoid disturbing neighbours.

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House Rules

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

No stair gates. TV not wall mounted. Corded blind

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Events

No events allowed

Parties or gatherings strictly forbidden

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Pets

No pets allowed

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Load and start the dishwasher

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish

Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Electric cars must not be charged using the bothy power supply

Please leave the bothy clean and tidy, with all rubbish and recycling disposed of in the bins provided.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number ML00044F
Property # 10821188
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Parties or gatherings strictly forbidden
This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Penicuik

Located in Penicuik, this cottage is in a rural area. Edinburgh Castle and Grassmarket are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Royal Mile and Princes Street. Check out an event or a game at Murrayfield Stadium, and consider making time for Edinburgh Zoo, a top attraction not to be missed. Fishing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and hiking nearby.
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Map
Penicuik, Scotland

What's nearby

  • Penicuik Tower - 7 min drive - 5.8 km
  • Glencorse Golf Club - 9 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Midlothian Snowsports Centre - 11 min drive - 12.7 km
  • Hillend Country Park - 11 min drive - 13.1 km
  • Rosslyn Chapel - 13 min drive - 14.8 km

Getting around

  • Wester Hailes Station - 14 min drive
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Flotterstone Inn - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Nest Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Balerno Inn - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Leadburn Inn - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Pentland Hills Cafe - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh?

As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh on 7 Sept 2026 start from AU$517, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh?

On-site parking is available at the property.

Where is Stylish countryside cottage outside Edinburgh located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 12 miles (20 km) of Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street. Hillend Country Park and Roslin Glen Country Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 20 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 20 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Beverly C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our time here. The home was immaculate and had all the amenities we needed! Beautiful area!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 11 May 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review, we really appreciate it.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Countryside Retreat

Excellent cottage, quiet location and fantastic hosts!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Sept 2024
Thank you for your lovely review. We really enjoyed having you to stay and hearing about all the amazing things you got up to, especially your farm visit! You are very welcome back any time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gillian A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful spacious property in a beautiful location

Loved this property, clean and spacious, easy parking, lovely location and helpful, friendly hosts, would recommend and stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kyle W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Place!

It was a great place just outside the city. Perfect for our family of six to head into Edinburgh or south to Peebles. Hosts were great and the place was clean and neat.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Jan 2025
Hi Kyle, Thank you very much for your review, and we’re so glad you and your family enjoyed your stay here. If ever you are back in Scotland we would love to host you again. Best wishes Kate and John
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend away

Very impressed with the property, everything you needed was there. Log burner made it very cosy of a night time
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We absolutely loved it! It was VERY well equipped, and home from home. The access to the property was seamless, and communication from & to the hosts effortless. The surrounding Countryside is spectacular, with lots of amenities close by. The property was spotless. We would thoroughly recommend a stay here. Sue
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

edward l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cosy and perfect for a group.

Group of 4 adult friends. Place was perfect, with plenty of space and everything we needed. Good location as had a car and able to drive easily to places we wanted to go to.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tim L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous

Our stay here was perfect. It’s convenient, clean, and extremely cozy. The hosts were great and responsive. Only wish we could have stayed longer!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Simon M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Walstone Bothy

Perfect, beautiful house and location.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Craig M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect spot for a relaxing stay to visit Edinburgh

Thank you Kate and John for providing a wonderful place to stay as our family enjoyed several days touring Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. We couldn't have asked for a more cozy and warm home to return to and highly recommend it for folks looking for a more relaxing environment away from the crowds of downtown. The Bothy left us with some very happy memories to be sure.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay at the Bothy

We stayed in the Bothy for 5 nights it is located in beautiful surroundings and well located for trips into Edinburgh etc. We were a family of 4 and we had plenty of room. Great facilities, plenty of everything you need and a lovely welcome basket greeted us on arrival. Kate and John were on hand if needed. Highly recommend and I’m sure we’ll be back again.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Victoria S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical

I have no words to describe my stay. I felt like i was at home and that i never wanted to leave. John and Kate were amazing and we will be vackand everything was per
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful spacious retreat in a quiet location

The weather wasn’t in our favor but it didn’t matter as the cottage was the perfect place to spend a rainy day. The home was far more spacious than the photos conveyed. We had plenty of room for our group of five. With a well fitted out kitchen, a nice supply of board games, and a cozy fire in the wood stove, everyone enjoyed themselves. Hopefully, we will be able to take advantage of the lovely enclosed private garden on a future visit.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 26 May 2024
Thank you Diane, I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay, and hopefully next time you will get better weather! I hope you got to Fort William in time for the Jacobean train.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Samantha J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic short stay at the Bothy

We are a family of 5 and we stayed at the Bothy for 4 nights during half term. It is an ideal location for day trips in and around Edinburgh and it is very close to the local village of Penicuik which was handy for supermarkets, takeaways etc. The Bothy is very spacious and had everything we needed for our stay. It was just as described and more! Kate and John were extremely helpful in their communication before our stay and were on hand if we needed it while we were there. The tray of goodies was very welcome after our long drive from the south of England.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Romie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What an amazing stay!

We had a lovely weekend at this little cottage, we couldn’t have asked for more! The hosts were lovely and attentive, providing us with lots of information on the check in, how to get there, and in the accommodation too. We had a lovely welcome basket when we arrived which was lovely touch, The accommodation itself was absolutely beautiful. We were surrounded by the countryside yet not too far from Edinburgh centre. The facility that the accommodation were outstanding everything was done to a high-quality, and there was everything you needed to have a pleasant stay. the fire was just out of this world. Me and my family would definitely stay here again. We were so sad to come home and having to leave this beautiful cottage!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Neil S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A gem close to Edinburgh

This property is a real gem and certainly was a highlight on our tour of the UK. We wanted somewhere that was just out of Edinburgh giving us that country feel living and close enough for public transport into the city centre. This was absolutely perfect. A short 14 min drive from the Bothy to the free park at Straiton Park and Ride was all it took to hop on a number of bus options that were economical and stress free. The Bothy itself was so cosy, quaint and well appointed. Kate and John were so helpful and catered for our every need. The Bothy was equipped with wifi and very comfortable beds which made for great night sleeps. I highly recommend this location as we returned each day from a very busy Edinburgh to the peace and tranquility of the country style Bothy. We will certainly stay here again. 5 stars.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Raymond L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Top notch stay at the "Bothy"

We had an outstanding 10-day stay at Walstone Bothy. There were 4 of us older gents on a golf holiday (with tickets to the Open Championship!) and this was a perfect rental - great location, excellent space, and congenial hosts. The photos and description are all accurate - the bothy has been renovated and is in tip-top condition, spotlessly clean, comfortable beds, and all the amenities you need are available. Lots of room for the 4 of us. The location is great - in a rural area and very quiet, but close to the highways and airport, and only 30 minutes from Edinburgh and 1.5 hours from Glasgow (where the Open Championship was played). The local village, Penicuik has lots of restos and pubs (we enjoyed having a beer or two with the locals at Narvaar House) minutes away. Our hosts, John and Kate, were easily reachable and helpful with advice, and immediately fixed a showerhead that fell off. I've booked lots of VRBOs in Canada and the U.S., and this was one of the very best. Highly recommended for a great value stay near Edinburgh.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Walstone Bothy - Rural, City Access and Beaches not far!

Walstone Bothy is my idea of perfect holiday accommodation. Well equipped, comfortable, neat and tidy and offers 2 bathrooms! I loved the basket of Scottish treats and milk/butter in the fridge along with kitchen necessities like washing up liquid and dish washer tabs etc which meant i didn't have to worry about those small details. The Bothy also had its own vac which i like because we could easily keep on top of keeping the accommodation tidy. As for the location we had dogs and whilst the Bothy is surrounded by fields it was better to put the dogs into the car and drive out for a walk. I would definitely recommend Penicuik House - a fabulous estate where you can walk miles and just 5 mins down the road by car. Another big plus was the Park & Ride which was about 20 mins down the road which offered an easier way to access the city of Edinburgh. The Park & Ride was also opposite a retail park with M&S Simply Food making dinner decisions easy. Kate and John were responsive to any request we made and on hand when we had an issue with the hot water which got solved within a few hours! Perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 July 2022
Thank you for your lovely review, and we’re delighted you found the bothy such a great base for your holiday. You and your family were a pleasure to host!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hubertus R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ein wunderschönes Bothy

Ein schönes Haus inmitten einer traumhaften schottischen Landschaft. Sehr nette Gastgeber, denen wir gerne sagen, dass wir bestimmt wieder kommen werden.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Nov 2023
Wir freuen uns, dass Sie Ihren Aufenthalt genossen haben und sind herzlich willkommen, eines Tages wiederzukommen
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gerhard H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Cottage in the Midlothians

Well equipped and comfortable, as you would do it for your own. Very friendly hosts! The Bothy is to recommend!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Kate Thomson

Host profile image

Your hosts are Kate and John, and we live here because we love the outdoors. The Bothy and adjacent Farmhouse, where we live, were derelict when we moved in 30 years ago, and they have been lovingly restored over the years. We love this area, its quiet beauty yet easy access to city comforts, and enjoy sharing it with our visitors.

Why they chose this property

Walstone is in a quiet corner of the stunning Pentland Hills, With hiking, trail running and mountain biking nearby, you are also in easy reach of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Edinburgh, the stunning beaches of East Lothian, and historic Border towns. Local access points to the Pentland Hills start less than a mile away, with convenient parking at Ninemileburn, Carlops, Silverburn and Flotterstone.

What makes this property unique

Expect a friendly welcome from knowledgeable hosts who are dedicated to providing quality accommodation, whether you are here to work, on holiday or catching up with friends and family

Languages:

English

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