Penicuik Estate Is One Of 2025’s Most Exciting UK Openings – An Editor Reviews
It’s not often you find a self-catering staycation this chic. From hard-to-beat interiors to eco-credentials, Penicuik Estate is the latest gem to open in Scotland’s rustic countryside. The Handbook’s Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor, Astrid Carter, set off, switched off and brought home a swathe of interiors inspiration from the charming new opening.
What sets it apart
Self-catering holidays don’t always scream “sexy,” but Penicuik Estate is levelling up when it comes to holiday home staycations. Set in 3,100 hectares of stunning Designed Landscape woodland, Penicuik Estate, which has been owned and managed by the Clerk family since 1654, has undergone an incredible makeover of late, with five beautifully renovated houses and cottages – honestly, each looks plucked from the pages of an interiors magazine – as well as the stately Penicuik House, which will be available to book from August 2025.
Add to that a clear sustainability outlook and a 20-year nature restoration plan, the convenience of Edinburgh and all its offerings being under 30 minutes away, a myriad of impressive Scottish heritage attractions nearby, and the rolling Pentland Hills framing the estate, and you have yourself a pretty near-perfect Scottish staycation.
The location
As somone who is based in Scotland, I’ve seen my fair share of lochs and hills, but it’s usually north and the pull of the captivating Highlands I turn to when in need of some R&R. Penicuik Estate, however, is in the opposite direction, south-east of Edinburgh, just a 20-minute car ride from the city. Whilst the landscape is different, more rolling green hills than heather-capped behemoths, it’s still breathtaking, especially in spring, as we drive through winding daffodil-lined roads and fields of sweet bounding lambs on our way to the property.
Pulling up to the electric gate and super chic signage, you can tell Penicuik Estate’s new look is aimed at a stylish clientele. But it is still a working farm, evident by the odd tractor that drives past and the bucolic scent of farm in the air, and perhaps this sweet spot of rustic and cool sets the new opening apart.
Self-catering holidays don’t always scream sexy, but Penicuik is seriously stylish.
It is clear that the current family members at the helm are fiercely proud of Penicuik Estate’s history and status as a working farm, but forward-thinking enough to develop and nurture it for a 2025 audience. It’s simultaneously traditional and charming, as it is stylish and cool.
The interiors
We stayed in Westlin Cottage – one of two old Porters’ lodges built in the 1700s, which face each other in the driveway leading up to Penicuik House. While smaller in size compared to some of the other properties on the estate, it more than compensates with its sheer style. Stepping through the door, I let out a genuine sigh of delight – a rich, jewel-toned colour palette of blues and mustardy yellows, original artwork drawn from the collections of the old estate, pretty floral tapestries above the beds, and gorgeous lighting, ranging from a chandelier dotted with tiny rattan lamps to matching pleated lampshades on either side of the bed.
The kitchen is a cocooning dreamy blue colour, used boldly everywhere from the door to the ceiling and wood panelling. It feels calming and cool, and for someone who is usually seeking out a cute local pub or restaurant for dining options, it was a space I felt I actually wanted to stay and cook in.
The living room plays more into the traditional side of Penicuik Estate, both decor-wise and literally – the living area sits within the walls of the old lodge, whilst the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom are a new extension done so seamlessly, they feel as one.
Every nook is thoughtfully considered, from the charming bird-inspired artwork to the plump rusty-hued cushions, a rustic console to soften the look of a flatscreen TV, to the fabric-covered ottoman coffee table layered with rattan accessories, interiors magazines, coffee table books and board games. Homely but uncluttered, it’s the perfect place for couples to cosy up, especially with the wood-burning fire, which we took full advantage of while the weather was still a little chilly.
As traditional and charming, as it is stylish and cool.
The bedroom feels softer in tone, with a pretty dressing table area and doors that open up into the lodge’s own private garden (a privilege that all the properties on the estate boast), leading on to a stunning bathroom. Off-white panelling, green marbled tiles and gold finishes are made all the more luxurious but the golden hazy light that floods in through a sweet café curtain over a sprawling sunken bath. It really is the perfect spot to take one of those daytime baths that only two days in the countryside can justify.
Food & drink
As I mentioned, Penicuik Estate’s properties are all self-catering, but with kitchens so gorgeous, cooking feels less like a chore and more like a pleasure. They’re also equipped with thoughtful finishing touches like Le Creuset espresso cups, Our Place pans and classic Roberts radios – it’s really a ‘living your best life’ kind of moment.
While guests are responsible for their main provisions, the concierge provides a wonderful breakfast hamper designed to last for at least two lazy mornings, filled with local eggs, Edinburgh-sourced olive sourdough, farm shop sausages, and a selection of Scottish preserves. It also included some of my personal favourites, like Perello olives and Torres crisps – it was as if they knew.
There’s also a Big Green Egg in the garden that will thrill any fans of cooking over fire – a quick trip to the local farm shop and butcher ensured we really got a good run at it. And if you really don’t fancy cooking, you can order in via Deliveroo or hire a chef (again, through the concierge), if your pockets are deep enough.
Post-dinner, a dip in the eco-friendly cedar hot tub, nestled next to the outdoor fire, with a lush canopy of trees, woodland sounds, and a pitch-black sky freckled with stars, was just the ticket to finish off one of the most peaceful days I’ve had in a long while.
Dreamy interiors, old school charm, a rural backdrop, but all the mod cons and seamless service.
Things to do
To be honest, Penicuik Estate has some magnetic charm that instantly makes you relax and unwind, and I wasn’t all that fussed about leaving our perfect little Westlin house, other than to trail the gorgeous grounds home to thousands of trees and gorgeous woodland. You can see the estate is still a work in progress in this new era (although it feels pretty immaculate already) as new plants and hedgerows have been planted on the perimeter of each property – you know this place is just going to get even more gorgeous with time.
Outside of the solace of the estate, there’s plenty to do. From the utterly breathtaking Rosslyn Chapel (made famous by the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code) to local hipster Stewart Brewery for pints and pizza, and of course, Edinburgh with its abundance of restaurants, museums and iconic landmarks. We recommend a trip to the National Galleries of Scotland to view world-renowned works by everyone from Rembrandt to Van Gogh, as well as a stroll down to the Stockbridge area for trendy small plate restaurants, excellent coffee shops and great vintage clothing.
The verdict
It’s clear the Penicuik Estate team has found the sweet spot with the new iteration of this sprawling Scottish estate. Dreamy interiors, old-school charm, and a stunning rural backdrop are perfectly combined with all the mod cons and seamless service. Will we be back? I hope so.
Inside the other properties on Penicuik Estate…
Getting there & booking
Penicuik Estate is under 30 minutes from Edinburgh city centre or Edinburgh International Airport by car, and about an hour and a half from Glasgow city centre or Glasgow International Airport. Rates vary depending on property size: One-bedroom cottage from £220 per night; four-bedroom Stable Park from £500 per night; one-bedroom Eskfield from £350 per night. Penicuik House will be bookable from August 2025.
