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Masked vandals also broke into a nearby fishery, where they ripped security cameras from the café.
An Edinburgh youth charity has been left ‘totally devastated’ after after its cottage at the foot of the Pentland Hills was trashed and set alight by vandals.
Youth Vision, a charity which supports disadvantaged children, was targeted on Saturday, when vandals broke into the 18th-century farm cottage, turned chairs upside down and smashed cups.
Sara Beauregard, manager of the charity, said the eco-polyhouse, which was built by the charity’s young people and is used to teach them valuable practical skills like joinery, was also set alight.
On the same evening, hooded vandals wearing balaclavas were caught on CCTV breaking into a cabin at a fishery near Loganlea reservoir, where they reportedly ripped down security cameras.
The incidents are thought to have happened between 3pm and 6pm.
The charity's eco-polyhouse was set on fire | Youth Vision Ms Beauregard, who was alerted to the fire by a member of the public on Saturday, said the team were “totally devastated” by the destruction but that the emergency services who responded to the incident did a “wonderful job”.
The charity supports between 50 and 60 young people from South West Edinburgh every year who are struggling with formal education or are excluded from school.
Its volunteers have now launched a fundraiser to repair the damage to the site, which has already hit over £2,000.
Meanwhile, police confirmed they are investigating a break-in at Loganlea Fishery a few miles from the children’s centre.
A spokesperson from the fishery posted on social media on Saturday that three vandals in hoods and balaclavas were caught on CCTV breaking into its cabin at Loganlea reservoir at around 3.10pm.
They said the vandals ripped down the fishery’s external cameras and broke into the cabin via the kitchen window, before stealing an internal camera.
They said they left a “trail of Pringles and sweet wrappers” as they left.
A spokesperson said: “The thieves never stole anything of significant value luckily.
“They have however caused us massive inconveniences with window and camera damage.
“We will have to swallow those costs, better improve our security and move on.”
Police confirmed they were called to Loganlea reservoir on Saturday | Google Maps A police spokesperson said: “Around 3.30pm on Saturday, 24, January, 2026, we received a report of a break-in at premises near Loganlea reservoir.
“Officers attended and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland through 101 quoting incident number 1747 of 24/01/26.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 5pm on Saturday, 24 January, to reports of a fire at Threipmuir Reservoir in Edinburgh.
"Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene and firefighters extinguished a shed fire.
“There were no casualties and crews left the scene at 6.45pm after ensuring the area was made safe.”