Now a haven of tranquility, Barry Mill is one of only a handful of mills still powered by water. Rebuilt after a fire around 1814, it is probably the largest and finest example of its type still in operation.
Visitors are welcome to walk and picnic in the grounds all year round. There is a lovely path beside the Barry Burn and the mill lade, where you can enjoy the rural surroundings. The ancient machinery is run for every visitor in the open season, when the smell of oatmeal and the sound of the waterwheel fill the air.
Throughout the open season we offer guided tours (not obligatory) and explain the process of milling grain into oatmeal in the traditional manner – from storage, drying and cleaning to milling and sieving. Look out for the grindstones, a pair of French burr stones made in 1880; hear stories about devious millers; and learn how common phrases such as 'taking your turn' came into everyday use.
