Name: Barry Water Mill
Rating: 5.0

Barry Water Mill

Barry Mill (National Trust for Scotland), Mill Rd, Barry Village, Carnoustie, Angus DD7 7RJ, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

Barry Mill is a working Category A listed watermill in Barry, Angus in eastern Scotland. It is owned and operated by the National Trust for Scotland as an educational tourist attraction. Barry Mill is now one of only a handful of mills powered by water. Rebuilt after a fire around 1814, it is probably the largest and finest example of its type still in operation.

Step inside the mill and discover how engineering ingenuity provided a means to save the ‘daily grind’ of producing your own flour and meal. These ideas gave birth to the machinery of the Industrial Revolution. Learn how trade shifted from a bartering system to monetary exchange. See the different types of food that people have lived on over the centuries, and watch the wheel turn every day the mill is open – just as it’s done for generations.

Price starts from £10.00 for Adults, £1.00 for Young Scot and £18.50 for One adult family. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

The mill: Barry Mill is a three-level structure made of sandstone rubble. It features a basement (meal floor), a ground floor (milling or stone floor), and an attic (hopper or bin floor), with a roof made of Angus stone slate. The mill turns oats into oatmeal. Originally, the oats would come in sacks from nearby farms, already threshed (hulls or outer seed coats removed). While the oats are pre-processed today, the milling still follows traditional techniques. You can find the pit wheel, great spur wheel, and a stone nut in the cog pit. Oats are lifted to the top bin floor and poured into a hopper that feeds one of two pairs of millstones on the mill floor. The first pair of sandstone millstones removes the grain‘s outer shell, creating ‘groats’, which are sent down a chute to the basement for husk separation using a fan. The groats are then lifted back up and processed through the second pair of French burr stone millstones to make oatmeal, which is sent to the basement for bagging.The mill is powered by the Barry Burn, with a dam and lade located half a mile upstream that direct water to the mill wheel. This huge wheel turns as water flows from the lade on the downstream side. The mill’s power is managed by a system of levers, cogs, and gears in the basement, which provides energy to the millstones, hoists, and a fan to separate groats from chaff. The mill then grinds whole oat groats into the desired consistency of oatmeal.
Walks and wildlife: Barry Mill features a lovely network of lades and a serene mill pond, surrounded by picturesque woodlands and scenic waterside trails. Visitors are welcome to enjoy leisurely strolls and picnics on the grounds all year round. A delightful path meanders alongside the Barry Burn and the mill lade, where a waterfall cascades over the weir – keep an eye out for dippers, kingfishers and herons. Strolling along these picturesque waterside paths offers breathtaking countryside views, and during the right season, you might even catch a glimpse of wild orchids in bloom. Don’t miss a walk through the heritage orchard, which features varieties like Bloody Ploughman, White Melrose, and Tower of Glamis.
Guided tours: During the open season, we provide optional guided tours where visitors can discover the traditional process of turning grain into oatmeal. You’ll see everything from storage and drying to cleaning, milling and sieving. Keep an eye out for our historic grindstones, a set of French burr stones dating back to 1880. You’ll also hear intriguing tales about crafty millers and discover how everyday expressions like ‘taking your turn’ originated.

Facilities

Parking: Parking is free.
Food & Drinks: Tea, coffee and a selection of snacks are available from the shop in the visitor reception building.
Toilet: Toilets are available by the visitor reception building.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult: £10.00.
Concession: £9.00.
Family: £24.00.
One adult family: £18.50.
Young Scot: £1.00.

Pricing URL: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/barry-mill/planning-your-visit#entry-prices

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Mill and shop

5 Mar – 28 Jun (Thu–Sun): 10.30–16.30
29 Jun – 30 Aug (Wed–Sun): 10.30–16.30
31 Aug – 25 Oct (Thu–Sun): 10.30–16.30
26 Oct – 28 Feb 2027, closed

Grounds: Current period1 Jan–31 Dec, daily, dawn–dusk.

Address: Barry Mill (National Trust for Scotland), Mill Rd, Barry Village, Carnoustie, Angus DD7 7RJ, UK

Post Code: DD7 7RJ

Council: Carnoustie

County: Dundee and Angus

Getting here: Barry Mill is north of Barry village between the A92 and the A930, 2 miles west of Carnoustie. Road signs are provided at most local junctions and are preferable to sat-nav instructions as they will direct you to the car park.
Parking: Parking is free.