Barry Mill, National Trust for Scotland

Mill Rd, Barry Village, Carnoustie DD7 7RJ

Tucked into a secluded strip of woodland along the Barry Burn is the historic Barry Mill. Once the heart of the local community, a mill is known to have existed in some form on this site since at least 1539, and the current incarnation continued to produce flour until as recently as 1982.

Today, it is a popular visitor attraction maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, offering regular tours and demonstrations.

Rich with greenery and history, the mill surrounds make an enjoyable and atmospheric visit in their own right. Casual, rolling lawns sport a selection of heritage fruit trees planted by a previous miller, making a wonderful spot for a family picnic on a warm day.

Nearby, around what was once the miller’s cottage, a more structured garden was once planted and tended by the miller. Now half-wild, this garden has become dense with wildflowers and herbaceous perennials that hum with busy pollinators. An evocative soundscape is provided by the occasional trundling of the waterwheel and millstone, as well as the rushing Barry Burn, which runs the length of the site. Together they might give a sense of the hive of activity that would have been commonplace here in times past.

Following the Barry Burn away from the mill, visitors can enter the tranquillity of a wooded walk, which is arguably the most beautiful part of the site. The paths run the length of the lade, sometimes looping on both sides of the water, and pass several working sluice gates and a small mill pond. It is easy to lose oneself in the quietness of this short walk, with opportunities to spot birds and wildlife, including kingfishers, herons or woodpeckers. For walkers, Barry Mill also connects to the Carnoustie paths network.

Website: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/barry-mill

Telephone: 01241 856761

Opening times:

1 Apr–31 May, Fri–Sun, 11.00–16.00

1 Jun–31 Aug, Thu–Sun, 11.00–16.00

1 Sep–29 Sep, Fri–Sun, 11.00–16.00

30 Sep–31 Mar 2020, closed

Open on Bank Holidays

Admission costs:

Adult £7.00, children/concessions £6.00, family (2+4) £18.00, single family (1+4) £13.00

Garden of the Week is in association with Discover Scottish Gardens. For more information, advice and day-out ideas, visit discoverscottishgardens.org