Barry Mill
Mill Road, Barry Village, Carnoustie, United Kingdom, DD7 7RJ
With a history dating back almost eight centuries, Barry Mill is one of Scotland's few working water mills. It offers nature walks by Barry Burn and the chance to learn how millers lived and worked—not to mention where flour and oatmeal come from. The building dates from around 1814, when the old mill caught fire.
The basics
During warmer months of the year, the mill is open to visitors, the ancient machinery grinds away, and free guided tours let adults and kids discover the process of grinding grains, the role millers played in their community, and the different parts of a working water mill. At any time of year, the grounds can be lovely to explore: birdlife includes kingfishers, herons, woodpeckers, and owls, while you may even see otters playing in or around the burn.
Things to know before you go
Barry Mill is great for families, nature lovers, foodies, and history buffs.
Barry Mill grounds are free to enter, but there’s a charge to visit the mill itself. There are discounts for families, National Trust for Scotland members go free, and Young Scot cardholders pay only a token.
Drone flying is forbidden at the mill without prior permission.
Barry Mill has wheelchair-friendly parking, an accessible bathroom, and grass paths in the garden; a ramp gives access to the ground and lower-ground floors, but there are stairs to the upper floor.
How to get there
Barry Mill lies outside the village of Barry, about a 10-mile (15-kilometer) drive east of Dundee and about a 60-mile (95-kilometer) drive south of Aberdeen, and there’s free parking on site. You can catch the #73 bus from Dundee bus station to Station Road North Monday to Saturday or the #73C on Sunday. The mill is about a 10-minute walk.
When to get there
The mill grounds are open all year round, from dawn until dusk, and spring and early summer are great times to admire the wildflowers. The mill opens 10:30am–4:30pm from Wednesday until Sunday during high season (June through August), and 10:30am–4:30pm from Thursday until Sunday during shoulder seasons (April–May and September–October). It closes during winter.
Things to do with kids around Dundee
A vibrant, culturally alive city, home to the V&A Dundee Design Museum and the Dundee Science Centre, Dundee is a fabulous family travel destination—and Barry Mill is just one great short trip from the city. Other options include Glamis Castle, a fairytale castle where King Charles’ grandmother grew up; Balnuith Alpacas, where kids can meet not just alpacas but miniature horses; and Arbroath Abbey, a ruined monastery.
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