New Abbey Corn Mill
New Abbey Corn Mill
4.5
About
Please note the mill is not currently opertional. Prices have been reduced to reflect this. The fully restored water-powered New Abbey Cornmill offers visitors a wonderful insight into Scottish rural life in years gone by. Situated in the pretty village of New Abbey and under the care of Historic Scotland, this three-storey whitewashed mill building was built towards the end of the 18th century by the Stewarts of nearby Shambellie House. However, it is thought that it reaches back much later than that, perhaps to as early as the late 13th century, when the Cistercian monks established their monastery of Dulce Cor ('Sweet Heart' ) at the far end of the village; today the mill is still known locally as 'Monks' Mill'. The mill is still in full working order and on most summer day visitors can see it run as it would have all of those years ago.
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4.5
115 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
34
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Bubs
Rocester, UK42 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Visited this small gem with friends.
It is a working water mill that used to grind oats for porridge etc. On the day we visited it wasn’t working however the guide was very informative and she was very enthusiastic.
The only comments is that the mill looked totally closed down for the winter as the signage is poor and it looks very dark and closed. Only by trying the door we saw it was open.
It is a working water mill that used to grind oats for porridge etc. On the day we visited it wasn’t working however the guide was very informative and she was very enthusiastic.
The only comments is that the mill looked totally closed down for the winter as the signage is poor and it looks very dark and closed. Only by trying the door we saw it was open.
Written 18 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DougK
United Kingdom2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Can't recommend this fantastic heritage site enough. It's a living insight into the challenges our ancestors faced trying to obtain the staples of life - and the ingenuity they used to overcome those challenges. Lovingly restored by Heritage Scotland and brought to life by guides like Barry, whose passion and enthusiasm for the mill brought history to life.
Written 27 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daparkeresq
Birmingham, UK1 contribution
Jun 2022
Sunday June 12. Was lucky to get a one to one guided tour around the mill. The guide was really welcoming and helpful. She was kind to my wife who could not manage the stairs but was able to watch the video and see the wheel outside. She was very knowledgeable and I wish that I could have stayed longer. David Parker, Letham.
Written 12 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaime M
3 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
The mill isn't running any longer but it's still a lovely and informative spot. We learned a lot about the mill, it's importance to the area, and its different rooms and equipment. Kat made the tour fun and interesting and was very personable. Kat and George were also extremely helpful directing us to other historic sites we might want to visit in the area.
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark V
25 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Myself and family visited the New Abbey Corn Mill the other day, the building itself was lovely and was good to know the history of the building.
The tour guide was the only thing that put us off, the constant jokes were a little tiring and not funny and not everyone wants to be picked out and him to try make a fool out of. A little bit of advice for him too, you're in Scotland, working at a Scottish mill, there is no need to talk about how you're from England and how English pronounce certain Scottish words.
The tour guide was the only thing that put us off, the constant jokes were a little tiring and not funny and not everyone wants to be picked out and him to try make a fool out of. A little bit of advice for him too, you're in Scotland, working at a Scottish mill, there is no need to talk about how you're from England and how English pronounce certain Scottish words.
Written 14 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yummymummy9313
Airdrie, UK251 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
This was an interesting visit. Lots of machinery to view and a fantastic well kept building. You are given plenty of time to explore the mill by the staff.
The staff are very friendly and have lots of interesting stories to tell. My son loved this place and as he is only 6 was something that pleased me as he used his imagination on how the place once would have been. Something for all the family no matter what age. There is a small gift shop within the mill akdo and is not too far away from Sweetheart Abbey. Free parking just across the road akso. Would highly recommend visiting here and I would go back again!
The staff are very friendly and have lots of interesting stories to tell. My son loved this place and as he is only 6 was something that pleased me as he used his imagination on how the place once would have been. Something for all the family no matter what age. There is a small gift shop within the mill akdo and is not too far away from Sweetheart Abbey. Free parking just across the road akso. Would highly recommend visiting here and I would go back again!
Written 12 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mintalkin
Burton upon Trent69 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
We drove through New Abbey on way to holiday cottage and happened on the Corn Mill by chance. So glad we decided to go back and have a look at this the next day - what a little gem of a museum - great to see the mill is still in working order and the staff full of enthusiasm and knowledge. Introductory film well worth watching, then the guided tour and well worth the entrance price
Written 9 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AM
Morpeth, UK1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Family
The lady who showed us round was really knowledgeable and friendly. It was a most interesting place. Definitely recommend the Corn Mill.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny R
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Couples
This was so interesting and the guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. Great place to visit if you are nearby
Written 24 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheOldMacs
Canberra, Australia346 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
The visit to the mill starts with a short film that explains how the mill worked back in the day, then go back down to the visitor desk so that they can tell yous where to go next. As it turned out, the HS lady took us around the entire mill and showed us around, and explained how the mill would have worked when originally built, and then how the workings had been improved in the early 1900s to make the work much easier for the miller.
The improvements included putting in a hoist to make it simpler to get the 200lb sacks of grain up and down between the floors, into the hoppers and also into the kiln. The miller had also put in a third grinding stone which then enabled him to grind grain for animals as well as for people, which guaranteed the mill could have plenty of work throughout the winter months. She showed us the launder which fed the water onto the paddle wheel, and also took us up to the mill pond which unfortunately at the moment is almost dry. When there is water available from the river they try to run the mill twice a day six days a week, but there wasn’t any water to run it today.
A great piece of history, and seems to be under-visited which is a shame!
The improvements included putting in a hoist to make it simpler to get the 200lb sacks of grain up and down between the floors, into the hoppers and also into the kiln. The miller had also put in a third grinding stone which then enabled him to grind grain for animals as well as for people, which guaranteed the mill could have plenty of work throughout the winter months. She showed us the launder which fed the water onto the paddle wheel, and also took us up to the mill pond which unfortunately at the moment is almost dry. When there is water available from the river they try to run the mill twice a day six days a week, but there wasn’t any water to run it today.
A great piece of history, and seems to be under-visited which is a shame!
Written 18 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Before the cornmill was refurbished was it used for anything else e.g. craft outlet . Regards
Written 2 January 2019
The mill has always been used for the purpose of milling. It is an original structure that has been preserved. It was never used for another purpose according to what I learned when visiting.
Written 11 January 2019
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