Having looked at the website thought this looked a nice day out. Turned out to be an expensive 2 hours. £18 for 2 adults and a 4 year old. We were then charged a further £3 per person for golf. I had thought this was included due to the high price point and it not being on the website that it’s extra. Very little for children to do, the swings were surrounded by wood chip so couldn’t be accessed. Nice woodland walk but many places to do this for free. The water wheel and small museums are interesting but don’t justify the admission cost. Can’t comment on the cafe as after seeing the price £8.95 for a sandwich we left and went to a pub.

Such a lovely Summer's day yesterday and being in the area, I thought that I would satisfy my curiosity and see what, if anything, was going on at Calbourne Mill. Last time I went, which was about four years ago, I was amazed at how run down and neglected every thing was, particularly the museum exhibits, so this time I went really to enjoy the glorious riverside setting and indeed, to find out if the place was still open after having been put up for sale. Well it looks like the majority of rotting agricultural exhibits have been got rid of as I see that most of the ramshackle long barn has been cleared out. The remaining odd items have been piled up outside on the grass in a heap, maybe ready to be burnt, as they are without exception, too far gone to ever be restored. Pity, as a totally rotted VictorianThreshing machine and Traction engine take centre stage on the bonfire heap. I enjoyed my visit and the lady at the entrance kiosk was very welcoming, but the admission charge for a family is ridiculously high for what you get to see.

We stayed at Goldfinch Lodge at Calbourne Water Mill and I’m sad to say that the accommodation was tired and unloved. Threadbare carpets, furniture which has seen better days, leaking shower, damp floor in the bathroom, lumpy mattresses and TVs either missing or not working. The lodge did not offer good value for the money we paid. Reported a few items on our arrival which the very helpful staff said they would pass on to the owner but sadly no response from the owner. The staff at the watermill were very friendly and helpful and we enjoyed the facilities at the mill, just deeply disappointed with the accommodation after looking forward to our family holiday.

Very expensive entry seeing as the actual mill is no longer working. £8.95 each for an adult. Last year it was only a fiver. We (wrongly) assumed that the uplift in entry would mean that improvements had been made inside. Sadly not. In fact now thw actual mill doesn't even work!There is nothing to tell you this before you go in. The mill house was full of doves and consequently everything was plastered in bird droppings. We didn't want to linger as it felt like a health hazard, particularly with bird flu still doing the rounds. There was blood and feathers on the floor in one of the upper rooms where a bird had obviously met its demise. Rather concerningly there was also a broken pane of glass just propped up on the floor in one of the walkways. Outside, the paths in the woods are overgrown with brambles, the bench to sit on look very dilapidated and the ones right at the top where the view is best, have actually gone altogether.The kids play area is still out of action since covid. The old viking reenactment fort is slowly falling to bits as it no longer gets used. It looks a complete eyesore. Where the old open sheds used to be full of old farm equipment, they have largely been cleared out and the "exhibits" piled in the middle of the lawn in what looks like preparations for bonfire night!! The boats still haven't been returned to the river since covid and the only actual thing left to do is crazy golf for which you have to pay an extra £5.95 each!! I can't comment on the state of the gents toilet, but the ladies was horrible. One cubicle was out of order and the floor of the only other available cubicle was flooded with wee. I did tell a member of staff but he didn't seem overly bothered. It's such a shame as the actual location is stunning. The lady on the gate is very friendly and when I asked about the state of things she mentioned that they are now doing weddings. Suddenly all became clear, obviously there is more money to be had in hosting wedding parties than in running a tourist attraction, hence the lack of any care being taken.

The place is lovely, however it is a little tired and doesn't warrant the entry price. We went expecting to see the mill working but by the looks of it it hasn't been in use for a while. Would not go back.

We stopped off here for a late lunch and a round of the crazy golf we had spotted from the road. We hadn’t realised you had to pay to enter the mill to eat lunch but never mind. We decided to have lunch first and ordered salads in the cafe. Whilst they were nice they were very basic and took forever to prepare, not worth the amount being charged by a long shot. The cakes were more reasonable and all home made - the carrot cake was lovely. Due to having to wait so long for lunch we didn’t have much time to look round the mill as the last time we could play golf was 4pm. So a bit of a quick whizz round the museum which had some interesting things to see. Then onto the crazy golf which was brilliant a real olde world proper crazy golf we all loved it and became very competitive. The lady said we could return to look in the mill again within 7 days for free but we were on our last day on the island. A good find but the speed and pricing of cafe needs reviewing.