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Barony Mill
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Closed until 30 Apr 2024
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Barony Mill

See all things to do
See all things to do
Barony Mill
5
#3 of 11 things to do in Birsay
Historic Sites
Temporarily closedClosed until Apr 30, 2024
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Barony Mill is open but tours will be FREE for Orkney folk on September 23rd and 24th. Our shop is also open for sales of our products. We will be closed from the end of Sunday 24th to start milling again.
Duration: < 1 hour
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5.0
128 reviews
Excellent
118
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9
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Struan101
Dollar, UK56 contributions
Really interesting tour
Sep 2023 • Couples
A mill that has been producing flour with exactly the same equipment for 150 years! The tour, led by Ali, the miller, was very interesting and informative and Ali could not have been more helpful as I have slight mobility problems. Well worth a visit.
Written 20 September 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.
tsuzy
Very pleased that you enjoyed the visit.
Written 25 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TimWh
London54 contributions
Definitely worth a stop on the way to the Brough of Birsay.
Aug 2023 • Family
A fascinating place, firstly to learn about the process, secondly the history and thirdly the future; how the small dedicated team running it now are selling an ancient form of grain in the modern world. We bought some biscuits...they taste great!
Written 8 August 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.
tsuzy
Glad you enjoyed your visit - and the biscuits!
Written 20 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
galactic_penguin
4 contributions
Lovely watermill
Jul 2023 • Family
Very friendly and knowledgeable tour guides and even got to chat to the miller! Lovely mill, got to see it running, the tour guide invited us to turn it on and off, very well explained history and milling process which still tales place there today. I highly recommend a visit to Scapa Distillery alongside a visit to the mill too, did both on the same day and it was brilliant.
Written 24 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.
tsuzy
Thanks, glad you enjoyed your visit. We also supply bere to Scapa for whisky making, so a great idea to do both tours!
Written 20 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
johnsuggestions
London, UK326 contributions
Totally fascinating
Jul 2023 • Friends
Superb tour by the apprentice miller. History, engineering, food, skill, culture and milling all together. Not large and run by a Trust.
Written 11 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.
tsuzy
Pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour with Kenny!
Written 20 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie P
United Kingdom1,777 contributions
Interesting
May 2023 • Couples
We've passed the mill so many times but never had a tour, so stopped by one day. We were the only ones there, so we could ask questions and take our time. There are stairs to reach the floors, but quite wide unlike windmills. It's not a long tour, but as it's the only remaining, working corn mill on the island it was interesting to hear about operations and see it in action. They use beremeal and oats and produce flour and oatmeal which is sold in the shop. Small car park by the side of the mill.
Written 31 May 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.
tsuzy
Glad to hear you eventually stopped for a tour, and especially when you're the only ones the tour can be as long as you ask questions!
Written 20 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dormercottage98
Taunton, UK28 contributions
Fascinating and informative visit!
Jun 2022 • Family
We had a wonderful tour of this fabulous mill. Wonderful to see the working water every and to understand the processes required to make the extraordinary beremeal flour. Thoroughly recommended to old and young alike.
Written 25 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.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK179,496 contributions
Actual Mill & Water Powered
May 2022
The Barony Mill is a live working mill using traditional water wheel driven machinery. Yeah, the old school way. There’s a guided tour by the owner of the mill, which might be the only way to visit. The tour covers the working process the mill uses to work the barley and produce flour, and how the machinery works. We were actually only driving to the Birsay Earl's Palace and Birsay Bay Tearoom for lunch when we passed this. It’s a real hidden gem.

There’s also a small shop selling some of the goods made by the mill, the vinegar is pretty good.
Written 4 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.
jo m
Bournemouth, UK82 contributions
Picturesque working mill
May 2022 • Couples
Had a tour of this mill, which uses the original waterwheel and actively mills grain in the winter months. (Winter: milling/ summer: tours available). Interesting tour and as we make our own bread we’re keen to try out the native beremeal for sourdough. The grain os so old it was already around when scara brae was lived in! A recommended visit if you’re visiting Birsay
Written 24 May 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.
tomalli68
Falkirk, UK633 contributions
Came across by accident
May 2022 • Couples
Came across this mill by accident. Took a tour of the last working mill on Orkney. Taken through the steps of milling process which was really interesting. Great to some old fashioned methods at work. Staff really friendly. A good few items available to puchase including some of their wares. Well worth a visit if you have time.
Written 5 May 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.
Andy L
Dingwall, UK208 contributions
Informative, interesting & infomal
Aug 2021 • Couples
As the only remaining working watermill on the islands this shows how things have been done over many generations and still using many of the same methods today. Highly recommended..
Written 20 August 2021
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.
Barony Mill
Thank you Andy, we're pleased you enjoyed your visit.
Written 1 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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BARONY MILL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Barony Mill
Barony Mill is open:
  • Fri - Fri 11:00 - 16:30
  • Sat - Thu 11:00 - 17:00