We visited the windmill on a glorious summer's day, kicking things off with a picnic at the foot of the mill as we waited for it to open. There are picnic tables and plenty of room for the kids to run around.

Tickets are sold from a shepherd's hut, which also sells ice cream and sweets - so it may be best to keep the children outside! Adults are charged £4 each, while children are free, so the cost is pretty reasonable for a family group.

The tour guides wait until there are enough members in the party before taking people up, so there may be a short wait, but it is well worth any delay. The guides are very knowledgeable and explain things very well, so they are fun and interesting for adults and children.

The windmill itself has been beautifully restored inside and out, and has some unusual features, having been built later than many other mills, with regulators and other gadgets designed to make the miller's life easier.

There are five floors to explore, each with their own function and bespoke machinery. Everything is on display and hands-on, with nothing roped off or shut away behind glass, and you really come away with a good understanding of the engineering of the mill and the work of a miller.

Combine it with a visit to the nearby Crofton Beam Engine and you have a great day out and a much greater appreciation for our industrial heritage.

(NB: There are some very steep stairs inside the mill so this is not suitable for anyone with a mobility impairment and younger children may need to be carried)

I happened to contact the Wilton Windmill team for some info and was delighted to hear that the Windmill would be in full operation and grinding flour a few days later. The Mill is located on the top of a chalk hill in wide open countryside, easy to see and sitting quite proud in the landscape. To see the power of the sails wooshing round, was a truly awe-inspiring moment and then, to have the opportunity to go up inside the mill, see and hear the giant gear system grinding away, smell the locally grown wheat being ground down and to feel the fine flour dust floating around was quite magical. I felt as though I had been transported back in time. It was like being inside the belly of the beast, inside a huge engine. To see the mill running, special windy conditions are needed. To have the chance to see the mill in operation you would need to contact the mill directly. if you can afford the time. I took my young daughter a few days later for a bit a of living history lesson, the team showed us around and were so helpful and knowledgable. There are so few working mills left in the UK and this is the last one working in the Wessex region so take the time and go and have a look. A thoroughly recommended experience for all ages.