Preston Mill

📌 East Linton, East Lothian
★★★

Happen across Preston Mill by accident and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d somehow stumbled across a real-life fairy tale, such is the unusual shape of this historic meal mill. This was East Lothian’s last functioning water mill, still in commercial use until 1959 and with some (though not all) of the machinery still in operation today. Entry to the mill itself is by guided tour explaining the various components involved in producing oatmeal. There’s also a small exhibition area: particularly interesting are photos of the regular spate events on the neighboring River Tyne which (still) regularly flood the buildings. A short walk away, over that same troublesome river and south across a field, is another piece of history also in the care of the National Trust for Scotland: 16th century Phantassie Doocot. The name turns out to be the most interesting thing about this beehive dovecot as you actually can’t go inside. But since you’re nearby…