Barry Mill - Down to the Dingly Dell

Barry Mill
Parking	Car park provided off Mill Road
Distance	Approx 1.5 miles
Height / Ascent	Less than 20m
Bogginess	3 / 5
Strenuosity	1 / 5
Other Info	None

 

Introduction

 

A week later after out first little excursion we decided to go out exploring again. Like last time, the weather was pretty crappy (you get used to it in this part of the world) so again, we opted against venturing too far. After a quick look at the map we decided to head along to Barry Mill. It ticked all the boxes; it was close by, it had a nice, well maintained Listed building as a centrepiece, and it was free (or so we thought). Ideal place for photo opportunites. So with gusto, we jumped into the car and got going.

Getting There

 

Barry Mill is a doddle to get to. Its located approximately 2 miles west of Carnoustie just off Mill Road. You can access Mill Road either from the small village of Barry or from the A92, the dual carraigeway between Arbroath and Dundee. Once on Mill Road there is a turn off for the Mill approximately half way down the road. It's well signposted all the way so it's hard to miss. Once you turn off Mill Road you have a short stretch down a dirt road before reaching the car park.

A word of note: The dirt track leading to the car park is pretty rough and has a fair peppering of potholes. Thus, I wouldn't recommend taking any low slung sports cars down it. Unless, of course, you like carrying your exhaust home in the boot.

Not like that's a problem I have. The old Megane merrily bounces over the potholes with the exhaust only occasionaly clanking on the ground.

So, after a short journey and a few smacks on the undeside of the car, we reach the car park and head out towards the Mill.

The Miller's Tale

 

When we get out of the car we head down the small path leading down to the Mill and are greeted by this information board. Oh oh, it's owned by the National Trust, which usually means it's time to get your hands in your pockets and pay. And sure enough, you have to pay to get into the Mill itself but thankfully car parking is free and you can walk around outside the mill without having to pay (I think.).

That aside, the information board helpfully details the walk around the Mill

The Information Board for Barry Mill

Just beyond the info board sits the mill itself and it's quite impressive. It's a Category A-Listed watermill and it's still operational so it would be good to see it's inner workings. But screw that, we are not paying £6.50 each to go inside and see it so we will have to make do with going around the outside. Thankfully, you get plenty of nice angles to photograph the building in it's idyllic surroundings and you can see some of the waterwheel from outside. So after getting our photographic fill of the main attraction we head down the mill lade walk.

The impressive looking Barry Mill

We go trotting down the leafy walk by the lade. It's a very beautiful walk through a lightly wooded area and we are getting plenty of nice snaps. Shame the weather wasn't a bit better but at least there are some blue skies starting to peep through. A bit down the path we come across this little pond with a family of swans living in it. A great photo opportunity in itself but we were lucky that one of the swans was a right poser and kept swimming back and forth in front of us. The only downside was the far end of the pond had a bit of a problem with algal bloom. And by a bit of problem, I mean it was absolutely covered in it. C'mon National Trust. At £6.50 a pop you must be raking it in so get your finger out and clean up the pond.

The small pond along the mill lade walk

As we walked further down the path and things started to get a bit muddy and boggy. As nice as it was walking down the path with the little stream by its side, I wouldn't recommend wearing your best shoes to do it in. At the end of the path we are greeted by a wonderful waterfall which sits at the far end of the walk. The views to it are not that great from the path so we decided to clamber down the embankment and hop across the rocks to get better views. It wasn't too treacherous getting down there and it gave us much better views of the waterfall.

Mike getting his fill of the waterfall

After we had finished with the waterfall we started to head back. After a while of trudging back along the muddy path we take the other path back, away from the stream. The grassy path here is thankfully less boggy and it takes us along into a wonderfully idyllic little dingly dell.

The grassy path on the mill lade walk

The dingly dell is a cute little alcove in the woods. Some logs have been left out to sit on and there is an area for a campfire. Although it seemed very pleasant here we both kinda sensed a sinister undertone. It gave us both an unnerving feeling like something that would be used in some wierd ritual or something. I think we have both seen too many tacky horror flicks.

The dingly dell (a bit freaky, isn't it?)

Once we had been suitably freaked out by the dingly dell we headed back along the path and back to the mill. Just beside the mill sits a small orchard and a few sheep so there were a good few photo opps there as well. So we snapped up and packed up and headed off.

One of the resident sheep at the mill.

Heading Home - Reflection

 

It didn't take long walking around the mill even with our constant stopping to take photos. When we got back we had a quick flick through the snaps and were far more pleased with the results. Once again, we were both snap happy but there ws far more to photograph here and we definitely got a far better haul of snaps. All in all it was a good day out that yielded good results. Just a pity the weather wasn't better to get some of that sunny sky action into the photos.

Worth a Visit?

 

Definately worth a visit. Its easy to get to and most of it is free. The walk around the mill and along the lade is very idyllic and has plenty to see considering how short a walk it is. There is also picnic benches set out around the mill if you fancy having a little family outing. We think the entry fee to the mill is excessive but i'm sure its interesting inside (just not £6.50 interesting that's all) but there are concession rates as well.