Preston Mill

About the museum

Preston Mill stands on the River Tyne at the eastern edge of East Linton. A mill has been on the site since at least the 16th century, and the present buildings date mainly from the 18th century. The mill ground oatmeal for commercial customers until 1959 and was the last commercial water mill in the Lothians. The engineer and millwright Andrew Meikle and the civil engineer John Rennie are both associated with it.

After a serious flood in 1948 the local landowner gave the mill to the National Trust for Scotland in 1950, and it became the first industrial building the Trust looked after. The milling firm Rank Hovis McDougall advised on and helped with the restoration in the 1960s. The group of buildings includes a kiln, the mill itself and a granary. The kiln, with its unusual conical roof of red pantiles, is the best-known feature, and the water wheel was last replaced in 1909.

Visitors see the machinery working on a guided tour and can learn about the hard work of the miller. A small exhibition and refreshment area is in the visitor centre. A short riverside path leads to Phantassie Doocot, a 16th-century dovecote built to house about 500 pigeons. The mill and its surroundings also appear in the television series Outlander.

Highlights

• Guided tour of the working water mill with its machinery
• Kiln with a distinctive conical red pantile roof
• Small exhibition in the visitor centre
• Riverside walk to the 16th-century Phantassie Doocot
• Explorer packs for families and the story of Wee Bob, the miller's horse
• Filming locations from the television series Outlander

Permanent exhibition

• Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot – A guided tour of the mill shows the water-powered machinery, and a small exhibition in the visitor centre explains the work of the miller. A riverside path leads to the 16th-century dovecote.

Operated by

National Trust for Scotland

Admission & discounts

Admission is free for members of the National Trust for Scotland. Ticket numbers are capped each day, so booking in advance is strongly advised; without a booking entry to the mill cannot be guaranteed.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The ground floor of the mill is partly accessible and there are steep stairs to the upper floor. The exhibition and shop are fully accessible, and the grounds are partly accessible. Visitors with disabilities may drive up to the exhibition room entrance. A hearing loop and a large-print guide are available. Dogs are welcome in the grounds on a lead.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Younger visitors can learn about Wee Bob, the miller's horse, and families can borrow explorer packs. Baby changing is listed among the facilities. A family ticket and a one-adult family ticket are offered.

Getting there & parking

Preston Mill is in East Linton, 23 miles east of Edinburgh and off the A1. Follow the brown signs for NTS Preston Mill.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The visitor centre has a small refreshment area selling cold drinks, ice cream and snacks. There are picnic tables and seats in the grounds and bike racks.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit