Visit one of the oldest working mills in Scotland. Preston Mill in East Lothian

Preston Mill in East Linton

Walk into a magical world of ancient machinery, cogs and cranks turning to the rhythm of the water wheel that powers them. This is Preston Mill in East Lothian. A unique experience that can be visited by bicycle.

Fans of Outlander will recognise Preston Mill, as it featured in the series. Visits to the mill are by a short guided tour. The highlight is being able to watch the machinery at work. I was fascinated that the cogs slow down and speed up, depending on how fast the waterwheel moves. You get the feeling of something that is predominantly dependent on nature rather than human intervention, something more organic than machine. This is now quite alien in today's technology, which is why it is so special to see this.

Machinery in Preston Mill

Machinery in Preston Mill, East Linton

The building itself is quite unusual. I have not seen anything like it before. The roof is inevitably compared to a witch's hat or something from the imagination of J.K. Rowling or Tolkien, but it serves a practical purpose. It houses a furnace to dry the grain.

Preston Mill, East Linton

The chicken coop built onto the side of the furnace of Preston Mill in East Linton

Inside the chicken coop of Preston Mill

The story of the mill is one of innovation. At some point the miller built a chicken coop on the outside of the furnace, so that the heat would help the hens to lay eggs. Architecture not for aesthetics, but for a functional purpose is what you see today.

The bridge between the storehouse and the furnace was added at a later date to make it easier to move the grain across and avoid taking it upstairs.

The walkway that links the storehouse to the furnace at Preston Mill, East Linton

There are chains to pull up the bags of grain to avoid the previous practice of people carrying it on their backs.

​This building was added to through the years as successive generations of millers built up their knowledge and experience and looked for the least labour intensive methods.

The roof structure inside the furnace of Preston Mill, East Linton

I liked my guide's theory that it was probably the apprentices who suggested the improvements. The miller would have been used to doing things the same way for years, but an apprentice would spot new ways of working. This is exactly what happens in today's modern workplace when new people are employed and suggest improvements.

Outside the mill you can have a look at the waterwheel at work.

Take a short walk across the river to get a closer look at the curious beehive-shaped structure. Can you guess what it is?

Phantassie Doocot, East Linton, East Lothian

It is a 16th century doocot that housed 500 pigeons for the purpose of eating them. Pigeons were once a delicacy for the owners of large estates, but they were a nuisance to farmers as one bird could gobble 100 kg of grain per year.

There were pigeons flying in and out of it during my visit , so it looked like it was still providing a home for birds.

Flying home. Phantassie Doocot, East Linton

Phantassie Doocot

How to get to Preston Mill

Preston Mill is just under 6 miles from the nearest train station at Drem, so you can cycle there direct from the station using the map below.

Or for a circular route that starts at Longniddry station and ends at Drem follow these steps:

• From Edinburgh take the 18 minute train journey to Longniddry and then take the disused railway path to Haddington (4.5 miles). Read a full description of this route.
• Then follow my guide to the cycle route from Haddington to Hailes Castle (4.3 miles)
• To reach Preston Mill follow my route guide for Hailes Castle to East Linton (2 miles). This guide also has a suggestion for somewhere to go for lunch or a coffee.
• ​You could return on the same route to Longniddry station or take the road to Drem station, 6 miles from East Linton. If you go that way there is plenty to see, including the birthplace of Scotland's flag and Concorde at the National Museum of Flight.
•