Tucked away in the wild beauty of Birsay, Barony Mill is unlike anywhere else. It’s the last working water mill in Orkney - and the only place on Earth milling bere, an ancient barley cultivated here for over 5,000 years. Visit and you’ll be transported back in time. The sounds of milling, the smoky scent of the kiln-dried bere, the rhythm of water-powered machinery - every sense connects you to centuries of tradition.

On your guided tour, hosted by the miller or an expert guide, you’ll not only see history, you’ll be part of it. Feel the thrill of setting the mighty water wheel in motion, set foot inside the amazing kiln, and watch as the machinery moves through the age-old milling process. Everything here is powered entirely by water, making this one of the greenest and most authentic mills in operation today.

One of the world’s oldest cultivated grains, bere has been grown in Orkney for millennia, with traces found in Neolithic tombs. It’s found in just a handful of fields in Orkney’s West Mainland and only milled commercially at Barony Mill. The result is beremeal, a nutritious and delicious flour with a nutty, smoky, flavour used to make traditional bannocks, biscuits, and more.

Your guide will take you through every step of the process, from drying the grain over an open kiln, to passing it through three sets of millstones, each refining it further, to sifting the final product. After your tour enjoy free tasters of some baked beremeal products and visit the mill shop, where you can pick up various grinds of beremeal, oatmeal, baked beremeal treats, and unique gifts.

Plan your visit to Barony Mill

Barony Mill is open for tours from May until late September.

Tours run every 45 minutes and spaces are limited to just 8 people per tour, so booking is recommended. If you’re passing, do pop in as last-minute bookings when space is available are welcome.

Tour times:

11:00am, 11:45am, 12:30pm, 1:15pm, 2:00pm, 2:45pm, and 3:30pm.

Tickets:

Adults: £7.50

Children (aged 7-15): £4.50

Under 7s: Free

Barony Mill Tours last about 30 minutes.

Accessibility

Please note that the mill is a historic building with multiple levels, and access to parts of the tour involves stairs. Unfortunately, this may make some areas unsuitable for visitors with limited mobility.

Visit our shop

Open daily from 11.00am until 4.00pm, offering a selection of bere products and unique gifts. Take a taste of Orkney home with you.

Telephone 01856 721 439 or email enquiries@baronymill.com to contact the mill.