Walter and Arthur’s Exploration at Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
Recently, I heard Mom and Dad talking about how we have a backlog of places we have visited that we still need to write about. Since, I last wrote an article for this blog with my Ellisland post in January, I figured I was due to chip in and help by recounting another one of my grand adventures. Looking over my travel journal notes, I decided on a fascinating site we visited in Autumn 2024. So, join my brother, Arthur, and I as we head to East Lothian, Scotland for a visit to Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot!
It was a particularly lovely sunny September morning when Mom and Dad told us that we were going on an adventure. Now, it’s important to point out that this trip was when Arthur was still just a wee pup and required a lot of training guidance from me. He had done well all summer on our epic camping trip to Aberdeenshire, but I knew that he was a work in progress. In fact, if you haven’t done so already, you can read more about that trip by putting the phrase, “Summer Blog Series” into the search bar on the homepage of our blog to find those articles.
Preston Mill is managed by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), and is about a 35–45 minute drive from Edinburgh, located just off the A1 in East Linton. Arthur and I have visited many of the properties they oversee because Mom and Dad are members, so we knew we would be in good hands for this ‘explore and discover’ mission. Understandably, dogs are not allowed inside the mill building, so Mom and Dad had to take turns to do the guided tour. Mom went first because Dad said we needed to burn off some of our ‘crazy’ energy by taking a walk to the Phantassie Doocot (just about a ¼ of a mile away).
Before that could happen, I did some quick preliminary inspections to get the lay of the land and ensure safety for Arthur and I. I know Dad has that under control, but I like to double-check everything just in case. As a related side note, I also like to think of myself as the head canine health and safety officer for our Edinburgh walking tours. Someone has to help Dad safely guide visitors through the busy streets.😉
As you can see from the photo below, I was making sure to pay attention to my surroundings. However, I have no idea what Arthur was doing. Probably making friends with some bug or maybe he was fascinated with his own shadow. He does tend to daydream. Maybe he was thinking about the Peter Pan story Mom and Dad like to read to us. All I know is that it didn’t take much to distract him at that age.
My first thought when I saw Preston Mill was that it looked like something you would see in Hobbiton from ‘Lord of the Rings’. Just look at that interesting conical roof!
Dad tried to get a photo of us in front of it, but Arthur was a bit antsy, so we set out on the Phantassie Doocot Walk.
I was familiar with the word ‘doocot’ from previous explorations, but I explained it all to Arthur as we trotted along the beautiful nature trail. ‘Doocot’ is the Scots word for ‘dovecote’ and it was a place where they would keep and feed birds (often pigeons) so that there would be a supply of meat and eggs for the winter. Dad said that Phantassie Doocot used to be part of Phantassie Farm but was gifted to the NTS in 1962. He also mentioned that this one’s shape is unique compared to other doocots in Scotland because the top of it is in the shape of a horseshoe.
Many of them they look like a beehive such as this one at Dirleton Castle:
The NTS points out that the horseshoe top shape is a common one for doocots in southern France (columbiers is the French word for doocot/dovecote), where the walls rise above the roof to shield against the strong mistral winds. They go on to say that “this hints that the doocot might have been built by a Scot who had some knowledge of that area or was influenced by someone who did”. Maybe some day Arthur and I can see some of the columbiers in France. A visit to that country is definitely on my bucket list.
I really enjoyed the walk to the Phantassie Doocot, and I think Arthur did as well. However, I was excited to make my way back to the Mill to do a more thorough exploration.
By the time we got back, I could tell Arthur was ready for a break. I still had boundless energy, but I think he was starting to fall asleep while still standing (see photo evidence below)! This was the perfect time for Mom and Dad to switch with Dad going to take the tour and Mom relaxing with us.
After, Dad showed Arthur and I his photos and told us all about it. We don’t want to give away too much because it is best to learn about and explore Preston Mill in person. However, I will provide a few of my quick takes and highlights with all of you.
East Lothian was one of the most important places for grain-growing in Scotland. The NTS doesn’t know exactly how old the current mill building at Preston Mill is, but they do know that there has been a mill on the site since the late 1500s. The oldest part of the current building probably dates to the 1600s.
It’s also important to note that oats and oatmeal have had an important role in Scottish diet and culture. In fact, oats were a staple food well into the 20th century. During the guided tour at Preston Mill, you learn about each step of the milling process. The machinery is still intact but is no longer in use for milling (the last miller at Preston Mill died in 1959). One thing was very clear while I listened to Dad talk about what the millers had to do- it was long, hard work.
I think my favourite part of this adventure was watching the vertical waterwheel. The sounds and movements it made were a bit hypnotic. And, let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to keep Arthur’s attention when he was so young, but that waterwheel sure did!
Preston Mill has also captured the imagination of others as it has served as a filming location for a few different televisions shows and movies. More recently, it shone in the international spotlight when it was featured on the television show, Outlander.
Well, that brings this article to a close. However, we highly recommend that you visit Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot if you are in East Lothian. You can find more information on their website including how to book your guided tour. The whole area around the Mill and the walk to the Phantassie Doocot is so picturesque and perfect for dogs (and people) who like to explore nature. A variety of wildlife call the area home including otters, Kingfishers, and heron. Unfortunately, we didn't see any of those friends in the animal kingdom, but that just gives us an excuse to go back.
While you are in the area, we also recommend that check out the National Museum of Flight (it’s about 5 miles away from Preston Mill). I haven’t had the chance to visit there yet, but my big brothers, Sawyer and Stirling, did and you can read more about that in our article.
Then, if you happen to visit our fair capital city, be sure to book one of our captivating Edinburgh walking tours. Being the lead canine tour guide, I often join my Dad to help guide tours- although I do let Arthur take a turn sometimes. However, he is still in training, so I do the ‘heavy lifting’. Anyway, I absolutely love my ‘job’, but it’s so much fun that I don’t see it as work- just a fascinating walk I get to take people on where they can learn more about the history, myths, and legends of Edinburgh.
Until next time- Explore & Discover!
