Wet, miserable, gloomy and cold. A typical summer's day in Northern Ireland. Well, they're not all that bad, but this one really was spectacularly bad. My friend had popped round for a wee visit, so rather than twiddle our thumbs for an afternoon, I decided we should head off to the Old Mill.
Dundonald Old Mill maintains one of Ireland's oldest water wheels, which has been restored in recent years. It's quite a pleasant sight. The 250 year old building consists of a gorgeous gift shop and a quaint coffee shop. Despite having lived a short distance to the Old Mill for thirteen years, never had I once been to the coffee shop, so I was mightily intrigued.
The coffee shop lies above the gift shop, kind of like an open-plan attic (if you can possibly have such a thing), and it's decorated in a pretty farmhouse style, gingham tableclothes and the like. My friend ordered coke, and I had a magnificent honeycombe sundae in the tallest glass I have ever seen. Despite the weather, and the time of day (approx 4pm), the coffee shop was still fairly busy, but very chilled. Just how I like it.
I've paid a visit to the gift shop several times, and it's a good'un. Very well stocked, with lots of lovely mill memorabilia to take home.
Definitely worth a visit. The pensioners certainly love it. read more