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The old stone mill buildings of Benholm among autumn trees.
Aberdeenshire

Mill of Benholm

A restored watermill near Johnshaven, with a café baking its own patisserie.

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Welcome

The Mill of Benholm sits a little inland from Johnshaven, an old watermill brought back to life.

Its grounds are open at any time for a stroll.

The mill buildings themselves open from Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.

The Café at the Mill keeps the same hours, and it is the surprise of the place: a counter of handmade patisserie, international and local, all baked here at Benholm, with seasonal soups and filled brioche rolls for something more substantial. Dogs are welcome in the café, which makes it an easy stop on a coastal walk. Johnshaven's harbour and the Lobster Shop are a couple of minutes down the road.

A short drive awayThe Lobster ShopLobster and crab from the Johnshaven boats, dressed and eaten on a bench by the harbour.5 min by roadSee itThe Lobster Shop on Fore Street, Johnshaven, its blue windows under a lobster sign.
Before you go

The grounds are open at any time; the buildings and the café Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.

Dogs are welcome in the café.

Buildings and café
Fri to Sun, 10 to 4.
Grounds
Any time.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
10am–4pm
Saturday
10am–4pm
Sunday
10am–4pm
Where it is

Benholm, near Johnshaven.

Close byAround Benholm.
  1. The old lifeboat house in Johnshaven, its tall blue doors open under the museum's sign.Johnshaven Heritage MuseumThe village's own museum in its old lifeboat house of 1891, with a new exhibition every summer.2 miles5 min by road
  2. Sillyflatt Farm ShopA family farm shop above the North Sea between Inverbervie and Gourdon, selling its own lamb and food from within a hundred miles.3 miles5 min by road
  3. Battered fish and chips with lemon and tartare sauce from the Quayside.Quayside Restaurant & Fish Bar, GourdonFish and chips with a view over the harbour at Gourdon, from a fish bar on the West Quay, open Wednesday to Sunday from four until eight.3 miles6 min by road
  4. The blue surf boat Maggie Law on display inside the museum at Gourdon.The Maggie Law Maritime MuseumA little museum on Gourdon harbour built round the Maggie Law, a famous rescue surf boat.3 miles6 min by road
  5. Grassy dunes overlook a wide sandy beach with distant figures walkingSt Cyrus National Nature Reserve6 miles9 min by road
Directions
The Lobster Shop on Fore Street, Johnshaven, its blue windows under a lobster sign.RestaurantsThe Lobster Shop2.1 miles
The Grassic Gibbon Centre's gabled front beside Arbuthnott Hall, picnic tables outside.AttractionsLewis Grassic Gibbon Centre6.1 miles
The white Creel Inn at Catterline with its sign, a lobster creel on the terrace.RestaurantsThe Creel Inn8.9 miles
Rowing boat "The Gray Starling" sits among wildflowers overlooking a rocky sea stackAttractionsCatterline Bay9.1 miles
RAF Tornado ZD744 stored in a hangar with squadron crests on the wallAttractionsMontrose Air Station Museum9.5 miles
Waterfall dropping from grassy cliffs into a sheltered sea inletAttractionsRSPB Fowlsheugh10 miles
The white-streaked sea cliffs of Fowlsheugh above blue water, a seabird in flight.AttractionsRSPB Scotland Fowlsheugh10 miles
Grass-topped limestone cliff with a thin waterfall dropping into the seaAttractionsCrawton Waterfall10 miles
AttractionsMontrose Playhouse10 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near Mill of Benholm, and when each is next free.

Timber cabin with metal roof and decking surrounded by woodland treesNorth Lodge and River Cabin
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Banchory
  • 14 miles from Mill of Benholm
Free 11–13 NovA stone farmhouse covered in climbing ivy stands behind a gravel drive, seen through overhanging pine branches.Cuttieshillock
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from Mill of Benholm
Free 16–18 OctA stone cottage with dormer windows sits behind a low blue gate, a rose-covered archway framing the front door.Gamekeeper’s Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from Mill of Benholm
Free 2–4 NovA stone steading with a slated pyramid roof and a chimney stands behind a green nameplate sign, a chair visible through the window.No 2 Steading Cottage at Glendye
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from Mill of Benholm
Free 18–20 OctPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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