Ballycopeland Windmill

OK, now this is going to be difficult for me to review without me hurting anyone’s feelings. I have given the windmill itself five stars but I would like to give my experience there 3 stars. Let me tell you why.
A windmill is a windmill and I know and have known for ages that this particular windmill is an awesome sight to behold so I decided to call in just to take a few pictures to add to my collection of Co. Downs beautiful things to see photo album.
It was half twelve and I said to myself that I would park, jump out, get a few gorgeous shots, jump back in the car and be home to walk the dog by 1pm — that did not happen. As I approached the windmill a man named Brian jumped out from nowhere and asked me did I want to see his little house? Bemused and bewildered I thought ‘well, why not? I’ve got five minutes.’ One hour later I came out of the windmill my head spinning faster than the windmill ever did — facts and information don’t do well in my wee head between the months of June and September so I could barely cope with the witty (?) and informative guide.
Don’t get me wrong, if I was in a party of 10, or a Japanese tourist in a party of five or a group of primary school children I would have loved the quizzes and the jigsaw and the ‘lighting the board up with the right answers’ game, I’d even have loved looking for the fake mouse or searching for the secret button — but I wasn’t, I am a thirty year old, rather cynical, woman with no children and a small desire to take a photograph of a windmill.
I think Brian is amazing at tour guiding and there is a million and one things to see and learn about the Ballycopeland Windmill but he should try to ascertain whether or not the visitors really care that much before he literally bombards them with all the facts.
I got away when another witless woman and a small child arrived. I got into my car to the sounds of ‘Do you want to see my wee house?‘
Just to finish off this review I want to make it entirely clear that the windmill is a great sight to behold, still fully functioning and restored to its former glory I have no doubt that this is a place of cultural significance and importance. Brian is a great guide — he should maybe just tweak his tours for parties of one and let them have a wee look around on their own and ask him questions after. The whole experience was so intimate and informative I can honestly say I actually picked up very little about the windmill itself.

The strange thing about Ballycopeland windmill is that it should be busy all year round with tourists as it represents North Downs culture and heritage. It is not sign posted and could easily be ignored from the road, but definitely should not be. It is the last representation of farming barley in the region and really is a thing of beauty. Built in the 19^th Century the windmill is in working order and inside there is even a video tutorial explaining the milling of barley from start to finish. Guided tours are available and it is completely wheelchair accessible. If it is windy enough you may even see the process first hand.
On a summers day this would be a beautiful place to go for a picnic, it is an idyllic setting but also very interesting. This is another example of beauty going to waste in Northern Ireland, this could be a flagship of tourism bringing in much needed revenue to the area.
The Windmill is currently only open in July and August. It is only a 5 minute drive from the seaside so my advice is to get an ice cream and head up to the Windmill, I guarantee you will be fascinated.