Almost 30 years ago, Emma and Robert Pollock sold their Borders dairy farm and embraced pastures new in the Mearns.
Taking on Nether Benholm, the couple found they had an unusual next-door neighbour in the form of a centuries-old visitor attraction.
The nearby Mill of Benholm was a popular spot as their boys were growing up, a place to play and to learn about the history of their new surroundings.
As well as a tourist draw, it was a gathering place for locals – who would regularly meet up for a cup of tea and a blether at the cafe there.
There was dismay when it suddenly closed in 2014, with “health and safety” reasons blamed.
And with efforts to revive it faltering, the mill has now been mothballed for nearly a decade.
So it’s come down to Emma, and a group of friends, to bring it back to life.
This time, they have a foolproof plan…
Watch our exclusive drone footage as the volunteers explain their aims:
Why is Mill of Benholm so important?
The secluded spot is at the heart of Aberdeenshire’s Sunset Song country and was used in the BBC’s adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s novel as Long Rob’s mill.
The water-powered meal mill is described by Historic Environment Scotland as “an exceptional and rare survival”.
It’s thought there was a mill on the site as far back as the 12th Century, but the current complex dates back to 1817.
For hundreds of years, it was a vital part of local life, producing oatmeal, and bruised and hashed oats to folk all around.
It remained in partial use until 1982, and was done up prior to opening as a visitor attraction in 1995.
Mill of Benholm decaying over time
The site is still owned by Aberdeenshire Council, following a failed takeover bid in 2018.
At that time, the Mill of Benholm Enterprise was denied a community asset transfer as councillors were unconvinced they had enough in their coffers to run the venue.
Then-chairwoman, Mairi Eddie, said they ” just couldn’t see a way forward”.
Years on the A-listed mill, nestled in ancient woodland near Johnshaven, is now more in need of saviour than ever.
When the council stopped maintaining it during the pandemic, it didn’t take long for nature to “reclaim” it – with foliage quickly sprawling across the site.
With the help of restoration experts, this renewed crusade to spare the Mill of Benholm from further deterioration is gaining traction.
But every moment is becoming more and more precious.
Meet the campaigners fighting for mill’s future
We met new chairwoman Emma along with members John Maxwell and Henning Wagner for a walk around the peaceful setting.
Henning is a German antique dealer who lives up the road in the Benholm conservation area, while John is a retired offshore supply boss originally from Peterhead and now living in Johnshaven.
While the farmer, the antiquarian and the former managing director of Farstad Shipping may seem a disparate bunch, they are bonded by their shared desire to revive the mill.
Emma and husband Robert have been running the 600-acre arable farm nearby since the mid-1990s, and she felt a sense of duty to help out.
She explains: “When we arrived here from Dumfriesshire, the mill had just been renovated and reopened.
“The boys were just little, and there were all sorts of weekend events they could pop along to.
“It would be great to get it open to the public, and have all that back again.”
Race against time to save Mill of Benholm
Henning carefully guides us along crumbling woodland walkways, which will need serious attention if the site is to reopen.
Such scenic strolls will be a key part of the package, and the pathways will need to be in top condition.
Sucking air in through his teeth, he explains that just phase one of the project – such as getting the wheel turning, repairing walkways and making the site safe – will cost about £250,000.
The costings for anything beyond that, such as staffing the cafe, are yet to be worked out.
The once-picturesque mill pond is now barren, overgrown with tall reeds.
The water supply was cut off when, during storms last winter, a thick tree trunk crashed down over the narrow burn that flowed into it.
However, Emma explains this will actually benefit the group’s effort, making it easier to clean up the pond before lifting the trunk and restoring it to its former glory.
John shares his sadness at the state of the memorial garden, with a bench dedicated to charity worker Alyson Reid now shrouded by weeds.
The 45-year-old was training to be a gardener at the visitor centre when she died in 2011 after contracting swine flu.
John says: “It’s such a tranquil spot, it’s sad to see it looking how it is now.
“Nature has claimed it back so quickly.”
‘The longer it’s empty the more difficult the job becomes’
Peering through cobwebbed windows at the forlorn former cafe, I ask the group how long it might take until the buildings are returned to life.
“Well, we are now at the back end of another summer,” Emma sighs.
“And that’s another winter ahead of it lying dormant.
The longer it’s empty the more difficult the job becomes, and the more work it will take to get it back to that standard.
“But the new process has started, and the old business plan is being updated…”
Realistically, it could still be years away.
Why are members hopeful this time?
Emma explains that partnering with the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT) should make all the difference with this attempt.
She continues: “Now that the NESPT are getting involved, the idea is they will take on the asset transfer while we deal with whatever happens here.
“They have a history of success in that area, and we will lease it from them.”
The NESPT has several similar triumphs to its name – helping to breathe new life into the Sail Loft in Portsoy, Banff’s Duff House Vinery and Stonehaven’s Clock Tower.
All these are now run by local volunteers.
What would happen if this bid to rescue the mill fails?
Should Mill of Benholm Enterprise fail to take on the mill, it could face a bleak future.
It would likely go on the council’s disposal list, opening it up to private ownership and its possible loss as an asset to the community.
That’s not a prospect Emma wishes to entertain for too long though, insisting: “We are hopeful of a positive outcome here.”
This video from 2013 shows the Mill of Benholm spring fair:
Hopes to get mill back to work
Ultimately, the group wants to do more than just reopen the abandoned buildings.
They want to see the mill churning water once again.
Emma explains: “We really want the mill to be able to function, and we are making sure the mechanisms are all working.
“Before Covid, the council came down twice a week to run the wheel – just keeping it moving to make sure it still worked.
“But it’s been left for a while now, so there is work to be done assessing it… We had some specialists down a few months ago, so we are working on that.”
And what else would take place at the reopened attraction?
Previous failures have made Emma more determined than ever to make sure the new campaign pays off.
If their plans come to fruition, the group want to reinstate the work experience previously offered to disabled people – and champion the mental health benefits of spending time at the serene spot.
They also aim to bring back the gift shop, with a new cafe once again serving as a “community hub”.
Another idea is to open an old grain store at the start of the project, which could provide unique office space and classrooms, or host a pop-up cafe while work takes place elsewhere at the site.
What’s more, a natural amphitheatre is being eyed up to host concerts or open-air theatre shows.
The “romantic setting” could even provide the perfect backdrop for weddings.
And might the historic Mill of Benholm one day even produce flour again?
“It’s been a long time since anything like that has been done,” Emma smiles.
“But it would be fantastic if we could.”
Follow the group’s Facebook page for updates.
The BBC’s Sunset Song adaptation, featuring the mill, can be watched on iPlayer.
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