Mills For Sale
Area Guide
From the top of your converted windmill enjoy spectacular 360 degree views of rolling hills, green valleys and glistening blue water; immerse yourself in the romance of an old stone watermill laden with history and charm; wander through ancient olive groves before returning to your 200 year old olive oil mill for a swim in your own private swimming pool; mostly located in remote and country locations and beautifully renovated to offer fabulous living space, there are mills for sale throughout Europe – particularly in England, Scotland, France, Spain and Portugal – all presenting an ideal investment opportunity for investors wanting something that little bit different.
Mills for sale in Scotland and England are typically either former watermills or windmills. Watermills tend to be large and spacious building, which have been sympathetically restored to keep original features such as stone fireplaces and wooden beams and floors. Picturesque gardens, deep mill ponds and bubbling streams all provide idyllic backdrops to these iconic buildings which, with their working water wheels and machinery, offer a tantalising glimpse into their working past. Windmills offer an equally romantic alternative, often hidden away outside small villages where the only noises are the chiming church bells and the sound of sheep and a couple of cows in the surrounding fields. Living space in a windmill is always interesting and normally involves a good number of stairs! The kitchen is normally on the ground floor with living space on the first floor and then bedrooms and bathrooms on the upper levels with the most romantic bedroom on the top floor enjoying wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Prices for high quality renovated mills remain competitive with the larger properties starting at £500,000 or more depending on the location.
In France there is a healthy supply of mills for sale and, similar to the UK, the type of accomodation offered by the two different types of mill differs greatly. Often, old watermills provide the grander and more spacious accommodation but these mills can vary greatly from tiny, unassuming buildings to huge properties of which the watermill is just a part. Many are extremely picturesque, but others can be more industrial in nature, and so need a healthy dose of vision and design flair to transform them into comfortable and desirable homes. Watermills are impossibly romantic places, and if the property includes a real mill stream still rushing through, the sound of the water becomes an evocative accompaniment to everyday life. Large watermill properties can also be divided into several apartments, which is ideal for those investors wanting to buy properties to rent out as holiday homes. Windmills too have their own certain characteristics, and are defined by their shape which begins with a roundish, wide base narrowing to a small space at the top. The views from the top are often spectacular, and offer perfect compensation for the climb and cramped conditions in the uppermost rooms!
Mills in France
Unconverted mills for sale in France are not plentiful and will normally require considerable work and even those in a state of complete disrepair can command prices of around 250,000 Euros. Prices for converted mills begin at upwards of 300,000 or 400,000 Euros, depending on the size and location of the property and the quality of the conversion with the larger and more luxurious properties easily commanding prices in excess of 1m Euros.
Spanish Mills For Sale
In Spain mills for sale are either former olive oil mills or watermills with many dating from the 18th Century. Surrounded by ancient olive groves and often located within national parks or nature reserves, these old olive oil mills are wonderfully large buildings offering fabulously luxurious accommodation with grand reception rooms, spacious bedrooms with modern ensuite bathrooms, fully equipped farmhouse kitchens and private swimming pools. Many will also still have their original features such as wooden beams, olive press, granite wheels and large storage pots. These larger properties can fetch upwards of 1m Euros and some can also be split into apartments so presenting an ideal investment opportunity. There is also a good supply of smaller mills in need of renovating which can be cheaper with prices starting at around 150,000 Euros.
Mills in Portugal
Portugal is also seeing an increase in the number of mills for sale – both watermills and olive oil mills and to a lesser extent windmills. Typical Portuguese windmills are very simple stone structures with 360 degree views and often in need of complete renovation and refurbishment; some are almost derelict and so present the perfect opportunity – or challenge - to create a highly romantic and personal home. There are also plenty of old stone watermills ready for renovation, often in remote and country locations and with the original machinery and water wheel. Surrounded by peaceful countryside, some mills also have their own stretch of river enabling you to while away lazy sunny days swimming or trout fishing. Prices in Portugal are cheaper compared to the rest of Europe starting at 20,000 – 50,000 Euros with the more luxurious mills ranging upwards from 300,000 Euros.
Old mills are special; evoking the romance of a bygone era yet providing all the convenience and luxury of modern day living, they are becoming increasingly popular as an investment both as a residence and also as holiday rental accommodation. There are mills for sale in some of the most stunning and remote areas of Europe and for the wise investor, these unusual properties can provide an excellent investment opportunity.