Monkton Windmill, Ayrshire

Monkton Windmill is a round tower from the 1700s that started as a grain mill and later became a dovecote for keeping birds. The structure sits on elevated ground near Prestwick Airport in South Ayrshire and remains standing in its original form.

The mill was built in the early 1700s, replacing an ancient hilltop settlement from the Iron Age that once stood here. During the 1800s the tower was adapted to house birds instead, supplying meat and eggs for nearby farms and communities.

The building received Category A listing from Historic Environment Scotland in 1971, marking its importance to Scottish agricultural heritage.

The tower can be viewed from outside and the site is open to the public, though visitors cannot enter the building itself. The location is easy to reach on foot from the nearby roads, and the surrounding ground shows traces of the old earthworks.

Three defensive ditches from the Iron Age fort encircle the windmill, visible through aerial observation of the site.

Location: South Ayrshire

GPS coordinates: 55.51864,-4.59581

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:03