Menorca windmills come alive

When visiting Menorca, a Spanish Balearic island, we tend to stay at the Hotel Del Almirante, also called Collingwood House, a former home of the famous British Admiral Collingwood.

Located on the road between the island's capital Mahon and Es Castell, known as Georgetown during the English occupation, the hotel is in a tranquil setting in spite of the busy main road.

The walk east along the road into Es Castell is easily done but for those less mobile there is a bus service or you can drive in.

A little before you enter Es Castell, at the roundabout, was a ruined landmark tower.

Locals told us it was not in reality a tower but had been a working windmill.

A year or so back, when we visited Menorca in June, we noted renovations taking place on the ruins of the mill, and in October when we visited the work looked almost complete.

There was still some work to do mainly on the immediate grounds. A cycle lane was under construction along the side of the road.

​The work on that particular windmill location is now complete.

Menorca has a good road system and strives to update and repair on a regular basis. This means a surprisingly good number of cycle and pedestrian paths.

We were told that other windmills in the area are being restored by volunteers. They have taken inspiration from volunteers who continue to work on Isla Del Rey, or Bloody Island, situated in the Mahon estuary.

Across the estuary sit four wind turbines a nod to 21st Century technology and energy issues.

Further along the road, closer to Es Castell, work has started on the remains of another windmill.

Currently a restored windmill in San Luis has a recommended restaurant. In Ciutadella a steak house is also located at a windmill.

Look out for the mills, ruined, restored or in use, as you tour the small Balearic Island of Menorca. Restored they are a magnificent sight.