The Ugāle Watermills stand on the banks of the Engure, with the Usmas Golf Club right next to them. In Dzirnavas, mill history and golf meet side by side. There is also a 7.3-kilometre canoe route that starts at the watermills. These three points of interest are clearly distinct: a historic mill site, mini-golf in a meadow landscape, and a route on the water.

Mill History and Water Management on the Engure

The Ugāle Watermills were built around 1843. A fire almost completely destroyed them in 1933. In addition to the usual grain milling, a wool-carding operation also developed at the mills. Carding arranges and loosens wool fibres for further processing. About nine decades separate the construction around 1843 from the fire in 1933; the fire therefore marks a later turning point in the site's history.

The watermills are located in the village of Dzirnavas on the banks of the Engure. The regulating weir is made of stone masonry; its sluices have wooden gates. A road crosses the weir. Commercial use and water regulation thus coexist at this site. The contrast in materials is clear: stone masonry at the weir, wooden gates at the sluices. As the condition may change, it is advisable to check the site's condition before visiting.

Golf on the Same Banks

The Usmas Golf Club is on the left bank of the Engure, right next to the Ugāle Watermills. The club has a nine-hole mini-golf course set in a meadow landscape. The club's golf course is also suitable for beginners. If you plan to play a round, check in advance whether it is currently possible to visit.

For training, the club offers the “Golfa ABC” programme as individual or group training; advance registration is required. If you are interested, check the available times in advance if you would like to include a training session in your trip.

Canoe Route to Kalnenieki

The 7.3 km canoe route runs from the Ugāle Watermills to Kalnenieki and ends at the bridge over the Engure. River conditions and obstacles may vary, so check current conditions before setting out. The activities differ in scale: mini-golf is defined by its nine holes and meadow setting, while the canoe route is defined by its length, starting point and destination. This lets you choose between a course-based activity and a journey with a fixed endpoint.

Find a Hotel for Your Stay

When looking for a hotel in Dzirnavas, you can use the purpose of your trip as your first filter: would you mainly like to learn about the history of the watermills, play mini-golf, or paddle the canoe route? These interests represent different types of trips—cultural history, a visit to a course, or a water route. Then choose a specific hotel based on your personal requirements and the focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Pope, Zūras, Liepene, Leči, Ventava, Ventspils, Vārve, Ugāle

Go to the main travel overview: Ventspils.