Seagull Trust boats at Ratho (c) Karen Marnie

Ratho is the birth place of the Seagull Trust. The charity provides free canal trips for people with disabilities and their boats are crewed entirely by trained volunteers. Rev. Hugh Mackay, an avid canal enthusiast and the Minister of Ratho Parish Church was its pioneer. Cruises started here in 1979 with their first boat St John Crusader. The charity campaigned to save the canal network and also has bases in Falkirk, Kirkintilloch and Inverness.

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