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The canal enters more open countryside as we approach Wilkies basin which is the first point where the canal is wide enough to turn a barge after leaving Ratho.
There is an island in the middle of the basin where swans often nest in the Spring.
This is a convenient point for barges to pass so you might pass one of our other barges here.
Here are St John Crusader II and McKay Seagull near Wilkies. At the entry stood a Change House, demolished many years ago. A Banksman lived there. He patrolled the banks of the canal looking for leaks and also stabled horses.
The Trust operates Christmas Santa cruises for children. The barges meet up at Wilkies for Santa to transfer.Santa has a castle on Wilkies Island
Looking back towards the south-east we see the Craigpark quarry area in the distance (on the horizon in the centre to the left of the small tree) where the water park is being developed.
Looking back towards Wilkies island, Santa's castle peeps above the trees. On our short 90 minute cruises, our barges turn here.
Behind the island remains of old barges were recently recovered. One of them was of the passenger type that represented the inter city express transport of its time.
The Wilkie family had land in the area in the 18th century and Wilkieston is a village just to the south. Wilkies also occupied "Ratho Byres" (now an artist blacksmith on Freelands Road) and William Wilkie, the “Scottish Homer”, became minister of Ratho in 1752.
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