Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Season 32022

From the sea lochs of Scotland to the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, seasoned train traveller Michael Portillo immerses himself in the magnificent scenery of the nation's coastal regions.

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25 Episodes

E01 Dunbar to Edinburgh

Michael Portillo begins a series of coastal railway journeys around the British Isles, starting in Siccar Point, the site of an extraordinary 18th-century discovery, and finishing at Holyrood House.

January 24, 2022

E02 Leith to Culross

Michael Portillo continues his journey at the iconic Forth Bridge, before heading to tour the Royal Yacht Britannia and encountering a pair of vast steel sculptures.

January 25, 2022

E03 Stirling to East Neuk

Michael Portillo travels from the medieval city of Stirling through Perth, the historic crowning place of Scottish monarchs, and into Kirkcaldy, where he revisits some fond family memories.

January 26, 2022

E04 St Andrews to Stonehaven

Michael Portillo visits St Andrews, home to Scotland’s oldest university, in eastern Fife, before heading to the vibrant city of Dundee and the harbour town of Stonehaven.

January 27, 2022

E05 Forvie to Peterhead

Michael Portillo’s Scottish railway journey reaches Aberdeen, from which he heads to the wild and beautiful Forvie National Nature Reserve and Scotland's most easterly town, Peterhead.

January 28, 2022

E06 Inverness to the Cairngorms

Michael arrives bright and early in Inverness, from which he heads out on a scenic adventure to the Orkney archipelago and explores the battlefield at Culloden, overlooking the Moray Firth.

January 31, 2022

E07 Cullen to Cawdor

The stunning scenery of Scotland’s east coast continues to delight Michael Portillo as he travels by train around the Moray Firth.

February 1, 2022

E08 Invergordon to Tain

Michael Portillo’s Scottish coastal railway journey reaches Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth, the third great inlet on the northeast coast of the Highlands.

February 2, 2022

E09 Lairg to Caithness

Michael Portillo's coastal railway journey takes him past lochs and castles on the Far North Line to Britain’s northernmost railway station at Thurso.

February 3, 2022

E10 Thurso to Orkney

Michael crosses over to the Orkney Islands, visiting the former naval base at Scapa Flow and learning about the islands' extensive Norwegian connections.

February 4, 2022

E11 Tynemouth to Bardon Mill

Michael starts a new railway journey in Newcastle, heading north to Berwick-upon-Tweed. His route takes in the River Tyne, Hadrian’s Wall, a former mining village and the fishing port of Amble.

February 7, 2022

E12 Newcastle to Lynemouth

Michael heads north from Newcastle to the former mining town of Lynemouth. Along the way, he visits a work of landform art made from the spoil of a coal mine and learns sea shanties in Blyth.

February 8, 2022

E13 Morpeth to Amble

Michael finds a historic collection of Northumbrian bagpipes in Morpeth, before heading up the East Coast Main Line to the fishing port of Amble.

February 9, 2022

E14 Alnmouth to Bamburgh

Michael travels from Alnmouth to Bamburgh Castle, an icon of Northumberland. Along the way, he takes to the waves in a traditional skiff and discover a fascinating map which charts shipwrecks.

February 10, 2022

E15 Farne Islands to Berwick-upon-Tweed

Michael’s journey along the coast of Northumberland continues towards the Farne Islands, takes in the holy island of Lindisfarne, and finishes in England’s northernmost town, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

February 11, 2022

E16 Fairlie to Port Glasgow

Michael Portillo explores the magnificent western coast of Scotland by rail and ferry, starting at the Hunterston B nuclear power plant and finishing along the deep waters of the Clyde.

February 14, 2022

E17 Helensburgh to Connel

From the 250-year-old 'new town' of Helensburgh on the north bank of the Clyde, Michael Portillo takes his favourite West Highland Line across to the waters of Loch Etive.

February 15, 2022

E18 Oban to Staffa

From the fishing port of Oban, Michael heads out to the Hebrides. He helps to harvest seaweed, visits the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, and sees a cave that inspired Felix Mendelssohn's music.

February 16, 2022

E19 Fort William to Glenfinnan

Michael heads aboard the Jacobite Express to cross the awe-inspiring Glenfinnan Viaduct, before visiting the immense Grampian Mountains and learning about the notorious Massacre of Glencoe.

February 17, 2022

E20 Mallaig to Isle of Lewis and Harris

Michael follows in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie as he travels over the sea to Skye, an island renowned for its wildlife, and then on to Lewis and Harris, home to the famous Harris Tweed.

February 18, 2022

E21 Avonmouth to Six Bells

Michael Portillo begins a new railway journey along the south coast of Wales. He visits a largely intact Roman amphitheatre and learns about the regeneration efforts in the mining town of Six Bells.

February 21, 2022

E22 Barry Island to Pyle

Michael Portillo continues his south Wales coastal railway journey in Barry Island, where he investigates the busy docks. He then heads to the Jurassic shoreline and the seaside resort of Porthcawl.

February 22, 2022

E23 Port Talbot to Pembrey Burry Port

Michael Portillo’s rail adventure along the south coast of Wales reaches the town of Port Talbot, known across the world for its steel production.

February 23, 2022

E24 Carmarthen to Pembroke

Michael Portillo travels the breathtaking rural coastline of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, visiting a bee garden with a quarter of a million honeybees and Pembroke's magnificent Norman castle.

February 24, 2022

E25 Milford Haven to Fishguard

Michael Portillo reaches the most westerly station in Wales, Milford Haven, the biggest energy port in the United Kingdom. He then heads north, visiting Britain's smallest city and its cathedral.

February 25, 2022

Great Coastal Railway Journeys

E01 Dunbar to Edinburgh

E02 Leith to Culross

E03 Stirling to East Neuk

E04 St Andrews to Stonehaven

E05 Forvie to Peterhead

E06 Inverness to the Cairngorms

E07 Cullen to Cawdor

E08 Invergordon to Tain

E09 Lairg to Caithness

E10 Thurso to Orkney

E11 Tynemouth to Bardon Mill

E12 Newcastle to Lynemouth

E13 Morpeth to Amble

E14 Alnmouth to Bamburgh

E15 Farne Islands to Berwick-upon-Tweed

E16 Fairlie to Port Glasgow

E17 Helensburgh to Connel

E18 Oban to Staffa

E19 Fort William to Glenfinnan

E20 Mallaig to Isle of Lewis and Harris

E21 Avonmouth to Six Bells

E22 Barry Island to Pyle

E23 Port Talbot to Pembrey Burry Port

E24 Carmarthen to Pembroke

E25 Milford Haven to Fishguard

Geordie Hospital

El deseo

Infrarouge

Terror

Kumbaya!

La primera vuelta al mundo

Paris Hilton's My New BFF

Soho Theatre Live

Cartoon Sushi

I See Dead People

Bill Mollison - Global Gardener

Semantic Error - Special

Connie Chung Tonight

Des Christoffel von Grimmelshausen abenteuerlicher Simplizissimus

Drug Wars

Yellowstone: Wildest Winter to Blazing Summer

Luz de luna

First Time In Africa: Backpacking From Cape Town To Victoria Falls

Polska z góry

E01 Dunbar to Edinburgh

E02 Leith to Culross

E03 Stirling to East Neuk

E04 St Andrews to Stonehaven

E05 Forvie to Peterhead

E06 Inverness to the Cairngorms

E07 Cullen to Cawdor

E08 Invergordon to Tain

E09 Lairg to Caithness

E10 Thurso to Orkney

E11 Tynemouth to Bardon Mill

E12 Newcastle to Lynemouth

E13 Morpeth to Amble

E14 Alnmouth to Bamburgh

E15 Farne Islands to Berwick-upon-Tweed

E16 Fairlie to Port Glasgow

E17 Helensburgh to Connel

E18 Oban to Staffa

E19 Fort William to Glenfinnan

E20 Mallaig to Isle of Lewis and Harris

E21 Avonmouth to Six Bells

E22 Barry Island to Pyle

E23 Port Talbot to Pembrey Burry Port

E24 Carmarthen to Pembroke

E25 Milford Haven to Fishguard