Great Coastal Railway Journeys

S1 E1 - 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.

Jan 24, 2022 • 30m

S1 E2 - 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.

Jan 25, 2022 • 30m

S1 E3 - 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.

Jan 26, 2022 • 30m

S1 E4 - 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.

Jan 27, 2022 • 30m

S1 E5 - 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.

Jan 28, 2022 • 30m

S1 E6 - 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.

Jan 31, 2022 • 30m

S1 E7 - 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.

Feb 1, 2022 • 30m

S1 E8 - 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.

Feb 2, 2022 • 30m

S1 E9 - 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.

Feb 3, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 4, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 7, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 8, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 9, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 10, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 11, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 14, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 15, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 16, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 17, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 18, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 21, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 22, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 23, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 24, 2022 • 30m

S1 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.

Feb 25, 2022 • 30m