Great Coastal Railway Journeys S03 E01-E05 (1080p, soft English subtitles)

All aboard! Weaving through charming seaside towns, historic landmarks and natural wonders, Michael Portillo explores the coastal communities the railways made.

E01 Axminster to Budleigh Salterton
Michael Portillo embarks on another journey exploring the shores of Britain. His first journey takes him from the magnificent Jurassic Coast to the rugged tip of the Lizard Peninsula and beyond to the spectacular Isles of Scilly. In the seaside town of Lyme Regis, Michael traces the remarkable discoveries of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning. He braves the chill below ground to explore the 40-acre Beer Quarry Caves, which have been active for two millennia. On the eastern edge of Exeter, at the headquarters of the Meteorological Office, Michael steps into the TV studio to present the weather forecast. And he visits a 1,000-year-old water mill in Otterton that still grinds flour.

E02 Exeter to Plymouth
Michael Portillo reaches Devon’s county town, Exeter, dominated since the Middle Ages by its magnificent gothic cathedral. Michael joins the stonemasons charged with conserving the intricate medieval Beer stonework. From the top of the cathedral roof with its panoramic views, Michael descends around five metres below street level to explore a 425-metre network of tunnels known as the Exeter Passages. Back in the cathedral library, Michael inspects one of the oldest surviving anthologies of English poetry in the world, the Exeter Book, written around 1,000 years ago. Plymouth is Michael’s last stop on this leg. The city has a rich maritime and military history, is home to the largest naval base in western Europe, and is a world-leading centre for marine engineering.

E03 Tintagel to St Austell
Crossing the River Tamar via Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s magnificent Royal Albert Bridge, Michael leaves Devon for Cornwall and the rugged Atlantic coast of its northern shore. The ruins of Tintagel Castle emerge from the mist and spray of the sea, and the legend of King Arthur is all about. At the 18th-century landscaped park of Boconnoc, Michael meets an artist who captures Cornwall’s natural wonders in paint and strives to protect them from environmental damage. Fortified by a crab sandwich in Newquay, Michael heads to St Agnes, where, on a headland above the village, he joins the Aggie Boys Choir to hear rousing sea shanties. Michael’s next destination, St Austell, leads him to the sandy coves and bays of the southern coast of the county and the beautiful Lost Gardens of Heligan.

E04 St Mawes to Porthcurno
Michael reaches the pretty Cornish fishing village of St Mawes, today an exclusive holiday destination for connoisseurs of yachts, fine food and luxury hotels. Michael takes to the waves in a glorious classic wooden racing yacht. At Coverack, Michael joins the team from the Cornish Seaweed Company on a harvesting mission. A ride on the footplate of the wonderful heritage Helston Railway delivers Michael to Truthall Halt, from which he tramps through the undergrowth to discover a fabulous granite viaduct ripe for restoration. From Penzance, Michael heads for the rugged coastline at Porthcurno, where a spectacular amphitheatre has been built into the cliffs.

E05 Isles of Scilly
Michael Portillo nears the end of his railway adventure tracking the rugged coast of south west England. He finishes in the westernmost reaches of England, in the Scillonian archipelago. From Penzance railway station, he makes his way to the town’s heliport to board a helicopter to the island of Tresco, two-and-a-half miles long and with a population of 150. Crossing the channel to Hugh Town on St Mary’s, the largest and most populated of the Isles of Scilly, Michael meets a former councillor to learn what makes life on the islands unique. Venturing to the north of the island with an archaeologist to guide him, he discovers the rich prehistory of the islands. Back on Tresco, Michael finds preparations underway for an important weekly event of the summer months: gig racing.

First broadcast: April 2024  
Duration:  30 minutes per episode    
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