Draft:Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Great Coastal Railway Journeys is a BBC Two documentary series presented by Michael Portillo. The series was first broadcast on BBC Two in January and February 2022. In the first series, Portillo travelled the Scottish coasts from Dunbar to the Orkney Islands.

Episodes

Series 1 (2022)

Dunbar to the Orkney Islands

The first journey starts in Dunbar and finishes in the Orkney Islands.

No.	Episode	First broadcast
1	"Dunbar to Edinburgh"	24 January 2022 (2022-01-24)
Michael Portillo begins a series of coastal railway journeys around the British Isles, starting in Siccar Point, visits Bass Rock, and finishing at Holyrood House.
2	"Leith to Culross"	25 January 2022 (2022-01-25)
Michael Portillo continues his journey at the iconic Forth Bridge, before heading to tour the Royal Yacht Britannia and visits The Helix to see The Kelpies and speaks to their sculptor in America.
3	"Stirling to East Neuk"	26 January 202 (202-01-26)
Michael Portillo travels from the medieval city of Stirling through Perth and Scone Palace, the historic crowning place of Scottish monarchs, and into Kirkcaldy. At St Monans, he discovers the old industry o salt-making is being revived.
4	"St Andrews to Stonehaven"	27 January 2022 (2022-01-27)
Michael Portillo visits St Andrews, home to Scotland’s oldest university, in eastern Fife, before heading to the vibrant city of Dundee via the Tay Railway Bridge and the harbour town of Stonehaven. Michael visits the Dunnicaer Sea Stack to learn about the Picts and their culture.
5	"Forvie to Peterhead"	28 January 2022 (2022-01-28)
From Aberdeen, Michael visits Forvie National Nature Reserve. At Dyce, Michael trains for a helicopter making a controlled descent into the sea. At Peterhead, he sees the traditional shout fish auction and discovers how the industry is coping after Brexit.
6	"Inverness to The Cairngorms"	31 January 2022 (2022-01-31)
Michael Portillo crosses the Culloden Viaduct aboard the Caledonian Sleeper to visit the coastal city of Inverness. From there, he visits the Culloden battlefield. Michael moves on to visit Carrbridge, home of the World Porridge Making Championships. He then helps the crew of the Strathspey Steam Railway. At Loch Morlich, he learns about writer Nan Shepherd.
7	"Cullen to Cawdor"	1 February 2022 (2022-02-01)
On the Moray Firth, Michael views Cullen viaduct before learning about Cullen skink soup. At Ardersier, Michael visits Fort George and speaks to members of the Black Watch, part of the Royal Highland Regiment. At Cawdor Castle, Michael learns about Macbeth.
8	"Invergordon to Tain"	2 February 2022 (2022-02-02)
At Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth, Michael visits a moored oil drilling rig. At Fearn, he visits Nigg Bay and it's Global Energy Park. At Dornoch Firth, Michael joins Herriot Watt University’s team effort to establish 200,000 oysters at Dornoch. Lastly, Michael tours the Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery.
9	"Lairg to Caithness"	3 February 2022 (2022-02-03)
On the banks of Loch Shin, Michael searches for the endangered freshwater pearl mussel. He then travels to Dunrobin Castle station by the River Fleet to learn about the second Duke of Sutherland and his role in the Highland Clearances. At Spittal Mains quarry, Caithness, Michael learns to split a flagstone by hand with a heavy hammer.
10	"Thurso to Orkney"	4 February 2022 (2022-02-04)
From Thurso in Caithness, Michael heads for the ferry port of Scrabster to cross the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands. In Stromness harbour, he joins a diving expedition to the former British naval base at Scapa Flow. From Mainland, Michael flies to North Ronaldsay, and helps to patch up the 200-year-old sheep dyke. Back on Mainland, Michael learnn how the sea stack, Yesnaby Castle, inspired composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.