Great British Railway Journeys

Great British Railway Journeys S16 E06-E10 (1080p, soft English subtitles)


All aboard! Armed with his trusty Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo explores the UK the railways made. Uncover hidden gems and fascinating communities from across the nation.


E06 Windermere to Sellafield

Michael Portillo begins a railway tour of the spectacular border counties of Cumbria and Dumfriesshire, starting in the stunning Lake District National Park, where he discovers the violent geological history of volcanoes and colliding continents that shaped this breathtaking landscape. For an aerial view, he takes to the skies in a gyroplane - part plane, part helicopter. In Ambleside, at the National School of Forestry, Michael meets the trainees aspiring to become qualified foresters, and a visit to the heritage Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway charts the region’s transformation from mining to tourism. Finally, Michael explores Sellafield, a key site in the UK’s nuclear history, and drives a train normally used to transport spent nuclear fuel across one of the largest private railway sidings in Europe.



E07 St Bees to Grange-over-Sands

Michael Portillo’s railway tour of Cumbria and Dumfriesshire continues as he travels along the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line. Just outside Egremont, he visits Florence Mine, an old iron ore mine now transformed into an arts centre that produces vibrant pigments from its haematite. In Ulverston, he discovers the cradle of Quakerism at Swarthmoor Hall, where secret meetings were once held by Quaker founder George Fox.

Michael is invited to join a Quaker meeting. The journey wraps up in the Lyth Valley, where damsons are the local delicacy. Michael whips up a damson clafoutis.


E08 Maryport to Penrith

Michael Portillo’s railway journey through Cumbria and Dumfriesshire heads to the hills as he follows in the footsteps of the Lakeland poets. In Keswick, he retraces the adventurous walks of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, discovering how one of his legendary routes has been used as a form of therapy. Michael visits the striking ruins of Lowther Castle - once a grand gothic estate, now reborn as an extraordinary garden. With 18 million visitors a year, the Lake District National Park is challenged with balancing tourism and conservation. Michael joins a local litter-picking group who want to educate visitors. At Ullswater, he discovers the native Herdwick and Rough Fell sheep, whose wool is finding eco-friendly uses today, and tries his hand at herding the flock with dependable sheepdog Pick.


E09 Aspatria to Carlisle

Michael Portillo’s railway journey through Cumbria and Dumfriesshire takes him to the rolling countryside around Aspatria to meet a couple who swapped their old life for organic dairy farming. Embracing regenerative principles, they’ve traded quantity for quality - alongside their beloved cow named Taylor Swift. At a hi-tech creamery, Michael discovers how their sustainable milk becomes cheddar cheese for supermarkets nationwide. Arriving at the historic railway hub of Carlisle, Michael discovers a vast Roman structure. His journey ends in the imposing borderlands fortress of Carlisle Castle, where intriguing 15th-century graffiti offers a glimpse into the minds of medieval soldiers.


E10 Dumfries to Auchinleck

Michael concludes his journey from Cumbria to Dumfriesshire by crossing the Solway Firth into Scotland, where he visits the beautifully preserved last home of Scotland’s greatest poet, Robert Burns. At his mausoleum, he reflects on Burns’s enduring legacy before enjoying one of his songs performed in the Scots language. Further north into the Lowther Hills, Michael strikes gold in the rich geological landscape around Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village, and rides a charming heritage industrial railway across the stunning terrain. The journey ends at the spectacular Palladian mansion of Dumfries House, home to a world-class Chippendale furniture collection and the headquarters of the King’s Foundation. In a traditional skills workshop, Michael discovers why he was never destined to be a builder.



First broadcast: 14 April 2025

Duration: 30 minutes per episode

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