Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Great Coastal Railway Journeys is a TV show on BBC2. Michael Portillo travels around the British Isles by train. The program has been available since 2025. A total of 59 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in December 2025.
Last broadcast:31/12/2025 at 08:35
Last episode
25:00
25:00Great Coastal Railway Journeys
Michael Portillo reaches the terminus of the West Highland Line at Mallaig.
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25:00Michael Portillo's adventure reaches the west coast of Scotland where, aboard the Jacobite Express, he crosses the awe-inspiring Glenfinnan Viaduct.
35:00Onboard the West Highland Line, Michael Portillo explores the stunning scenery of Scotland's west coast and islands as he heads to the Hebridean archipelago.
25:00Michael Portillo continues his exploration of Scotland's spectacular west coast, travelling from the town of Helensburgh to Connel Bridge.
25:00Michael Portillo sets off on the first leg of a trip from the Firth of Clyde to Lewis and Harris.
25:00Michael Portillo's rail trek along the coast of Northumberland continues towards the Farne Islands.
35:00Michael Portillo travels the length of the Northumbrian coastline, and visits the mighty Bamburgh Castle.
25:00Michael Portillo explores the wild and rugged coastline of Northumberland by rail, beginning in Morpeth.
25:00Michael Portillo heads from Newcastle to Lynemouth, and is intrigued to hear of its part in Newcastle's early industrial development.
25:00Michael Portillo sets off from Tynemouth on the first leg of a trip to Berwick, hearing about a tragedy that inspired a coastal rescue service.
35:00Michael Portillo heads for the ferry port of Scrabster to cross the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands.
25:00The latest stage of Michael Portillo's trek takes him past lochs and castles on the Far North Line to Britain's northernmost railway station at Thurso.
25:00Michael Portillo's Scottish coastal railway journey reaches Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth, the third great inlet on the northeast coast of the Highlands.
25:00Michael Portillo travels by train north from Inverness to the Orkney Islands. Beginning on the Moray Firth, Michael admires the Cullen Viaduct.
35:00Michael Portillo crosses the Culloden Viaduct aboard the Caledonian Sleeper to arrive bright and early in Inverness.
25:00Michael Portillo's Scottish railway journey reaches Aberdeen, from where he heads out to Forvie National Nature Reserve.
25:00Michael Portillo visits Leuchars, known nowadays on the railways as Leuchars for St Andrews, which is Scotland's oldest university.
25:00Michael Portillo begins this leg of his Scottish railway journey from Dunbar to Peterhead in the beautiful medieval city of Stirling.
35:00Michael Portillo continues his Scottish coastal journey along the Firth of Forth at the railway engineering icon for which it's famous, the Forth Bridge.
25:00Michael Portillo travels around the British Isles by train and learns about the challenges the coastal regions face, starting at Siccar Point in Berwickshire.