Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out: Scottish Borders (Channel 5 Friday 27 October 2023)

Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out: Scottish Borders airs Friday 27 October 2023 on Channel 5

What can we expect from this episode

The lovely Scottish Borders and neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway are on Susan’s itinerary while she is back on home soil. Susan takes her motorhome, Helen, on a trip filled with both new experiences and nostalgic visits to old haunts.

Susan learns about Jim Clark, a local hero and one of the greatest race car drivers of all time, as she drives outside of Duns. Clark was the first Scottish driver to win the Formula One World Championship. It seems that his early exposure to driving, sparked by his background in farming, has turned into a lifelong passion. Jim’s cousin Doug gives Susan a ride in Jim’s gorgeous Lotus Cortina from 1965 and she discovers a fully choreographed tribute to the great man along the way. The musical adaptation of his story is a smashing success.

Susan travels to the picturesque Scottish countryside to visit the northernmost amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, located at the foot of the Leaderfoot Viaduct. Amazing discoveries are shared with Susan, and she tries her hand at using a ballista, one of the Roman army’s most potent offensive weapons. The professionals make it look easy, but Susan may be sticking around for a while.

Susan stops in Galashiels, home of the Great Tapestry of Scotland, to learn about the country’s past. From Mary, Queen of Scots, to Billy Connolly, no aspect of Scotland’s history is left untouched in this, one of the largest community arts projects in the world. It’s exciting to witness, but Susan is expected to pitch in as well. After all, her tiny van is now a historical footnote in Scotland.

Peebles is one of Susan’s favourite places because it is home to a chocolatier who is widely regarded as among the best in the world. Almost immediately, she is offered a master class, but quickly learns that nothing less than perfection will do. Susan discovers the bittersweet nature of chocolate as her efforts are evaluated. But the end result is something to savour.

Susan travels from the Scottish Borders to the equally beautiful region of Dumfries and Galloway. This is where she will get to see the world’s oldest working camera obscura, which is incredible in and of itself, but even more so when you learn that it is rumoured to have inspired Peter Pan to fly. At last, she reaches Wigtown, the “national book town” of Scotland. But she isn’t here just to look around; she’s here for an opportunity that can only be had here: the chance to manage a bookstore during their vacation. Susan’s wishes have come true, but only if she can resist the temptation to distribute the books freely.

It has been a fantastic Grand Day Out, full of new experiences and old favourites.

Susan Calman hits the road in a vintage campervan to discover some of Britain’s most scenically stunning road trips. Taking in the Lake District, Devon and Cornwall, Wales, Yorkshire, the Cotswolds and her native Scotland, Susan explores the breathtakingly beautiful, quintessentially British places and meet some amazing characters along the way.

Season 6 Episode 4

When can we see the episode

Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out: Scottish Borders airs Friday 27 October 2023 at 20:00 on Channel 5

Featured image credit: Channel 5