Michael Portillo’s brightly-colored trousers are back on the tracks, this time chugging through the scenic beauty and industrial grit of Cumbria and Dumfriesshire for a new series of “Great British Railway Journeys.” This Monday’s episode, “Windermere to Sellafield,” finds Portillo starting his exploration in the Lake District National Park, Bradshaw’s guidebook in hand, ready to uncover the region’s dramatic geological past.
But this isn’t just a ground-level tour. Portillo takes to the skies in a gyroplane, offering viewers a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the lakes and fells. Back on terra firma, he visits the National School of Forestry in Ambleside, chatting with aspiring foresters, and takes a ride on the heritage Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.
The journey concludes at Sellafield, a site steeped in nuclear history. Here, Portillo gets a rare opportunity to drive a train specifically designed to transport spent nuclear fuel, a stark contrast to the tranquil beauty of the Lake District.
This episode encapsulates the series’ unique appeal: the juxtaposition of natural splendor with the marks of human industry, all connected by the enduring threads of British railway history. Tune in to BBC Two at 6:30 PM on Monday, April 14th, for a journey through Cumbria’s fascinating contrasts.
