Michael discovers how the railways helped train commandos at Lochailort in World War II and explores the history of the highland crofters in Skye.

Michael investigates the mysterious parallel roads of Glenroy and finds out how the Victorians put a weather observatory on the top of Ben Nevis.

Michael Portillo discovers how trains spread the word about Oban whisky, hears about the struggle to build a railway across Rannoch Moor and visits Corrour.

Michael Portillo explores the historic Dumbarton shipyards that built the Cutty Sark, visits Loch Lomond, and goes hunting for gold in Scotland's mountains.

Michael visits the hometown of Robbie Burns, finds out how to make haggis, and discovers how the railways transformed the game of golf in Prestwick.

Michael Portillo discovers how the railway has changed down the years. This episode finds him in Kent, rolling along the scenic south coast to Hastings.

Michael explores a secret port that ran the first train ferries to France carrying vital supplies during World War I and visits Walmer Castle.

Michael finds out how Canterbury Cathedral was saved during the Baedeker raids of World War II and explores the origins of a seaside swim in Margate.

Michael explores the life of Victorian hop pickers and finds out about Maidstone's revolutionary paper industry.

Michael Portillo visits the Royal Observatory at Greenwich to see how the railways standardised time and explores the historic dockyards at Chatham.

Michael Portillo learns the secrets of stilton cheese and finds out how trains transformed the traditional British sport of fox hunting.

Michael Portillo finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry in the textile town of Batley, and meets a descendant of George Bradshaw.

Michael Portillo takes a Turkish bath in the famous spa town of Harrogate and explores the exemplary Victorian village of Saltaire.

Michael visits the historic Durham Cathedral, sees one of the first locomotives in Darlington and takes a Dracula tour in Whitby, before ending his journey on a steam train across the North Yorkshire moors.

Michael visits the first locomotive factory in the world, opened by George Stephenson. He also searches for the lost pit village of Marsden in South Shields and is entertained by a comic troupe of rapper sword dancers in Chester-le-Street.

Michael Portillo takes the train to the top of Wales's highest peak, Mount Snowdon, witnesses the revival of Anglesey's sea salt industry and discovers how the railways transformed the tiny port of Holyhead.

Michael Portillo explores the Conwy valley, stopping at Britain's first artists' colony at Betws-y-Coed, visiting the Victorian slate capital of Blaenau Ffestiniog and taking a steam train down to the harbour at Porthmadog.

Michael Portillo tours Chester's Roman remains, discovers a secret World War II chemical weapons plant at Rhydmwyn and goes mussel fishing on the Conwy estuary.

Michael Portillo visits the world's first iron bridge at Coalbrookdale, explores the historic Chirk Castle and has a go at making traditional Cheshire cheese.

Michael Portillo tastes the Victorian drink perry, encounters a pedigree Hereford bull and visits the world's first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury.

Michael Portillo drives a heritage diesel train, finds out why Norfolk black turkeys appeared on the Christmas menu in Bradshaw's day and samples some Cromer crab.

Michael Portillo goes fishing with the last eel trapper on the Fens at Ely and visits one of the great triumphs of 19th-century engineering, the Denver Sluice.

On a journey from Brighton to Cromer, Michael Portillo visits the government arms factory at Enfield and discovers how the trains transformed Newmarket's races.

Michael Portillo finds out about a funeral service running coffins from Waterloo to Brookwood Cemetery and explores the changing fortunes of London's docks.

Michael Portillo finds out about Brighton's aquarium, explores the underground quarries of Godstone and discovers the wonders of the Crystal Palace.