Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Lydney to Newport

Great British Railway JourneysSeries 3
Episode 13 of 25

Michael Portillo sees why the Victorians fell for the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey and discovers Britain's hidden micro-mines within the Forest of Dean.

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what remains of Bradshaw's Britain.

All this week he is travelling west, from Oxford in the heart of England, through the Malvern Hills and into Wales, taking in the unique Victorian heritage of the South Wales coastline.

Today Michael discovers Britain's hidden micro-mines within the Forest of Dean, sees why the Victorians fell for the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey and uncovers the railway engineering behind the industrial icon that is Newport Transporter Bridge.

29 minutes

Last on

Wed 22 Oct 201416:50
BBC Two

More episodes

Previous

Hartlebury to Great MalvernSeries 3

Next

Cardiff to BreconSeries 3

See all episodes from Great British Railway Journeys

Credits

PresenterMichael Portillo
Series ProducerJay Taylor
Executive ProducerJohn Comerford

Broadcasts

  • Wed 18 Jan 201218:30
    BBC HD & BBC Two
  • Tue 29 May 201202:00
    BBC One except Northern Ireland
  • Fri 1 Jun 201201:05
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Wed 21 Aug 201318:30
    BBC Two Scotland
  • Wed 21 Aug 201319:30
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Mon 25 Nov 201319:30
    BBC Four
  • Tue 26 Nov 201301:50
    BBC Four
  • Wed 22 Oct 201416:50
    BBC Two

Steam railway programmes on BBC iPlayer

Steam railway programmes on BBC iPlayer

A collection of programmes from the BBC archives on the beauty of steam locomotives.