From Gold Mountain to the Silvery Tay and Tales of the River Bank

Paul explores the upper reaches of the mighty River Tay, beginning with a flight in a microlight over the river’s source, high above Ben Lui. Returning to earth, Paul goes underground to explore an active gold mine beside the river. Canoeing downstream, he meets the chief of Clan Macnab on a sacred island in the river.

A boat trip on Loch Tay recalls the glory days of steamers, before Paul meets up with experimental archaeologists building a replica Iron Age village on the shores of the loch. In an ancient woodland, he meets up with a tree lover who makes fabulous furniture from the oak that grows beside the river.

Paul continues his journey down the Tay from the white-water rapids of Grandtully through the fair city of Perth to the briny firth. Beneath an ancient oak near Dunkeld, Paul meets a man who plays the music of Niel Gow on a fiddle once owned by the composer himself.

At a riverside villa, Paul learns about author Beatrix Potter and the inspiration behind the characters of Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggy-winkle. Continuing downstream, he hears of a monster salmon and gets excitingly close to a nest of osprey chicks. In Perth, Paul listens to the authentic poetic voice of William Soutar, before meeting some rare moustachioed avians. Journey’s end is high above the widening river beside a folly that resembles a castle on the River Rhine.