Michael Portillo takes far north line to Thurso in latest railway TV series
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TV presenter Michael Portillo reaches Thurso this evening on the latest leg of his exploration of Britain's rail routes.
The former Conservative politician has been touring the Highlands and Moray in Great Coastal Railway Journeys, being screened throughout the week on BBC Two at 6.30pm.
In the latest half-hour episode he ventures to the end of the far north line to the country's northernmost railway station. At Spittal Mains quarry, Michael learns to split a flagstone by hand with a heavy hammer.
On his way to Caithness, the presenter visits the Loch Shin area in Sutherland to search for freshwater pearl mussels. He also stops off at Dunrobin Castle station and finds out about the Highland Clearances.
In Friday's programme, Michael heads down to Scrabster to cross the Pentland Firth. His tour of Orkney takes in Stromness, Kirkwall, Scapa Flow and North Ronaldsay.
Recent episodes have featured Culloden battlefield, the Strathspey Steam Railway, Loch Morlich, the Findhorn eco-community, Fort George and Cawdor Castle. Michael also had a trip to Carrbridge, home of the World Porridge Making Championships.
Travelling through Easter Ross and on to Sutherland, he visited the Cromarty Firth, Nigg Energy Park, Glenmorangie distillery and the Dornoch Firth.
Each episode of Great Coastal Railway Journeys is watched by around 1.3 million viewers within the UK. The series can also be seen online on the BBC iPlayer.
