World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys

Channel 5, 8pm

All aboard for a new ten-part run of the show that takes us on railway journeys across the globe. The velvety tones of Bill Nighy provide the narration and in future weeks we can look forward to glimpses of the view from the train as we pass through California, Namibia and Italy.

But the series begins closer to home, coast to coast across Scotland. The starting point is the tiny, timeless fishing village of Kyle of Lochalsh on the far western reaches, from where the line heads east across the Highlands. Then we discover two great sources of riches for Scotland: the area in and around Speyside, steeped in the industry and traditions of whisky, while in Aberdeen there are signs almost everywhere of the effect of the oil boom – even if the clock is now ticking fast for profits from fossil fuels. )))))