Great Coastal Railway Journeys: Michael Portillo says Welsh train ride is a 'feast for the eyes'

Michael loved exploring Eryri National Park and learning about the wildlife at Anglesey Sea Zoo in the latest episode

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19:37, 17 APR 2024

Michael Portillo waves from a train travelling through beautiful North Wales — Michael Portillo said the North Wales scenery is a 'feast for the eyes' (Image: BBC/screengrab)

Michael Portillo was full of praise for a North Wales train journey which he branded a "feast for the eyes". In the latest episode of BBC One's Great Coastal Railway Journeys, Michael took viewers on an epic trip on one of Britain's most beloved heritage lines - the Welsh Highland Railway - and appeared in awe of North Wales' magnificent scenery.

The series, which can be watched in-full on BBC iPlayer, sees Michael embark on some of Britain's most impressive train journeys and soak-up the history, architecture and culture of towns and villages across the nation. In Wednesday's episode, Michael took the Welsh Highland Railway through captivating Eryri National Park, which he referred to by its English name Snowdonia, through historic Caernarfon, and on to Ynys Môn/Anglesey.

As his journey began, Michael couldn't believe the beauty of the scenes around him. "It's one of the greatest heritage lines," Michael said on-board the train. "The panorama is a feast for the eyes.... This so pretty."

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As his train ascended uphill through Eryri, viewers were spoilt with shot after shot of beautiful views. Michael made his first stop at Beddgelert and soon took a stroll with a local historian and told viewers all about the area's connections to renowned scientist Charles Darwin.

"The station is a gateway to the spectacular landscape of Snowdonia National Park," he said. "Breath-taking geology inspired one of science's greatest thinkers after a useful field trip in 1831. Charles Darwin transformed our understanding of biology with his Theory of Evolution."

Michael Portillo on the Welsh Highland Railway — Michael Portillo took viewers with him on an epic journey on the Welsh Highland Railway (Image: BBC/screengrab)

The Welsh Highland Railway through Eryri — The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways stretch for 40 miles through the glorious Eryri/Snowdonia National Park

Viewers learnt Charles Darwin enjoyed searching for fossils in the national park and it was this that inspired him to delve deeper into evolution and explore how creatures adapt to their environments over time. Michael then returned to Beddgelert station and boarded the train to historic Caernarfon and, after briefly showing the majestic castle there, he travelled further to the Menai Suspension Bridge, stopping there for a while to marvel at its ahead-of-the-times infrastructure, before taking the train over the bridge and on to Anglesey.

Michael praised the structure and beauty of the Menai Bridge (Image: BBC/screengrab)

Beautiful Eryri National Park — Viewers were spoilt with incredible views of Eryri National Park (Image: BBC/screengrab)

There, Michael marvelled at another bridge - the Britannia Bridge - before visiting Anglesey Sea Zoo and joining marine biologists in releasing a conga eel back to the sea. Throughout his trip, he continued to marvel at the stunning views of the North Wales landscape and appeared to recommend the region to visitors from across the UK.

The latest series of Great Coastal Railway Journeys is on BBC iPlayer and is available to watch now. Wednesday's episode with the Welsh Highland Railway is series 3, ep 8.