Armed with his Bradshaw’s Handbook, Michael Portillo arrives in the sailing haven of Lymington where he makes a lifesaving discovery. Exploring Dorchester’s literary landscape, he finds how the coming of the railways inspired the work of the region’s greatest writer: Thomas Hardy. Weaving his way to Axminster, Michael tries his hand at carpet making. His last stop is Exmouth, home to Francis Danby, a forgotten Victorian landscape artist.
Great British Railway Journeys was broadcast on SBS ONE at Sunday 10 February 2019, 06:35.