For over two centuries a remarkable collection of Scots blazed a trail into unknown corners of the world. Their epic journeys in the harshest of conditions helped forge nations and draw the maps of three continents.

From the frozen wastes of Canada to the heart of Africa and across the oceans to the parched deserts of Australia, Scottish explorers have been at the forefront of expanding the frontiers of the world in which we live. This is the story of how they did it.

Africa.
For over one hundred years, Scottish explorers were instrumental in opening up Africa to western eyes. This film profiles some of the most remarkable of these explorers, including Mungo Park, Alexander Gordon Laing, Hugh Clapperton, and John Kirk. From Timbuktu to Zanzibar, the Scottish influence on African history is profound and enduring. Show less