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Grand Tours of Scotland

Documentaries

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Factual: History

Factual: Travel

Paul Murton explores the parts of Scotland that have charmed visitors for two centuries.

Paul Murton explores the most fascinating parts of the country that have charmed visitors for more than 200 years.

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BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

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Scotland

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England

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Grand Tours of Scotland: Series 1

Paul Murton

Kathryn Ross

Grand Tours of Scotland: Series 1: Episode 2: The Sporting Life

The Sporting Life

Episode 2

Episode 2: The Sporting Life

Series 1

BBC One - Grand Tours of Scotland, Series 1, The Sporting Life

Paul Murton travels from Dunkeld via the Tay river to Balmoral on an 1870s tricycle.

Paul Murton follows in the footsteps of Scotland's first tourists. In the spirit of Victorian manliness, he travels from Dunkeld to Balmoral on an 1870s tricycle.

Paul Murton follows in the footsteps of the first tourists to Scotland. With a Victorian guidebook in his hands, he travels across the country tracing the changes that have taken place since the birth of Scottish tourism 200 years ago.

For centuries, Scotland was regarded as a place to avoid, and early travellers complained about the terrible weather, bad food, poor roads and the uncouth habits of the natives. To find out what changed to make Scotland an internationally celebrated tourist destination, Paul recreates six Scottish tours suggested by a well-thumbed, 19th-century copy of Black's Picturesque Guide to Scotland.

In this episode, Paul discovers how 19th-century Scotland's mountains and glens were a playground for rich gentlemen eager to test themselves against the forces of nature. In the spirit of Victorian manliness, Paul makes the journey using a conveyance of the period, an original 1870s tricycle. Enjoying the dubious delights of his unusual mode of transport, he travels from Dunkeld along the banks of Britain's longest river, the Tay, before climbing the mountains to Royal Deeside. From Braemar he travels to the iconic destination of Balmoral, before attempting to cycle one of Scotland's most famous mountain passes, the Lairig Ghru.

Paul Murton traces the changes that have taken place since the birth of Scottish tourism.

Paul Murton travels across the country and traces the changes that have taken place since the birth of Scottish tourism.

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Grand Tours of Scotland

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Episode 2: The Sporting Life

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