Grand Tours of Scotland, Series 1

With a Victorian guidebook in his hands, historian Paul Murton travels the country and traces the changes that have taken place since the birth of Scottish tourism 200 years ago. For centuries, "north of the border" had been regarded as a place to avoid and early travellers complained about the savage terrain and uncouth habits of the natives. To find out what changed to make Scotland an internationally celebrated tourist destination, Paul recreates six journeys suggested by a well-thumbed copy of 'Black’s Picturesque Guide to Scotland'. Travelling by age-old modes of transport including a horse-drawn caravan and a steam train, Paul explores the most fascinating parts of the country and follows in the footsteps of the first tourists to come Scotland, that has been charming visitors ever since.