Great Coastal Railway Journeys: Season 3, Episode 1

3 - 1: Axminster to Budleigh Salterton

Michael Portillo embarks on another journey exploring the shores of Britain. His first journey takes him from the magnificent Jurassic Coast to the rugged tip of the Lizard Peninsula and beyond to the spectacular Isles of Scilly.

In the seaside town of Lyme Regis, Michael traces the remarkable discoveries of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning. He braves the chill below ground to explore the 40-acre Beer Quarry Caves, which have been active for two millennia.

On the eastern edge of Exeter, at the headquarters of the Meteorological Office, Michael steps into the TV studio to present the weather forecast. And he visits a 1,000-year-old water mill in Otterton that still grinds flour.