Former MP Michael Portillo is in Cumbria as part of his latest series – BBC’s Great Coastal Railway Journeys.
The British journalist begins his trek at ‘one of the most magnificent bridges on this coastal route.’
Mr Portillo begins at Ulverston and crosses the River Leven viaduct, which he describes as having spectacular views of Morecambe Bay to the left and the vast channel of the river to the right.’
His first destination is the Ulverston Gateway, where he describes Windermere as ‘moody, fanciful, and inspiring.’
He discusses how the Lakeland location has inspired many writers, and he is a personal favourite of Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons. Geraint Lewis of the Arthur Ransome Trust then tells Mr Portillo how the lake had a’spiritual influence’ on the author and how he fictionalises Windermere and Coniston by combining the two.
As he proceeds along the shore, he compares how the ‘placid seas’ have inspired people in various ways, including ’emboldening engineers and daredevils.’
He then tells the heartbreaking stories of how Sir Henry Segrave, a pioneer in land and water speed records, died on Windermere, and how fellow record holder Donald Campbell died on Coniston, which he observed on television.
Stopping at Barrow train station, he tells how Barrow ‘shows Cumbria a new face’ and how its fells are artificial enormous slag heaps built by decades of usage for iron and steelworks. The town, which was once the finest steelmaker in the world, is still utilised to construct submarines for the United Kingdom.
He treks up to Black Combe to Silecroft after leaving the Furness Peninsula, where he encounters fell runner Wendy Dodds. Now in her 70s, the great endurance athlete continues to conquer England’s highest peaks, highlighting how map skill and utilising your ‘noddle’ are just as crucial as fitness for success.
Continuing with the issue of geography, Mr Portillo travels north to Ravenglass, where the first public small gauge railway was built in 1975. The former MP is informed by volunteers and train drivers how the little line was built to negotiate the various terrain. He then utilises it to take a ‘memorable excursion’ to the well-known Lake District National Park, where he describes how his next episode would focus on Sellafield, Cumberland sausages, and wading.
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Jon is a regular contributor to several outdoor living and lifestyle news publications, concentrating on The Lake District. Now living in Glenridding, Jon studied journalism at Edinburgh University.
