Berwick-upon-Tweed to Aberdeen
The east coast from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Aberdeen is Scotland's Capital
coast. Events that started here have shaped the British Isles as we know
it today.
Berwick-upon-Tweed - at war with Russia?
 In
the 13th Century Berwick was a thriving port. England and Scotland were
constantly at war and both wanted Berwick.
In 1502, the Treaty of Perpetual Peace was signed bringing and end to
the fighting. To stop the squabbling over Berwick, the town was given
a semi-independent status.
 But
how did its special status lead to war with the Russian Empire?
When Britain declared war on Russia in 1854 Berwick was given a special
mention in the declaration of war but when peace was declared in 1856
Berwick was missed off - so are they still at war?
Neil Oliver joins Chris Green to figure out if Berwick is still fighting
the Crimean War.
St Abbs - Wildlife Reserve
 Near
St Abbs is a spectacular marine reserve - the only official one in Scotland.
Cathedral Rock consists of two huge underwater archways. A combination
of the cold water current from the Arctic and the warm water of the Gulf
Stream have created a huge number of marine habitats here.
Miranda Krestovnikoff delves into this wildlife sanctuary with underwater
photographer Lawson Wood to see the variety of life living here.
Bass Rock
 In
the 17th Century Bass Rock was the site of one of Scotland's most notorious
prisons - but it has now been taken over by gannets which cover the rock.
Getting onto the island is just as difficult as getting off - as Neil
Oliver discovers With the help of Ian Baird he makes three attempts -
will rough seas and the weather wreck this third and final attempt to
get on the rock?
Leith - Expedition for Scotland's First Colony
 How
did five ships leaving these docklands in July 1698 for Panama, transform
the life of our isles?
To become a great European nation, Scotland needed to have its own colonies.
Scotland wanted control of this shortcut to the Pacific but unfortunately
they weren't prepared for the tropics.
 After
a few years the colony was abandoned, leaving Scotland nearly bankrupt.
The English Parliament said they would write off the debts if Scotland
would join England to become one nation.
Despite widespread protest by the Scottish people the United Kingdom
of Great Britain was born.
Forth Road Bridge
 Edinburgh
reaches over Firth of Forth with two great bridges - the photogenic Victorian
Forth Rail Bridge and the slender 1960's Forth Road Bridge.
The Forth Road Bridge suspends the road from cables, but it is being
threatened by rust. Water has found its way inside the cables, causing
them to rust and weaken.
It is predicted that in 2014 they may have to stop heavy good vehicles
using it and possibly close it in 2019. How are they going to avoid this?
Alice Roberts meets up with Forth Road Bridge Master Alastair Andrew
and Keith Perryman to find out what efforts are underway to save it.
Culross - Coal Mining
 What
is the 400 year old connection between this picturesque coastal village
and the birth of deep coal mining in Britain?
In the late 16th Century the country was powered by wood, and resources
were being exhausted.
Local entrepreneur Sir George Bruce decided to tunnel down along the
coal seam and beneath the sea bed - two centuries before the industrial
revolution.
So coal could be loaded directly onto ships, he built a second access
point - a 240ft vertical offshore shaft.
Hermione Cockburn joins local archaeologist Douglas Speirs to look at
Bruce's work and contribution to the future coal industry.
Firth of Forth - Detecting German U-boats
 During
the world wars the small islands guarding the inner Firth of Forth were
invaluable in the battle to deter German U-Boats. From one angle Inchmickery
Island's profile could be confused for a battle ship.
The Government asked for suggestions from the public on how to detect
the U-boats.
 Inventor
Thomas Mills came up with the idea that if you use a model U-boat to feed
gulls and tow the model around the coast, gulls would come to associate
the sight of a periscope with a chance of food, flock around approaching
U-boats and give away their positions.
With the help of historian Diana Maxwell and model maker John Riddell,
Neil Oliver recreates Thomas Mill's experiment.
 Pittenweem
- Local fishermen commuting to work
Neil Oliver joins up with Jim Wood and his son William.
Pittenweem's quaintness means that William has had to compete with commuters
and holiday makers to own a property - and now he has to commute to work.
Firth of Tay - One of Britain's worst rail tragedies
 At
the base of the railway that crosses over the Firth of Tay, are the remains
of what was once the world's longest railway bridge.
But the pillars are also the remains of what was a tragic event. On the
night of Dec 28th 1879 the bridge collapsed as a train was crossing. There
were no survivors. The collapse of the bridge was put down to a lack of
maintenance and bad construction.
Arbroath Smokies
 This
delicacy has had the might of European law behind them whereby it has
been given Protected Geographical Indication under European Law - if it
isn't made within 5 miles of Arbroath it isn't a genuine smokie.
Arbroath Smokies were invented in the nearby village of Auchmithie. A
smokie is a delicacy that uses the traditional method of hardwood smoke
and dense steam to cook a haddock. But one local man wanted to ensure
that if you bought a smokie that it was the genuine article and not a
cheap interpretation.
Neil Oliver joins Robert Spink and asks why he went as far as getting
the might of the European Law behind the smokie.
Inverbervie - The battle of sail
 At
the start of the 20th Century steam powered boats started to take over
from the fast sailing clippers in late 1800's that dominated trading routes.
But sail fought back in the form of a fishing boat.
Mark Horton joins Maritime historian, Robert Prescott to find out about
these fast herring fishing boats.
 To
qualify for the Crown Brand you had to land herring within 24 hours of
catching them, so speed was important. Mark goes on The Reaper, a herring
fishing boat that combined huge sails with 20th Century technology, which
could make it outrun steam trawlers in favourable winds.
The late Tom Gardner's family handled herring boats for generations. Mark
Horton joins him to find out about the importance of these boats for fishermen.
 Aberdeen
The North sea gas and oil industry have transformed Aberdeen from a fishing
port to one of the busiest ports in Britain.
But the oil industry is in decline - so what does the future hold?
Would you like to know what
music was used in this programme?
Berwick-upon-Tweed to Aberdeen: Sunday 1 July, 8pm on Â鶹Éç TWO
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