Milford Haven to Fishguard
Michael Portillo reaches the most westerly station in Wales, Milford Haven, the biggest energy port in the United Kingdom. He then heads north, visiting Britain's smallest city and its cathedral.
On the final leg of his rail journey along Wales's southern coastline, Michael Portillo reaches the country's most westerly station. At Milford Haven, Michael learns from the harbour master about the biggest energy port in the United Kingdom, which has an oil refinery and storage terminals as well as natural gas terminals. Further along the estuary at Pembroke Dock, Michael visits a pioneering project to harness the power of the sea. Michael gets a sneak preview of the vast yellow dishes, which will act like a bellows to capture the energy of waves.
Travelling north towards Haverfordwest, Michael heads for St David’s Peninsula, where an ecological co-operative is turning to the sea for a new way of farming. In a treacherous stretch of water known as the Ramsey Sound, Michael joins two young farmers who are growing seaweed, mussels, scallops and oysters sustainably without freshwater, land, fertilisers or pesticides – truly zero input farming.
Michael’s next stop is Britain’s smallest city, St David’s. Michael joins the dean to tour its 12th-century cathedral and to hear about Wales’s patron saint.
The pastel-coloured houses and circular harbour of Fishguard is Michael’s last destination on his adventure. Although it's a quiet town today, Michael discovers that, during the 18th century, the town came under attack by French forces in the last recorded invasion on British soil. Michael experiences for himself how the French were sent packing by the ladies of the town in their national red coats and black hats, and admires a Bayeux-style tapestry which commemorates the event.
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Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Michael Portillo |
Director | Dave Minchin |
Series Editor | Alison Kreps |
Executive Producer | John Comerford |
Production Company | Fremantle |
Broadcasts
- Fri 25 Feb 2022 18:30
- Fri 8 Apr 2022 07:00
- Thu 21 Sep 2023 19:00
- Fri 22 Sep 2023 01:30
- Fri 7 Jun 2024 14:15
Steam railway programmes on Â鶹Éç iPlayer
A collection of programmes from the Â鶹Éç archives on the beauty of steam locomotives.