A glorious insight into the history, landscape and people of Britain, from The Sunday Times bestseller.

The late nineteenth century brought railway fever to Ireland, and Victorian travellers were keen to explore a country rich in myth and mystery. Starting in the beautiful city of Dublin, Michael Portillo travels to the fishing port of Balbriggan, crosses the spectacular Boyne viaduct, and learns about the tragic Armagh rail disaster en route to Belfast, home of the Irish shipbuilding industry. The journey continues to the Antrim coast, where Victorian tourists visited the newly-created Gobbins Path and the ancient Giant’s Causeway, and ends with the Georgian elegance of Londonderry.

Places visited: Dublin, Wexford, Bray, Wicklow, Avoca, Belfast, Drogheda, Kingstown, Balbriggan, Armagh, Downpatrick, Antrim, Derry.

This individual journey is one of a series taken from the bestselling books Great British Railway Journeys and Great Victorian Railway Journeys that accompany the highly successful BBC Two series. Michael Portillo follows the famous George Bradshaw railway guides in railway journeys across the length and breadth of the country, discovering spectacular scenery and stunning architecture and exploring local history and industry.