Grand Tours of Scotland's Rivers - Season 2

Season 2

Episodes

Ups and Downs
Paul explores the upper reaches of the river Dee, which rises higher than any river in the UK. In the heart of the Cairngorm mountains, he learns about writer and mountain lover Nan Shepherd's passion for the living landscape. He then hears tales about a hundred year-old Jacobite, and a zeppelin airship that attacked a bare mountain.
On Royal Deeside Paul is intrigued by the story of John Brown - Queen Victoria's very special friend whose photograph and ring she took to the grave.

All the Way to the Sea
On this Grand Tour, Paul explores the lower reaches of Royal Deeside. Heading downstream, he runs aground in a canoe and then gets stuck trying to thread his body through an ancient fertility stone. In the village of Banchory, he breathes in the scent of lavender, and then takes a train along the Royal Deeside Line before heading into Aberdeen where he learns a secret recipe for the city's famous rowie - a Caledonian version of the croissant. Journey's end is on the city's famous golden sands.

As Time Flows By
Paul explores the river Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, following it from where it rises above the Devil's Beef Tub all the way to the Solway Firth. On the way he samples some dubious-smelling 'healthy' spa water, hears disturbing evidence that Robert the Bruce may have been an Essex boy and discovers the explosive devil's porridge before following in the footsteps of Robert Burns by taking a dunk in the briny close to where the river meets the sea.

Tales of Mystery and Imagination
The North Esk south of Edinburgh is a hidden gem. Paul follows it from the Pentland Hills through a landscape steeped in myth and legend. From the picturesque and delightful Habbie's Howe, he reaches Roslin Glen, which inspired some of our greatest artists and writers - especially the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel on the cliffs above. The power of the river was later harnessed for papermaking. Paul discovers the legacy of industry before heading to ancient Musselburgh on the coast near Edinburgh.

An Independent River
This Grand Tour follows the River Teviot through Teviotdale, once the haunt of notorious border reivers. In the town of Hawick, Paul joins the annual Common Riding - an event that recalls the border wars with England. In Jedburgh, close to the ruined medieval abbey, Paul is reminded of a crazy night flight by Nazi deputy leader Rudolf Hess.
Paul then joins a paranormal researcher in an attempt to contact ghosts in Jedburgh's old jail before heading to the river's confluence with the Tweed - a location for a once-magnificent Scottish castle, and where a king went off with a bang.

It's a 'Saer Fecht'
This surprising grand tour follows the river Ythan in rural Aberdeenshire, which flows through a landscape of wheat fields and haunted castles and on to a coast rich in wildlife. On the way, Paul Murton learns how to make a haystack, speak the local 'Doric' and has a ghostly encounter with a woman in Fyvie Castle. He visits Gight Castle, the ruined home of poet Lord Byron's family. Journey's end is at the mouth of the river, where sand dunes have created Scotland's version of the Sahara.
Recently Updated Shows

Expedition Unknown
In the hit series Expedition Unknown, Travel Channel's witty explorer Josh Gates seeks answers to some of the world's most captivating unsolved stories and legends. Gates is on a mission to find the truth behind each iconic legend, digging through years of historical evidence, facts and myths. Leaving no stone unturned, his adventures take him around the globe as he immerses himself in the core locales linked to each tale. From excavating ruins in search of the real Robin Hood to sailing the high seas investigating Christopher Columbus and exploring Nepal's "sky caves" for Shangri La, Gates' archaeological background and ubiquitous sense of humor generate a new take on age-old stories.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta
An up-close and personal look at life in Hotlanta, The Real Housewives of Atlanta follows five glamorous southern belles as they balance motherhood, demanding careers and a fast-paced social calendar, and shows what life is like in the most exclusive areas of Atlanta. These driven and ambitious women prove that they're not just "housewives," but entrepreneurs, doting mothers and classy southern women. These ladies show the world what it takes to live large in some of the hottest zip codes in the south.

Alien: Earth
When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat. As members of the crash recovery crew search for survivors among the wreckage of a mysterious crashed space vessel, they encounter mysterious predatory life forms more terrifying than they could have ever imagined. With this new threat unlocked, the search crew must fight for survival and what they choose to do with this discovery could change planet Earth as they know it.

Murdoch Mysteries
Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, Murdoch Mysteries is a one-hour drama series that explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch, a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders. Murdoch's colleagues include the love of his life, coroner and psychiatrist Dr. Julia Ogden, a staunch ally who shares the detective's fascination for science; Constable George Crabtree, Murdoch's eager but sometimes naïve right-hand man; Inspector Brackenreid, Murdoch's skeptical yet reluctantly supportive boss; and coroner Dr. Emily Grace, Dr. Ogden's protégé.