Comments
If you've been following Nick's journeys across Britain and have something to say, send us a comment. We'll publish the best ones on this page.
Jane
I've always wanted to know more about the history and landscape of Britain. Many thanks to Nick Crane for being a brilliant presenter. I really enjoyed the series and hope there will be another.
Gillian Will Fenton
On the night that the HV Morton programme was shown in Scotland I was the only guest at the Lotus Lodge Hostel, Wanlockhead in Dumfriesshire. It was the last night of my very own 2 week motor round Scotland. I nearly dropped my bowl of pasta when I realised that Nick was covering practically the same journey as me. It made me feel so much better about my trip, about the balance of driving, walking and journal-keeping! Hearing HV Morton describe it actually made me cry. Glencoe, the days I was there this time, was rusty red and the low autumn sun made everything so clear!I have a farrier friend in Invershin, I'm sure Nick would have passed there.. though we didn't see that. I also have close friends on Skye and I can say for the record that Skye still is the strangest most wonderful part of the UK, even with the bridge to the mainland!I had goosebumps watching the programme and was lucky enough to see it again when I got back to the Cotswolds the next day. Thanks so much. It was as if I retraced my own journey through the programme! (I don't notice shaky cameras or music when the places Nick visits are so rivetting!)
Joris Blondeel
Who has chosen the music for this series ? I think I have a secret brother somewhere, with the same cd's as me !!! (just another small hint : the 'And also the trees'-album : "Farewell to the shade" album would also have suited perfectly with the fantastic rural scenery .Anyway, great programme, great scenery, so please continue with a second series! ! !
Garry Bolton
Great programme. I really enjoyed HV Mortons tour of scotland in the bullnose morris.Makes me want to jump into my old classic motor and head north.By the way great music to the programme,I hope the BBC and nick can find more great british journeys,please lets have more!
Anthony Jackson
Excellent Series (So was "The Map Man")Educational interesting and has inspired me to get up and do some some more long overdue exploring myself. I've just completed "Hadrians Cycleway" coast to coast and enjoyed every windwept mile.Long may he continue,he's getting to be a British Institution ranked along side the likes of Michael Palin.
Jim
One of the best series I've seen in a long time, and for once a justification of the licence fee! Nick and the crew have done a sterling job, and I hope there'll be more series once they've recovered from the hard work of this series!!! Excellent, well done, and thanks.
thomas O
best TV for years,makes you want to get off the A road
Janet Sackerson
What a brilliant series Great British Journeys turned out to be. Every week I really learnt something about our past travellers. What brave and heroic people these turned out to be. The scenery off road in this country is second to none, and I felt myself actually there with Nicholas. Suburb scenery, and never ending enthusiam from Nicholas. Congratulations BBC on this type of programme. I look forward to perhaps a new series?
Steve West
A superb series of programmes. Nick is always worth watching and the last journey has seen me buying the 'In search of Scotland' books by Morton and planning my own trip in the spring, travelling by motorcycle.More of the same please!
bill rea
This guy Nick Crane is brilliant ,story teller, enthusiast,never says too much, he is the BEST at what he does. Marvelous!
Nick Parnell
Just finished watching the final episode, what an excellent series. My love of the British countryside, bicycles and even the incidental music which curiously almost exactly coincided with my own taste - all in one programme. I almost don't regret paying the licence fee this year !
Mark H
I've just watched the HV Morton episode of this, generally excellent and enjoyable, series. Nick's general tone is that Morton was guilty on occasion of massaging the truth and misleading his readers in order to make his romantic and dramatic point. How ironic that the programme should be guilty of the same in its closing scenes. One minute we see Nick driving the A87 towards Kyle and the Skye Bridge - not far short of the Murchison Monument. Eschewing the bridge, he informs us that he's going to take the old approach and cross by boat. He then disembarks at the foot of the Cuillin - I think it's at the mouth of Loch Coruisk - on the far side of Skye and a very long way from his embarkation point. And no-one apart from those who know Skye will be any the wiser. 80-odd years on and the same tricks of the travel journalist's trade! Is it a fair cop, Nick?
Steve B
A wonderful series that has certainly generated a wish to also re-trace their journey
Adam Byrom
Did it say in episode 7 that Henry VIII grandmother was burried in Barnstaple? I can't find any supporting refs.
Marta Pugsley
What an interesting and informative series, shame about the camerawork, I thought something had gone wrong with our TV reception!
Gavin Appleby
In the John Leland programme, the towns of both Launceston and Lostwithiel were founded on Anglo-Saxon settlement, not 'cornish'. The building of Launceston succeeded the village of St Stephen which was developed from the sight of a Saxon Mint. Lostwithiel, it states in the towns own publicity leaflets as being origionally a Saxon Manor. Look in the Domesday Book for Cornwall and you wil see how many Anglo-Saxon and Viking properties there were in the County at that time.In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries the main mining industry in Cornwall was for copper,its value greatly exceeding that of tin production.(Minerals of Cornwall and Devon, by P.G.Embry and R.F. Symes published by the British Museum).The Falmouth and St Mawes 'castles' are more truthfully gun emplacements that were occupied by troops, not families which would be the traditional inhabitants of 'Castles'.The Glassney College was apparently, to quote John Leland 'Walter(Brounscombe)Bishop of Excestre made yn a more called Glesnith in the bottom of a park of HIS(my capitols)at Penrine a Collegiate Church. It being the Bishop of Exeter's idea and built of his property at his own expense takes away any claim of it being anything 'cornish'.
Shiuhan
I just watched the programme for the first time and thought it was brilliant. Nick Crane is a great presenter. I'm not too sure about some of the music but overall the show was enjoyable. It's a real shame that I'd missed all the previous episodes!
Andrew Wilson
Fantastic Programmebut could anyone tell me where i could obtain a list of all the music used in the series
Joanna Dakin
I have just been irritated. Nicholas has been following Leland's route, and has gone through a tied gate, undone it and then walked through and not made sure the gate was tied securely again. Is this the example you want to set? We believe in public access to the countryside, but this sort of action does nothing to help the cause of access in the countryside.
Howard Blackie
Do we really have to spend 95% of the time actually looking at Nick Crane. He is travelling through some lovely scenery but we arn't, in the main, seeing it, we are just looking at him. A good and interesting series, wasted just looking at the presenter. Shame really
Ken Okines
These programmes are really superb. Everything is of the highest quality from the brilliant photography to the well delivered script. I particularly enjoy the central ingredient cycling. It makes the whole thing seem an adventure people can do for themselves. Even the web site is clever and infectiously enthusiastic! Many thanks for a welcome original series. More to come one day perhaps?
BerylBiddle
I have enjoyed this series by Nick Crane in advance of any programmes that I have watched during the last few weeks.
Dave from London
Really enjoying the series. But does anyone know the name of the lovely old pub Nick stopped at in the Defoe journey, it looked well worth a visit? I think it was soon after he visited Northey Island.
Johnny Norfolk
How do you find those pubs. Can we have a list of their names and locations please.
Johnny Norfolk
Great series ruined by the music.
John Martin
Daniel DefoeI am a biographer of Daniel Defoe. I enjoyed the programme but unfortunately it is marred by an unacceptable level of factual error. For example it should have been made clear to the viewer that Defoe's journeys were spresd over thirty years of his life. Over this period of time he had a wife Mary Norton by whom he had five children and he was almost always occupied in trading and farming on a route between Colchester and London. Defore was never a spy. In 1704/5 he worked his way across Enland fron a base in Bury St. Edmunds setting up a network for the Review which Harley was financing and reportred back to him on public opinion.The viewer should have been aware that: Deoe follows a medaeval tradition of exageration whether about wives of Stourbridge and should not be take literally.Defoe was not denied public loffice as a dissenter. He occupied an office as an accountant to the Glass Commion which trade on for thirteen years past the point that it shoul have been wound up and for which he was paid. Defoe earned a great deal of money towards the end of hi life. He was poor because he was balckmailed for sexual interference with a fourteen year old boy.I could continue. But needs to say, I won't. It is disappointing that the programme was so misleading.
Leandra
Lovely show! BUT why does everyone trekking round the countryside all wear the same red jacket? Griff Rhys Jones up his mountains, Ruth Bradbury in the Lakes, Nick Crane. And even Jon Snow in the Arctic. Are budgets so tight they all have to share the same jacket? We should be told!
Brian
This is an absolutely fascinating series as was the coast series but I do have to say that good as Nick Crane is at presenting these series, he does get in the way. You show us some beautiful scenery but mostly as an out of focus background to Nick Crane talking to camera, leering into the camera from the side, riding his bike, walking on a clif edge looking over his shoulder to camera etc. etc. etc. For goddness sake can we have more voice over and less of him- PLEASE!
John Mitchell
Excellent programme,but why o why does the BBC insist on adding totally inappropriate music to the film which ruins the atmosphere being conveyed. If I want to listen to loud rock music I can hear it on Rad 1
John Cannell
Regarding Gerald of Wales journey from Llangorse to Abegavenny. I've walked the Black Mountains a bit, and if you look at OS 161 yu'll see tat he took the logical route around the northwest end of the mountain block. He then turned south one valley too soon--which put him in the Grwyne valley to Abergavenny instead of the Bwch/Honddu valley to Llanthony Abbey. I've made the same mistake with aparty some years ago. all the routes are still there and make good, quite remote, walks.Thanks for the programmes.
Martin
I loved the programme about William Cobbett. In fact the series is great, with great filming, great presenting, great scenery. How nice to see the pack of Beagles rather than the more commonly televised foxhounds. A real pleasure to watch.
Jenny Oliver
Re Gerald of Wales. Fascinating programme, thank you. Just a couple of points: beavers were highly prized for the perfumery ingredient, castoreum, which came from a gland in their 'nether regions' - this could have something to do with Gerald's story about their supposed self-mutilation!The myth of the red lake - I once witnessed a medium-sized pond turn blood red. To this day, I do not know how. If that weren't sufficient, the pond next to it was pink, but this could have been the same water clouded by the clay they were in. They were both about 500 yards from human habitation. Could this reddening have happened to the lake in Gerald's story?
Brian Price
In Gerald of Wales (Sept 11th) Nick claimed that they climbed Y Das He believes Gerald’s party set off into the mountains with the intention of calling in at Llanthony. But the climb was harder and more time-consuming than they’d expected, and visiting the Priory abandoned in favour of pressing onto Abergavenny before nightfall. If this is the case why didnt they travel over what is now known as the Gospel Pass? This is a more direct route to Abergavenny from Hay on Wye and goes past Llanthony Priory.
Peter Duffy
There is a possible rationale for Gerald's comments about beavers being hunted for their testicles. Castoreum, one of the most important (and expensive) raw materials used in perfumery, comes from glands near the tails of beavers. (It's been known for a long time: ancient civilizations used it as a medicine.)
Lynne from Warrington
I always really enjoy watching Nick Crane on anything he does. He's always intelligent and interesting - and his books are very readable too - but what's the deal with the camerawork on this series? I presume the out-of-focus shots are meant to be arty, and the hand-held clips atmospheric, but they give the impression that the BBC doesn't want to cough up for trained cameramen or tripods.
catherine
very disappointed that yet again the llyn penninsular has been missed out with its rich history.How about bardsey island and aberdaron mynnd mawr and so on. So lets see the the real north wales for a change.
Anne R
Totally agree with above comments about 'jittery camerawork' - really irritating. And why does NC always look over his shoulder when walking on dodgy terrain - does it suggest that the camera and its operator are more valuable than the presenter? OK if he falls over and breaks something, but this can't happen to the camera!In the Pennant programme, what a pity we didn't get a glimpse inside the hidey-hole - or see the sprachle he must have had getting back out! Must get the book off the shelf and reread it.There must be lots more journeys for another series - Pennant's earlier one, 1769, James Hogg, 1803, to name but two Scottish ones.
edith crowther
This series should be on the core national curriculum, late primary and/or early secondary - it would have to go under English to be compulsory, at the moment, but why not? "Great Cobbett" actually wrote an English Grammar for poor boys - of course he merits an entire series of his own, and Nick Crane deserves a medal for reminding us of Britain's greatest radical whose words remain hot and prone to Seditious Libel suits (thank God) to this day.
Janie Britton
Love this series. However, missed the last one and waited for the repeat on Thursday which was understandably "bounced" for a programme about Pavarotti. Any chance of catching it again?
Mick M offitt
A walk through history in the best of company, what better way to spend a Tuesday night, thanks Nick.
Dave Williams
Cobbett was right about the wheat on Portsdown Hill.It is still high quality and now produces a local brew called Skew Ale.I have the delight of commuting over this hill on occasion by bike and watching my beer grow!
Andrew
The Willliam Cobbett programme was the best so far of a great series, although I'm probably slightly biassed having jus read Richard Ingrams' biography of Cobbett. Like Hazel, I'd like to know more about Nick's bike too.
Liz
Really enjoyed the programme about William Cobbett last night. Really interesting walk through one man's view of his times and landscape.
Pete from Northampton
I enjoy Nicholas'unusual slant on history. Has he ever thought about a series on the more unknown local roads or routes. Around here we have the Banbury Lane and the Welsh Road. Throughout the country there are numerous "Coal Roads", "Salt Roads" etc that are still waiting to be discovered.Pete
Dave Hart
Have just watched the Celia Fiennes prog and wish to comment about the music. I have a hearing problem which makes music over speech very difficult to listen to - and very annoying when I can't hear what is being said. As usual the programme started with music and I was prepared for the usual aggravation, but, oh joy! The music in this programme was muted whenever Nick spoke. Why can't this be done in every programme? It was so interesting and I could hear every word. Thank you.
Wendy Carlyle
I am really enjoying Nick Crane's Great British Journeys. He has a symbiotic relationship with the landscape and, as a presenter, is riveting, educational and straightforward. such a refreshing change from those presenters who feel they have to over entertain us. Please settle an argument by asking him if he was in a cafe in Portree this summer? I'm sure it was him!
james
thanks for a brilliant show.
Julianne Clarke
I would like to know the name of that beautiful map book that you said Celia Fiennes followed on her journey to the north of England.
Maddie Allen
Who was the architect credited with designing Ingestre Hall? It looks alot like the Smythsons buildings in n. Derbys & Notts.
Hazel
Brilliant programme (including the music!), I'm just sorry I haven't seen it before. I would like to know more about the bicycle Nick is riding though.