Great Canal Journeys
Great Canal Journeys

Great Canal Journeys

2014 14 Seasons 42 Episodes ⭐ 8.8 Documentary

To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on four spectacular canal journeys, sharing a passion that they've enjoyed for decades. To start the series, Tim and Pru revisit the Kennet and Avon Canal in the West Country. Back in 1990, to promote the fully restored canal, Tim and Pru were invited to be the first boat in 42 years to travel the full length of the K&A. Almost a quarter of a century later, they navigate the 21 miles along its most picturesque stretch, starting in Bath and ending in Devizes.

To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on four spectacular canal journeys, sharing a passion that they've enjoyed for decades. To start the series, Tim and Pru revisit the Kennet and Avon Canal in the West Country. Back in 1990, to promote the fully restored canal, Tim and Pru were invited to be the first boat in 42 years to travel the full length of the K&A. Almost a quarter of a century later, they navigate the 21 miles along its most picturesque stretch, starting in Bath and ending in Devizes.

Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

The Kennet and Avon

Tim and Pru travel along the 21-mile Kennet and Avon canal, from Bath to Devizes, meeting canal-side characters and wild

EP 2

The Rochdale

Prunella and Tim travel the Rochdale canal, past once mighty mills, the epic beauty of the Pennines and the longest and

EP 3

The Llangollen Canal

This third canal journey takes Pru and Tim back to their honeymoon destination, Llangollen, in North Wales

EP 4

Canal Du Nivernais, France

For the last stage of Tim and Pru's canal odyssey, they head to France's Burgundy region to visit the Canal du Nivernais

EP 1

Oxford Canal

Timothy and Pru take a journey on the Oxford Canal through the Cherwell Valley, meeting author Philip Pullman and their

EP 2

The London Ring canals

Timothy and Pru explore London's Union and Regent's canals, from Brentford to Limehouse, meeting with friends Andrew Sac

EP 3

Canal du Midi

Timothy and Pru explore the most picturesque stretch of the Canal du Midi in the south of France, eating lamb's brain fr

EP 4

Forth and Clyde and Union Canals

Timothy and Pru travel through the stunning scenery of some of central Scotland's most glorious countryside, from Edinbu

EP 1

London's Lost Route to the Sea

Timothy and Prunella go in search of London's lost canal route from Teddington, through Surrey and Sussex, and all the w

EP 2

Birmingham to Braunston

Timothy West and Prunella Scales travel from Birmingham to Braunston, Northamptonshire, for a festival of canal boats an

EP 3

Shannon Erne Waterway

Timothy West and Prunella Scales head to Ireland and the Shannon Erne Waterway, where they try some folk singing, Irish

EP 1

The Göta Canal

Tim and Pru set forth from Gothenburg on the first half of the Göta Canal, one of the longest and most beautiful waterw

EP 2

Stockholm and the Archipelago

Tim and Pru follow the ancient route of the Vikings, visiting Stockholm and the nearby islands of its archipelago

EP 3

Stratford-upon-Avon

Timothy and Prunella take a trip down the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, one of Britain's most picturesque waterways, and al

EP 1

Venice

Tim and Pru travel to Venice, following the route once taken by Casanova and Byron, escaping the crowds of St Mark's to

EP 2

Netherlands

Tim and Pru travel to the Netherlands, exploring the canals from the Windmills of the Kinderdijk to the vibrant city of

EP 3

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Tim and Pru take another journey into their pasts, via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which celebrates its 200th anniver

EP 1

Bristol And North Devon

With Tim playing King Lear in Bristol, he and Prunella Scales tour the city and also some West Country waterways further

EP 2

The Caledonian

Tim and Pru cross the Scottish Highlands on a sun-kissed voyage along the spectacular Caledonian Canal, a waterway that

EP 3

The Crinan Canal

Tim and Pru island-hop their way through the Hebrides, visiting Tobermory, Iona, the Isle of Jura, and lastly the magica

EP 1

Kerala, India

Tim and Pru explore the extraordinary backwaters of Kerala, with spices, dancing and a visit to a temple

EP 2

Brahmaputra, India

Tim and Pru strike out for the rarely navigated Brahmaputra river in the far north of India, where they meet a community

EP 1

Norfolk Broads

Tim and Pru explore one of Britain's most ancient and picturesque waterways, discovering the area's unique way of life,

EP 2

Marne–Rhine Canal

Tim and Pru travel past enchanted forests, fairy-tale castles and picturesque mountains and valleys, on a trip Alsace an

EP 3

Rio Douro, Portugal

Tim and Pru voyage through the dramatic landscape of north-west Portugal, with deep locks, hilltop vineyards and some po

EP 4

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Tim and Pru visit the famously beautiful Welsh canal with a haunted castle on route

EP 1

The River Nile

Tim and Pru explore one of the world's great waterways - the River Nile, travelling from Luxor to Aswan, visiting a Nubi

EP 2

North Italy

Tim and Pru cross Italy's largest lake and travel down Europe's oldest working canal to Milan. Their journey includes sp

EP 3

Manchester

Tim and Pru embark on a voyage through canal history, as they explore the waterways of north west England - heading from

EP 4

Argentina

Tim and Pru take a boat ride in the Argentine jungle. There's gin and tonic with some remote Anglo Argentines, hummingbi

EP 5

Lancaster Canal

Tim and Pru navigate the Lancaster Canal, an early masterpiece of the waterways - travelling up along the coast of Morec

EP 6

Rideau Canal, Canada

Tim and Pru embark on an epic journey along Canada's Rideau Canal, a world heritage site - from the backwoods of Ontario

EP 1

Asian Odyssey (Part One)

The intrepid 'ancient mariners' go on one last far-flung voyage, to South East Asia, travelling the waterways of Vietnam

EP 2

Asian Odyssey (Part Two)

Timothy and Pru complete their grand tour of South East Asian waterways on Vietnam's Mekong Delta and the world-famous C

EP 1

London's Waterways (Part 1)

Brand new boaters Sheila and Gyles embark on their tour of London's waterways, starting on the upper reaches of the Rive

EP 2

London's Waterways (Part 2)

Concluding their tour of London's waterways, Sheila and Gyles journey the Lee Navigation, tackle their first manual lock

EP 1

Staffordshire's Waterways (Part 1)

Sheila and Gyles embark on their tour of Staffordshire's waterways, navigating the Caldon and the Trent and Mersey Canal

EP 2

Staffordshire's Waterways (Part 2)

Concluding their tour of Staffordshire's waterways, Sheila and Gyles take a ride on an old working boat, uncover the his

EP 1

Cambridgeshire Fens

Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth are back on the barge to explore the Cambridgeshire Fens. They visit the vicarage whe

EP 2

West Lancashire Coastal Plain

Sheila and Gyles boat from Wigan to Liverpool across the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. In Wigan, Gyles takes on the wor

EP 3

Grand Union and Stratford Canal

Sheila and Gyles journey to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Sheila performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Gyles once

EP 4

Peak Forest Canal

Sheila and Gyles boat the beautiful Peak Forest Canal to Manchester, where they have a go at dry stone walling and disco

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