Weir's Way

1979 · Documentary

Tom Weir is regarded as one of Scotland's national treasures. His series 'Weir's Way' is one of the most popular and enduring programmes commisioned and broadcast about Scotland. Tom travels around Scotland exploring its landscape, natural history and meeting its people. In each half hour programme Tom delves into social history, physical geography and the life and times of people in the area - past and present. This is done with the charm and civility that Tom has become known for.

Episodes

▶1. Glen AffricTom visits Glen Affric in the central Highlands of Scotland to discover how such an expanse of remote land is managed. Finlay McRae, the district's conservation officer, takes Tom deep into Glen Affric Tom is given a tour of the western encalve of Glen Affric, which stretches as far as Kintail in the west. Former deer-stalkers describe the changes in gamekeeping. Tom learns more about how changes in modern society have altered Glen Affric.▶2. Inner Loch TorridonTom Weir visits Inner Loch Torridon to discover the history behind the road built between Shieldaig and Loch Torridon in 1963.▶3. Loch MareeTom continues his travels in Wester Ross as he visits Loch Maree.▶4. North & South ApplecrossThis episode looks at the remote coastline of North & South Applecross ▶5. Alexander SelkirkClimber, author and broadcaster Tom Weir explores the history of Alexander Selkirk, a real-life Robinson Crusoe, who chose voluntary exile from his birthtown of Largo.▶6. AnstrutherTom Weir visits Anstruther, part of the Royal Burgh of Kilrenny. A place where the past is always present and the language of the people seems not to have changed.▶7. Berwick Upon TweedA first for Tom Weir as he brings us a show from a town, and an English one at that. Celebrating it's 500th year under English rule, Berwick-Upon-Tweed had previously been Scottish.▶8. The Braes O'MarIn this episode Tom Weir visits Braes O'Mar on the edge of one of the biggest wilderness areas in Scotland. A place passed through by untold thousands every summer.▶9. The Rise And Fall Of The BreadalbanesTom visits Breadalbane - "The Heights of Alba". A country where history has been hammered out and along its course, the history of Scotland can be traced over 500 years.▶10. Colliestown and ForvieColliestown was noted for a special delicacy of sundried Haddock grilled in butter, and one man who was very fond of them was Lawrence of Arabia, who lived here for two years.▶11. Crawton, Johnshaven and GourdonKincardineshire is the focus of this episode. It's been called "The Fatherland of Robert Burns" because his Grandfather farmed just inland from here, near Stonehaven.▶12. Crianlarich to ObanTom Weir tours the Oban line from Crianlarich, a renowned journey that occupies a special place in his heart as it is home to the first mountains he ever climbed.▶13. Dunnottar CastleSince Pictish times "Dunnotar" has meant "the fort in the Highland low country". In this episode, climber and author Tom Weir explores the history of its splendidly positioned castle.▶14. An Edinburgh VolcanoTom Weir visits Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, the most studied volcano in the world and where the very beginnings of geology were laid by Edinburgh geologist James Hutton.▶15. Fast Castle to St Abb's HeadIn this episode, Tom takes the 5 mile trek from the remarkable Fast Castle, built on craggs and reckoned to have been built for shipwrecking to the popular summer destination of St Abbs.▶16. Forty Miles To SkyeTom takes the West Coast railway line from Fort William to Mallaig, one which he describes as the most thrilling forty miles in Britain.▶17. Highland WildlifeTom visits the Highland Wildlife Park over the A9, learning the secrets of the loneliest and highest stretch of country over 4000 feet in Britain, set in the hills above the main road.▶18. InchcaillochTwenty years ago the outstandingly beautiful island of Inchcailloch was known only to a few outdoor enthusiasts, it is now visited by tens of thousands every year.▶19. Isle of Eigg, Part 1Tom begins a trip around the Isle of Eigg, a peaceful place where taking a walk you may think this was an island where nothing had happened, but its history is one of violence.▶20. Isle of Eigg, Part 2The trip around the Isle of Eigg continues. Tom meets some of the residents and explores the lifestyles adopted by crofters who have chosen the Hebridean way of life.▶21. Isle of MuckTom Weir treads new ground with his first visit to the Island of Muck. With a total population of just 29, it is said to belong to the sea more than any of the other Hebridean islands.▶22. KirkcudbrightThe bonniest of all the Galloway's wee towns and villages is Kirkcudbright, the capital of the Stewartry on the estuary of the River Dee. Tom Weir explores its delights.▶23. Lady of LawersTom examines the history of the Lady of Lawers, a woman whose gift of the second-sight saw many prophecies come true and how her visions carried on beyond the 17th century.▶24. Lerwick and Noss IslandLerwick, where everything, including the language, is different welcomes Tom Weir as he continues his journey around Scotland, before setting off for the Island of Noss ▶25. More A Way Of LifeTom Weir speaks to the crofting community of Abriachan, overlooking Loch Ness, a hidden treasure often missed by visitors who are busy looking for monsters on the water.▶26. The New SettlersTom meets the New Settlers of Kenmore, where he meets some of the talented craftsmen and women of the area and witnesses their remarkable works, including wood and horn carvings.▶27. North East ScotlandTom makes his way round the North-East of Scotland in this episode, visiting the coastal village of Gardenstown before moving on to his favourite fishing village, Pennan.▶28. Orkney IslesThe islands of the Orkneys are occupied by owner-farmers, descendants of those who survived the bad farming times of the 1920 and 30s. Tom Weir examines their way of life.▶29. OspreysTom heads to Loch Garten to meet with the one millionth visitor to the Osprey Centre and to hear more about the Scottish home of these birds, previously thought to have been extinct.▶30. Peter BuchanPeter Buchan, poet and fisherman amongst other things, joins Tom to talk about his work and the people and places that have inspired it, including Peterhead harbour.▶31. The Prince In The HebridesTom recounts the tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie's accidental landing on the Benbecula coastline after the battle of Culloden and his journey across the Hebrides thereafter.▶32. Roman VillageAuthor and climber Tom Weir journeys to Cramond, or Caer Amon - "The Fort in the River" - used by the Romans to receive materials for the building of Antonine's Wall.▶33. Rough BoundsIn this episode, Tom walks in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie, travelling to Culloden to take us on a tour of the area's scenery and to delve into its rich history ▶34. Royal DeesideQueen Victoria's diaries have given us a unique record of what life was like in Royal Deeside in the second half of the 19th century. Tom explores the area to find out more for himself.▶35. RuthwellTom visits Ruthwell, the home town of The Rev. Dr. Henry Duncan, the man who founded the world's first savings bank as a means of battling poverty in the local area.▶36. Selkirk, Part 1Tom begins a tour around Selkirk, a place rich in history and home of the 'Kirk O' The Forest', where William Wallace was proclaimed Guardian of Scotland in 1298.▶37. Selkirk, Part 2Tom Weir's visit to Selkirk continues. In this episode he takes part in the local pageant, meeting the standard bearers who have the honour of casting their flags in the market square.▶38. The Seven MenTom recounts the tale of The Seven Men of Glenmoriston, who protected Bonnie Prince Charlie from capture after the Battle of Culloden, despite a reward being offered for his capture.▶39. SkipnessSkipness, "The Ship Point", is the destination for Tom Weir in this episode as he explores the small village in Kintyre, meeting its residents and finding out about its history.▶40. South End Of KintyreWeir's Way takes him on a trip around the South of the Kintyre peninsula, visiting Campbeltown, Dunaverty and eventually meets the lighthouse keeper of the Mull.▶41. Sydney ScroggieTom spends time with Sydney Scroggie, a man who was left blind and one-legged by a mine in World War 2, who remained passionate about the mountains despite losing his sight.▶42. At Tarbert KintyreIn this episode, Tom meets some of the residents of Tarbert in Kintyre, a small harbour village proving very popular with summer yachtsmen and tourists who stop off for a day or two.▶43. Tillicoultry/Loch Leven Castle/ArranTom looks back on his trips to Tillicoultry, Arran and Loch Leven Castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned, before escaping in 1568, although he meets a man who has a different theory..▶44. Torridon The Oldest GlenGlen Torridon is said by geologists to be the oldest glen in the world. We can see in it the very beginning of geological time as everything is revealed, scalped to the bone.▶45. Water Wind and FireTom takes a stunning trip through the skies over Loch Lomond in a hot air balloon, learning all about how this method of transport works, while enjoying breathtaking scenery.▶46. Wester Ross Loch MareeLoch Maree is the largest freshwater loch North of the great glen, named after St Mael Ruba, and Tom takes a tour round one of her many islands finding some fascinating sights.

More Like This

A History of Scotland

2008 · ★ 9

Presented by Neil Oliver, A History of Scotland is a television series first broadcast in November 2008 on BBC One Scotland and later shown UK-wide on BBC Two during January 2009. The second series began on BBC One Scotland in early November 2009, with transmission at a later point on network BBC Two. Along with the series, BBC Scotland planned a range of radio programmes, a new website, an interactive game, and concerts. The Open University, in collaboration with the BBC, also created a series of audio walks around historic locations in Scotland, with narration from Oliver. In Australia, series one aired on SBS One Sundays at 7:30pm from 6 December 2009 to 3 January 2010. Series two commenced on 24 October 2010 running until 21 November in the same Sunday night Lost Worlds strand. It has since been repeated.

More info →

Salmond and Sturgeon: A Troubled Union

2024

A tale of ambition, power and broken friendships. Candid interviews reveal the whole story, from the spectacular rise of the SNP, to the fracturing of one of the worlds most important political parties.

More info →

All Aboard! Scotland's Poshest Train

2024

From picturesque scenery and rich history to sumptuous spa rooms and culinary artistry, Alan Cumming revels in the Royal Scotsman's splendour on an opulent odyssey through the heart of Scotland.

More info →

Andrew Marr's Great Scots: The Writers Who Shaped a Nation

2014 · ★ 9

Andrew Marr explores the lives and works of the Scottish writers who helped define a national identity over the last three centuries.

More info →

Scotland: The New Wild

2023 · ★ 10

Series showcasing Scotland's wildlife, habitats and scenery. Scotland is moving into a new age of the Wild. Driven by the passion of youth and a spirit of innovation, the re-wilding of the Nation has become a flagship issue for the 21st Century. With a new appreciation of the wild and its wildlife the future of Scotland’s most iconic habitats may be wilder than we could ever imagine …..

More info →

Billy Connolly's Great American Trail

2019

Billy Connolly goes far off the beaten track into the places you’ve heard of but have rarely seen, as he follows the migratory trail of the Scots through America, starting in New York and finishing in the heart of America, Nashville, Tennessee.

More info →