BBC's Great Coastal Railway Journeys to visit North Wales

The hit BBC show, now into its third series, follows Portillo as he visits "charming seaside towns, historic landmarks and natural wonders" and the railways that played an important part in their formation.

So far in this series, he has visited the likes of Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly. 

This week, Portillo and Great Coastal Railway Journeys will be in Wales.

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North Wales to feature on BBC's Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Portillo began his railway journey across Wales on Monday (September 8) night, travelling from Cardigan Bay to Abergynolwyn.

He will continue his Welsh adventure on Great Coastal Railway Journeys throughout the week:

• Tuesday (September 9) - Harlech to Aberdaron
• Wednesday (September 10) - Porthmadog to Anglesey
• Thursday (September 11) - The Isle of Anglesey
• Friday (September 12) - Conwy to Colwyn Bay

You can catch Wales on Great Coastal Railway Journeys on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer weeknights at 6.30pm. (Image: BBC/Naked West/Fremantle)

Harlech to Aberdaron

Tuesday's episode of Great Coastal Railway Journeys will see Portillo venture from Harlech to Aberdaron.

The BBC synopsis explains: "Beginning on the shifting sands of Morfa Harlech, in one of the most important dune systems in Wales, Michael is surprised to find a team of conservationists felling and grubbing out trees.

"Next stop is Porthmadog, once one of the most important slate ports in the world, where slate was exported to South Africa and Australia.

"From the top of Cardigan Bay at Pwllheli, Michael heads for the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club to lend a hand on deck of a classic wooden racing boat.

"Close to the tip of the Llyn Peninsula, Michael reaches Aberdaron, where St Hywyn’s Church - the former church of Welsh poet and vicar RS Thomas - looks out over Aberdaron Bay."

Porthmadog to Anglesey

Wednesday night will see Portillo steaming through the "glorious" Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park on "one of Britain’s greatest heritage lines" - the Welsh Highland Railway.

The BBC adds: "Stopping off at Beddgelert, Michael takes in the awesome geology, which inspired Charles Darwin.

Michael Portillo will be making a stop at Beddgelert on Great Coastal Railway Journeys. (Image: Getty Images) "Back aboard the Welsh Highland Railway, Michael heads for Caernarfon, in whose 13th-century castle King Charles III was invested as Prince of Wales in 1969.

"Michael heads for the coast, where the Menai Strait separates mainland Wales from Ynys Môn, or Anglesey, to find the heart of the United Kingdom’s mussel industry.

"Continuing along the Menai Strait, Michael reaches its earliest road crossing, an elegant suspension bridge designed by the Scottish engineer Thomas Telford and opened in 1826.

"And from Bangor, Michael takes the train across the Britannia Bridge to the first station on Anglesey, known as LlanfairPG, to visit the island’s sea zoo."

Isle of Anglesey

Portillo will spend some time on Anglesey during Thursday's episode of Great Coastal Railway Journeys.

While there, he will travel around on the island's only railway, visiting the likes of Bodorgan, Oriel Môn at Llangefni, the now-defunct nuclear power station at Wylfa, and even venturing past RAF Valley.

Conwy to Colwyn Bay

Portillo will conclude his Welsh adventure on Friday when he takes the train to the medieval walled town of Conwy.

The BBC episode synopsis reads: "On a coastal ridge overlooking the estuary of the River Conwy is the town’s impressive 13th-century castle, built by the conquering English king Edward I on the site of the palace of the Welsh prince Llywelyn.

"In the foothills of the Carneddau mountain range, Michael enjoys breathtaking views over 27,000 acres of rugged open land.

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"The Victorian resort of Llandudno is Michael’s next stop, where he scales the dramatic limestone headland to investigate one of the most important Bronze Age copper mines in Europe.

"Michael presses east to reach Colwyn Bay. Its long, sweeping promenade looks out over Liverpool Bay and the Irish Sea beyond, but alongside the holidaymakers, Michael finds bulldozers and computer-guided earth movers engaged in a transformational project to create a new beach."

This week's Welsh-themed episodes of Great Coastal Railway Journeys will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 6.30pm, and are all repeats.