Coastal Devon & Cornwall with Michael Portillo

Michael begins this leg of his journey at South Devon's most southerly point, Start Point, and embarks on a walk which takes in a broad sweep of eroding shingle coastline and some of the most picturesque beaches he has encountered. Along the way, he discovers historic fishing villages, and the largest freshwater lake in South West England. His South Devon trek ends near the mouth of the River Dart, but not before he leaves his own mark on this beautiful stretch of coast, a new wooden signpost for walks inscribed with his initials.

Michael heads for his final stretch in Cornwall, and takes in a coastline of hidden coves, a stunning sub-tropical garden and smugglers' creeks, immortalised by Daphne du Maurier in her novel Frenchman's Creek. Beginning at the working fishing village of Coverack, he detours inland to visit a family-run dairy farm that produces clotted cream and more than 40 flavours of ice cream from milk produced by their Jersey cows.

Michael follows the western shore of Cornwall’s biggest natural harbour, Mount’s Bay.

The presenter explores the rugged North Cornish coast, beginning in Widemouth Bay, a gigantic stretch of coastline with ancient links to the Celtic nations of Wales and Brittany. Battling a storm blowing in from the Atlantic, Michael heads south and takes shelter in a magical and ancient woodland, before spending the night at the vicarage where novelist Thomas Hardy stayed in 1870, and penned a poem named after a local landmark, Beeny Cliff.

His journey begins in North Devon under the shadow of England's highest sea cliff, the 1,000ft-tall Great Hangman, and finishes up on the stunning three-mile golden sands of Woolacombe. Along the way, Michael is joined by Raynor Winn, whose bestselling book The Salt Path is based on her experiences of walking the South West Coast Path with her terminally-ill husband, Moth. She tells of how it changed their lives, and offers tips and advice for Michael's journey ahead, and how he should prepare for the challenges, both physical and emotional.