Walking Through History

The evocative landscape of Yorkshire was home and inspiration to the Brontës, the remarkable literary family that gave us Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Tony Robinson treks around what we now know as Brontë Country in this glorious history documentary. He explores their childhood and tracks down the landmarks which inspired locations from their best-known books.

Queen Victoria’s love of the Scottish countryside led to an image makeover for an entire nation. In this breathtaking history documentary, Tony Robinson sets out on a walk across the Cairngorms to Balmoral, in the footsteps of Victoria and her husband Albert, who promoted the Scottish Highlands. Previously the Scots and the English were enemies, but the Queen’s love of the mountains altered this.

William the Conqueror was reluctant to invade Wales, but eventually built 50 castles in Pembrokshire. In this stunning history documentary, Tony traces the Norman conquest of this part of Wales, which still feels more English than the rest of the country, nearly 1000 years later. His walk takes him along the beautiful coastal path, to investigate what led invaders to this part of the world.

The traditional image of the Channel Islands, sitting between England and France, is sun and sandy beaches. But for five years during World War II, they were occupied by Nazi Germany. In this fascinating history documentary, Tony Robinson undertakes a five-day walk to trace the still-visible story of the occupation. How did these tiny islands cope with Hitler’s invading forces?

It was one of the most colorful and eventful periods of medieval British history. Many have heard stories of dastardly King John and the heroic Robin Hood, but what is the truth behind the legend? In this compelling history documentary, Tony Robinson unravels the myths surrounding these legendary figures and investigates the document that is the foundation of modern democracy: the Magna Carta.

It’s known as ‘the most rebellious corner of England’. In this absorbing history documentary, Tony Robinson hikes from Lyme Regis to the Somerset Levels in the west of England, in the footsteps of a rebel army led by the illegitimate son of Charles II in 1685. He looks back at the Duke of Monmouth's attempt to overthrow the British monarchy and the brutal reprisals after the rebellion failed.