Great Canal Journeys

Timothy West and Prunella Scales travel the waterways of North‑West England, beginning in the suburbs of Manchester, where they observe the historic urban canals. Their journey follows Britain’s first purpose‑built canal, winding through the countryside before reaching the port at Ellesmere.

The television offering titled Manchester is presented as a single episode within a broader programme format. It features the well‑known duo Timothy West and Prunella Scales as the on‑screen guides, taking viewers on a journey through the waterway network of North‑West England. In this instalment the pair set off from the residential outskirts of Manchester, following the course of the region’s canals and rivers. Their route leads them past Britain’s first canal that was deliberately constructed for navigation, before they arrive at the historic port situated at Ellesmere. Throughout the trip, West and Scales provide a step‑by‑step look at each stretch of water, highlighting how the routes link the urban fringe to the coastal gateway. The episode’s emphasis is squarely on the physical geography of the area, tracing the line of the waterways from the city’s suburbs right through to the maritime outlet. By moving from inland to the sea, the programme showcases the continuity of the water‑borne transport corridor that has shaped the local landscape. Overall, Manchester offers a concise yet thorough walk‑through of the region’s canals, with West and Scales acting as the narrators who guide the audience from the heart of the city to the port at Ellesmere, all within the span of a single, focused episode.