Great Canal Journeys

Timothy West and Prunella Scales return to the Oxford Canal for a voyage through the beautiful Cherwell Valley, as they recall their favourite waterway trips around the British Isles

Timothy West and Prunella Scales share some memories of their canal journeys overseas, including their first trip, which was to France on the Nivernais Canal. Tim is reminded of the time he tried to park his boat in Venice, at St Mark's Square, and the couple reminisce over a moonlit gondolier trip down the Grand Canal. Having successfully mastered the waterways of Europe, Tim and Pru then set forth on even more ambitious and remote journeys across the world - to India, Canada, Argentina and a trip down the Nile.

A look back at Timothy West and Prunella Scales' travels in Sweden, where they finally fulfilled their lifetime ambitions of crossing the country coast-to-coast by boat. The 350-mile journey takes in the mighty Göta Canal, Sweden's three biggest lakes, the islands of the Swedish Archipelago, and the Baltic sea - a huge challenge for any sailor let alone two octogenarians more used to the Kennet and Avon Canal. Even the relaxation is testing - a Swedish sauna with an icy plunge into the waters of the canal, but the long tranquil summer days, island-dotted lakes, and woodland glades make it Tim's favourite-ever trip.

A look back at Timothy West and Prunella Scales' adventures on the idyllic waterways of the Avon, Bristol Channel, Llangollen Canal, and the Mon and Brec