I May Have To Visit…
I knew Scotland was a pretty country, but I had no idea it was as diverse and as beautiful as this. This STV Production was shot in HD and in widescreen, and even though I watched Scotland Revealed on DVD, I was very impressed with the visual quality. It’s one of the better looking DVDs I have seen in a long time, actually. The show is compromised of three episodes and a twenty-two minute bonus episode, Scotland’s Winter Wonderland, that shows Scotland after a snow storm in December of 2009.
Each episode is about forty-eight minutes and Vanessa visits several different areas of Scotland to examine its visual appeal and learn some history from the locals. The series begins in Edinburgh, the sprawling city built out of the remnants of volcanic activity that has shaped much of Scotland’s countryside. The re-opening of the canals in Scotland is also discussed, as well as the influence of the ancient Abbeys along the border. Glasgow and its impressive shipyards, recently revitalized by the building of Royal Air Force Destroyers, is featured, too. The People’s Palace exterior also makes the program. Every major topic or area that is covered is presented with gorgeous visuals from the air and ground, as well as interviews.
Episodes two and three continue coverage of Scotland’s wildly diverse geography. Aberdeen, Glencoe, Skye, and several other cities and areas are visited. A lot of time is spent examining the mountains of Scotland, a large tourist and rock climbing enthusiast draw to the country. The mountains were formed over many millions of years and are still today some of the most difficult mountains to climb in the world, not to mention some of the most awe-inspiring.
Scotland Revealed is one of the most enjoyable documentaries of this type I’ve seen. Vanessa is an enjoyable host and her interview guests are knowledgeable and interesting. The camera work is superb and I have to mention again how good of a balance this program struck between educational material and simple visual splendor. Too much of one or the other would have made this production less impressive.
With that, let’s get to the summary…