Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4919 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-03
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 294 minutes

DVD Description
With names like Snowdon, Ben Nevis or Scarfell Pike, Britain 's high places are at once romantic and rooted in the nation's sense of identity. In Mountains, Griff Rhys Jones brings their stories to life.

Travelling the length of the UK by journeying across the rooftops of Britain, Griff Rhys Jones explores some of the most arduous and roughest mountain landscapes. It is a journey that takes him from the remotest areas of Northern Scotland to the wilds of Dartmoor in the South West, including some of Britain's most beautiful, rugged and fascinating locations. Along the way, he also reveals how these dramatic terrains came into existence.

While Griff experiences the flora and fauna, the breath-taking landscapes and stunning seasonal shifts, he meets the undiscovered mountain communities and the real people who inhabit Britain's highlands: shepherds, mountain rescue teams, scientists, farmers and artists - they deliver a real understanding and passion for the raw, natural beauty that has fascinated us for centuries. Griff also brings to life the history of epic battles, communities and famous people connected with the places visited.

This magnificent BBC series is Griff Rhys Jones' labour of love, a personal journey of discovery and a lasting testament to some of the most exciting, unique and treasured parts of Britain.

Synopsis
Episodes include: 'Wales', 'Lakes', 'Central Scotland', 'Pennines', and 'North West Scotland'.

Customer Reviews

A most enjoyable and beautifully presented series on Britains outdoors
There was not a single dull moment throughout Griffs beautiful series and certain episodes really stood out as programmes of real interest.

The episode on the Pennines was of rare quality,naturally it was difficult to include everything on such a huge area of land stretching from County Durham to the foothills of Derbyshire but its clear that his source material and advisors did a superb job.

His comments on less than half an hour away were people who had never seen a mountain let alone walk them was quite thought provoking,here was a series of programmes that made you want to visit these gorgeous areas.

An episode to please everyone and its a pleasant surprise to see that this superb dvd set is available even before the series had finished.

Living here in the foothills of Snowdonia i was tempted to book accomodation in Scotland having seen his profile on the Highlands.

How could somebody do justice to such diverse areas as the Lakes,the Highlands,the Pennines and Snowdonia in such short space of time speaks volumes of this lovely series.

Even if you are not the outdoor type you couldnot denie this series was superb and for those who missed it or want to see it again (me included) then the dvd set is something you will want to see again and again because this was quality television.

Enjoyable Viewing
I cannot but agree with all the other reviews. It is a joy to watch the series of really splendid landscape portraits. The presenter may be a bit chatty at times, too much of a media chap, and the background music at times turns into background noise, i.e. it gets too loud, but it provides great viewing altogether. The picture quality is excellent!

Gorgeous to look at but not a lot more
I'm not sure that this series really stands repeated viewing. Griff Rhys Jones is an entertaining chap and the landscape of Britain's high places is stunning, but the repeated formula of going somewhere bleak, scrambling up a hillside, making some witty comments, and delving briefly into the history or geography of the area wears a bit thin if you watch several epiosdes at once.

The theme was an admirable one, and there's no doubt that the photography of the UK's wild (and tame) mountains is beautiful to behold. However, like so many programmes produced for BBC1, 'Mountain' is weighted more towards entertainment than information or education. You get some tantalising snippets from each area, maybe a human interest story or two -- and then it's over. Back to Griff manfully struggling up another gurt big hill. (And he does brilliantly for a chap of his age, tackling some daunting climbs. But then the programme suddenly becomes about Griff, and not about the landscape).
I suppose it's the difference in having a 'celebrity' presenter, rather than having an expert presenter. I'd rather have a geographer or historian explain things to me in great depth.

If you're looking for an enjoyable gift which can't possibly offend then this series would do the trick. But for real history of Britain try any of Michael Wood's 'In Search Of...' series, and for proper natural history you should stick to Coast. If you want UK landscapes, the Nicholas Crane's Great British Journeys is far superior. All of those series inspire me to go and explore for myself or learn more on the subject; this one didn't make the grade.

'Mountain' was just too frothy for my tastes. There seems to be a lot of rushing around for not much depth or detail. Looks great; not a lot of substance once you get into it.