Rob heads nine miles out into the English Channel to see why building the world's first rock lighthouse was such a monumental achievement. At Eddystone Reef, Rob witnesses the awesome power of rough seas and jagged rocks for himself, before a vivid demonstration of why building a tower on a wave-lashed rock was regarded as an impossible dream.
Rob uncovers the incredible stories behind Scotland's mighty Bell Rock lighthouse, an engineering marvel built on a deadly submerged reef in the treacherous North Sea. Eleven miles offshore, this light has stood strong for over 200 years, but at the start of the 19th century, the reef was a menace causing innumerable wrecks and drowning countless mariners. As the show reveals, Robert Stevenson, a young, ambitious engineer, was determined to prove that something could be done to stop Bell Rock claiming so many lives.
Rob explores the wild and beautiful south coast of Ireland to reveal why Fastnet is regarded as one of the most stunning rock lighthouses ever built. He also finds out how this lonely tower became the crowning glory in a 1,500-year legacy of saving lives.
Rob Bell looks at the construction of more rock lighthouses, beginning with Wolf Rock - 8 miles off the Cornish coast. He discovers the feat of Victorian engineering required to build the structure against the power of the Atlantic Ocean.
Rob Bell explores the spiritual home of the lifesaving Longstone lighthouse.
Rob travels to England's south coast, where he explores three lighthouses. At Beachy Head, he discovers the genius way engineers rescued a lighthouse from plunging into the sea.
Rob heads to Muckle Flugga in the Shetland Islands to check out the Impossible Lighthouse. He learns about the critical role the Shetland Island lights had during WWII.
Rob heads to Boston Harbor, where he learns the hidden stories of the Boston Light, America's first lighthouse.
