When the industrial revolution took hold towards the end of the 18th century, the west of Scotland was at the forefront. And it wasn't just because of its abundant supplies of coal and iron. It was its abundant supplies of engineers.
Charles Kennedy introduces this section of Made in Scotland from one of great achivements of one of these engineers, Thomas Telford. Neptune's Staircase is a series of locks at the southern end of the Caledonian Canal at Banavie, just outside Fort William.
It raises ships nearly 20 metres from the surface of Loch Linnhe. And it is in Charles's parliamentary constituency. And it is just down the road from where he went to school at Lochaber High.
So who better than this popular politician - there's a phrase you don't hear too much these days - to introduce this survey of Scotland's great engineers. Charles was the youngest MP in the House of Commons when he was first elected in 1983. He went on to become president and leader of the Liberal Democrats, and though personal problems forced him to take a back seat he's still well-liked among the public.
Made in Scotland - which celebrates the national "brands" that make Scotland what it is - is one of three special programmes created by STV, in association with the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, for the Year of Homecoming 2009. The other two are Scotland Revealed and The Greatest Scot.
The former is a new series of Scotland shot from above, all filmed in dazzling High Definition to reveal scenic images with a startling level of detail never seen before.
The Greatest Scot is a chance to settle the argument once and for all over who is the greatest Scot of them all. The public will get to vote on a shortlist of 30 names, with the winner being anonunced live on television on St Andrew's Day.
- To watch the programme in full visit here
