Following on from last week’s blog about web cams, what do you do if the place you want to look at doesn’t have a web cam? Don’t worry throughout an ever increasing number of locations around the world there is the chance take a virtual drive down the streets of towns and cities.

Thanks to Google Street View you can use either Google Maps or Google Earth to “visit” places you have only dreamed on visiting in the past. For a map of the current coverage levels click [1] HERE, the areas in blue have Street View available.

Being a faithful Yorkshire man lets have a quick look round Fountains Abbey. The coverage here is extensive as it’s a World Heritage site so there’s lost to look at.

First open your web browser and go to Google’s home page. If you look at the top left of this page you’ll see the words “Web”, “Images”, “Videos”, “Maps” etc. Click on the word “Maps” and you’ll see the usual Google search setup above a map of (if you’re in the UK) Great Britain.

Do a search for “Fountains Abbey” (type then click on Search) and you’ll see something like the picture below.

Look for the little yellow figure (boxed in pink) and click on him but hold the mouse button down. Move the mouse over towards the map and the figure will come with it.

Once you’re over the map these little blue lines will appear where ever there is a Street View image available. The actual location is shown by the green arrowed circle under the little pop up picture (which is a thumbnail of what you’ll see). Take your figure off the mouse once you’ve reached the place you want to look at and you’ll see…

In the main picture move the mouse over the yellow line and double click to “walk” along the route. The little picture gives an idea of the way you are facing.

Have fun!