Walking Tour of South Cerney and Cerney Wick
It was in July 1999 that Raymond Fenton made a start on this system. He walked for miles and miles round the Village of South Cerney taking photographs with a digital camera. These were all stored on his computer and given numbers. On a map of South Cerney these numbers were plotted. An Internet web page was then made up for each picture and the links were created. In the year 2000 further pictures were taken to expand the walk through the village of Cerney Wick and these were completed and launched on the Internet in January 2001.
Each page contains a picture in the middle of the screen. To the left of the picture is a description of it including its location in the Village and any interesting facts. To the right of the picture are direction links. These links vary according to the position in the Village. There may be anything between one and eight direction links. Almost always the first direction is to proceed on down the road in the direction that you are already facing. Almost always the last direction is to turn round and go back the way you have just come. In between these are options for turning left or right or for looking at various objects of interest. It is up to you to decide which way you want to move and click your mouse on the desired direction. By doing this you can sit at your computer and walk your way anywhere round the Villages including footpaths and short cuts. Occasionally you may come across a picture with a red "MORE" on it. This means that we have lots more information about this location. Click on the word "MORE" and it will open up a completely new window for you to explore. When you close that window you will return to where you left off to continue with your tour.
Except when we open a separate window such as this, the top panel of the screen will always remain above the picture. On it there are options for various starting places. In a minute you will choose one of these starting points and click on it to begin your tour. As this panel always remains with us, you can always change your route at any time by simply jumping to one or the other of these points by clicking on it.
There are literally hundreds of pictures, and as each has many direction links, the permutations of walking round the Village are enormous. Although we have done our best to check the system thoroughly, it is quite possible that you may notice errors. Perhaps spelling mistakes or errors of English grammar. Perhaps the wrong picture not matching the description. Perhaps a direction link that does not go the way it is intended. In addition you may even think of suggestions for improvements. An extra picture perhaps. A better picture perhaps. Perhaps you have a better picture than I have and would like to lend it to me to scan and substitute. Perhaps you would like to contribute some interesting facts to add to a picture. At any time that such a thought comes into your head, click your mouse on the wording "click here" on the line in the top panel . This will open up a new window on your screen. Please type into this where indicated your name, telephone number, e-mail address if you have one, and your comments. There is no limit as to how much you can type in the comments field. Please do this. I love to hear from you whether you have good or bad comments. Finally click on the button marked "Submit" and wait for a moment. Don't click twice unless nothing has happened for at least sixty seconds. This will bring up another screen thanking you for your comments. Close down this new window. The new window will close and you will return to the picture that you were on before. Your comments will get to me within a few hours and I guarantee to respond to each one within a few days if not sooner. So please do leave me lots of comments. If you need to refer to a particular picture, hold your mouse steady over the picture and within a few seconds it will display its reference. This will start off with "vc" for Virtual Cerney, followed by the four digit number that identifies both the picture and the page. If in Cerney Wick the pages are numbered as "cw" for Cerney Wick followed by a letter and two further numbers.
The system is continuously being developed. As changes take place to the Village I shall try to reflect them. As people submit changes these will be incorporated. So do please keep using it. I have a counter, so know how many people have used the system, though not who those people are which is why I like to hear your comments. If I find that it is well used, I might be able to add a little advertising for local businesses.
When you have had enough and your legs are weary, or perhaps your fingers from clicking the mouse, simply close down the program. Come back and visit again another day. Perhaps starting at a different place and exploring more of the Village. I hope that this may prove useful for new residents to the Village or just Visitors, to help them to find their way round our streets and footpaths. I also hope that people who know the Village well, will have fun walking around looking at the places they know and love.
Enough said by me. Off you go on your tour. Choose one of the starting points from the top of the screen and click on it. Have fun. Send me a postcard from your favourite spots. By the way. Do please tell everyone of the address of this tour:-
Perhaps if you have visitors coming to see you they might like to explore the Village at home before they get here. After all this is only a Virtual Walking Tour and can be taken from anywhere in the world where there is a connection to the Internet.