Walk Highlands - Virtual Highlands instructions
Click HERE if you can't see a landscape on the Virtual Highlands page
Virtual Highlands is a 3D landscape with all the Walk Highlands routes and accommodation marked on it. To see the details you simply need to zoom in until the walks appear. When in Overhead view mode, you can put the mouse over a 'Boot' icon to show the name of the walk, and click to bring up summary details. At the bottom of the summary there is a link to leave Virtual Highlands and go to the full description of the walk. From there you can load up an Ordnance Survey map of the route, download the waypoints or listen to the correct Gaelic pronunciation. From our Munros section, you can select any mountain and then open the summit panorama in Virtual Highlands first person mode to see the view in glorious 3D.
Map controls - First person mode
At any point, you can switch to first person view to put yourself on the ground in the Virtual Highlands, at the centre of your current view. When in first person view mode, simply use the cursor keys to look around you. You can walk forwards by pressing W or backwards by pressing S.
Map controls - Overhead View mode
Note - The focus must be on the map in order for these controls to take effect. Simply click anywhere on the map to change focus.
| Command |
Keyboard Keystroke(s) |
Mouse |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move left | Left arrow | Left button, drag left | Moves left. |
| Move right | Right arrow | Left button, drag right | Moves right. |
| Move up | Up arrow | Left button, drag up | Moves up. |
| Move down | Down arrow | Left button, drag down | Moves the viewer in the direction of the arrow. |
| Rotate clockwise | Shift + left arrow | Right button, drag left | Rotates the view clockwise. |
| Rotate counter-clockwise | Shift + right arrow | Right button, drag right | Rotates view counter-clockwise. |
| Tilt up | Shift + down arrow | Hold scroll wheel down, move mouse down | Tilts the viewer toward "horizon" view. |
| Tilt down | Shift + up arrow | Hold scroll wheel down, move mouse up | Tilts the viewer toward "top-down" view. |
| Look | n/a | Ctrl + left button + drag | Perspective points in another direction, as if you are turning your head up, down, left or right. |
| Zoom in | + key or PgUp key | Scroll wheel up | Zooms the viewer in. Tip: to use the Page Up key, make sure Num Lock on your keyboard is off. |
| Zoom out | - key or PgDn key | Scroll wheel down | Zooms the viewer out. Tip: to use the Page Down key, make sure Num Lock on your keyboard is off. |
| Zoom + automatic tilt | n/a | Right mouse button + drag up or down | Zooms the viewer in and automatically tilts your view as you approach ground level. |
| Stop current motion | Spacebar | n/a | When the viewer is in motion, stops movement |
| Reset view to "north - up" | n | n/a | Rotates view so that view is north-up. |
| Reset tilt to "top-down" view | u | n/a | Resets angle to view scene in "top-down" or "up" mode. |
| Reset tilt and compass view to default | r | n/a | Resets angle to view "top-down" and rotates to "north-up" view. Use this feature to orient the earth in the center of the viewer. |
Tip - Use the ALT key in combination with most of these keystrokes to move more slowly in the indicated direction.
Note that the map is only available for Windows computers at the present time. Support for Macs and Unix will be added in future.
The map is a beta function at present. We plan to add all the self-catering, bed and breakfast, hostels, hostels and campsites to the map. If you have any problems with the map, pleasecontact us.
Please add feedback on the map to our Forum topic.
