If for some reason or another, you cannot make it to an actual destination, what’s the next best thing for you to do? Before it was just look at pictures or videos on the Internet, but now, thanks to the powers of Google and Google Street View, you can do something a little closer. Starting this year, you will be able to walk through the 15 national trails in England and Wales, and you don’t even have to leave your couch to do so.

The first of the 15 trails to go live this coming March 17 is the North Downs Way, followed by the Cleveland Way soon. However, the process is of course not that simple. Trail rangers and volunteers would have to walk the trail and carry the Google Trekker camera, which is an off-road version of the Street View car that we’ve been seeing. The 23kg camera and the computer gear has to be carried on their backs and used only during dry weather and bright daylight. They also have to remain upright, even when crossing stiles or coming across branches.

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Each of the Google Trekkers have 15 cameras inside the top sphere and each of those cameras take pictures every two seconds. The photos will then be stitched to make a panoramic view of the area, which Google will then process into mapping data. The tech giant loaned two Trekkers for the project, and since one trail may take months to actually finish, it will probably be two years until all 15 trails will be mapped and available on the Google Street View.

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But for the meantime, whether you plan to walk any of the trails soon and want to scout the area first, or if a physical impediment may stop you from actually going to the trail itself, or you’re just too lazy (hey, no judgement) to walk any of the actual trails, then this would be the next best thing for you.

VIA: The Guardian

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