Scenic Street View

Google collaborated with the National Trust to allow the Street View trikes to gain entry to 20 of the National Trust's protected locations.¹

Dorset's Corfe Castle overlooks the village of the same name, and provides picturesque views of the English countryside from the ruined battlements. Partially destroyed during the English Civil War, pieces of the castle were "borrowed" for construction in the village, where some of the original stones and door frames remain.

There are fantastic views off the north-eastern coast of Northern Ireland at Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple. Designed as a library, the temple was built in 1785 near the edge of the cliffs, and by 1997 was in serious danger of being lost to coastal erosion.

Plas Newydd is a Welsh country house which dates from the 14th century, where you can man the cannons across the Menai Strait. Don't try to ask for directions though, as it's in the Welsh village with the famously-long-winded name: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch².

Here in Scotland we have our own National Trust, who were unfortunately not involved with the project. However Google did also add images from the beautiful coastline of Loch Ness.

Although we've not had any reports of a Nessie sighting (yet), another mystery has been spotted: Some say he's the Loch Ness monster, all we know is… it's The Stig!

Yes, for reasons as yet unknown, Top Gear's faceless racing driver has been captured just hanging around at the side of the road. What on earth for we wonder? Wasn't his last appearance on Street View enough?³

You can see all 20 of the National Trust sights on Street View at this special Google Maps page.