Environment sector | virtual tour case study
East Devon Pebblebed Heaths
Discover how an accessible 360° virtual tour opens up the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths to more people, bringing together immersive landscape views, practical walk information and inclusive navigation tools. Visitors can explore key locations, learn about the heaths’ wildlife and heritage, and get a clearer understanding of what to expect before setting out.
With British Sign Language interpretation and a range of accessibility features, the experience supports people with different needs as they plan a visit with greater confidence. For those unable to visit in person, it also offers a way to connect with this special landscape from home.
The numbers that make us proud
Scene views recorded across the tour, as visitors explore the landscape and its key locations.
Clicks across the tour’s hotspots, helping visitors explore routes, wildlife and landscape information.
The average time spent on the tour, giving visitors time to explore and discover more about the landscape.
“The virtual tour brings the Pebblebed Heaths to life, helping people explore before they visit. Its 360° views, walk information and parking guidance help visitors plan with confidence. We’re particularly pleased with the British Sign Language support and accessibility tools, which open the experience to more people. It’s a valuable way to discover the heaths from home and inspire thoughtful exploration in person.”
The Brief
Funded by East Devon National Landscape, the virtual tour brings together the RSPB, South East Devon Wildlife, Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust, with support from The Virtual Tour Experts.
Together, we set out to increase access to nature and encourage engagement with the Pebblebed Heaths among people of different ages, abilities and backgrounds. The aim was to bridge the gap between exploring digitally and visiting in person, combining immersive landscape views with practical information that helps visitors prepare with greater confidence.
The Challenge
Exploring an unfamiliar outdoor location can raise questions about access, routes and what to expect. The tour needed to help visitors familiarise themselves with the heaths before arriving, while offering a meaningful connection to nature for those unable to visit in person.
It also needed to reveal what visitors might otherwise overlook. This protected landscape is home to distinctive wildlife, habitats and heritage, and even regular walkers may be unaware of the richness around them. Information points, British Sign Language support and accessible navigation needed to bring these stories to a wider audience, encouraging deeper understanding and responsible exploration.
The Experience
Visitors can explore key locations across the Pebblebed Heaths in 360°, discover their wildlife and heritage, and find practical information to help plan a visit. Accessibility features include British Sign Language interpretation, keyboard navigation, audio support, high-contrast viewing options and guided navigation tools. The tour also provides accessibility information for suggested walks, recognising that each visitor’s needs are different. For schools, colleges and community groups, the tour offers another way to learn about the heaths’ habitats, cultural heritage and conservation work, whether or not a visit is possible.
The experience can also extend beyond the screen. QR codes placed along walking routes or included in self-guided walk leaflets can link visitors directly to relevant locations within the tour, bringing wildlife, heritage and British Sign Language content into their walk. This creates opportunities to inform and educate people while they explore, helping them discover details they might otherwise pass without noticing.
The Result
The finished tour gives people a way to discover the Pebblebed Heaths from home and prepare for an in-person visit with a clearer sense of what to expect. It brings practical access information and the landscape’s stories into one experience, supporting the partners’ wider work to welcome visitors while protecting sensitive habitats.
The tour also provides a foundation for future development. Additional photography could reveal how the landscape changes through the seasons, with scope to expand translated content for wider audiences. Where mobile connectivity is limited, downloadable or offline content could be explored to support visitors along the routes.
What we achieved
We combined immersive 360° photography, practical visitor information and inclusive navigation to help more people explore the Pebblebed Heaths and prepare for a visit with greater confidence.
Immersive 360° Views
High-quality 360° photography brings the Pebblebed Heaths to life, allowing visitors to explore heathland, woodland and scenic viewpoints at their own pace, wherever they are.
Interactive Walk Maps
Interactive maps help visitors find their bearings, discover walking routes and move between viewpoints, making it easier to understand the landscape before heading out to explore.
Practical Visit Planning
Walk descriptions, car park information and downloadable guides bring useful details together, helping visitors compare routes and prepare for a day on the heaths with greater confidence.
Inclusive Accessibility Tools
British Sign Language support, keyboard navigation, audio options and contrast settings give visitors more ways to engage with the tour and explore in a way that suits them.
Clear, Simple Navigation
Menus, map markers and scene navigation work together to guide visitors through the experience, helping them move between locations and find information at their own pace.
Wildlife & Heritage Insights
Information hotspots introduce the landscape’s wildlife and heritage, while guidance such as the Dog Code encourages visitors to enjoy the heaths with care for their surroundings.View similar case studies
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Unique benefits that are perfect
for environmental virtual tours
- Immersive 360° views showcasing the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths and helping visitors become familiar with the landscape before arriving.
- Remote exploration for people who may be unable to visit in person.
- Practical walk information to help visitors assess routes and plan around their individual needs.
- British Sign Language interpretation, keyboard navigation, audio support and high-contrast viewing options.
- QR-code linking options connecting walking routes and printed guides to relevant tour locations, wildlife information and BSL content.
- Interactive maps showing walking routes and viewpoints to support exploration.
- Car park information to help visitors prepare from the moment they arrive.
- Downloadable walk PDFs providing useful information to take along on a visit.
- Wildlife and heritage content bringing the landscape’s stories to life.
- Visitor guidance and the Dog Code encouraging responsible exploration of sensitive habitats.
- A content management system enabling the team to update scene information, hotspots, images and videos.
- BSL help videos introducing visitors to the tour and its navigation.
The Client
East Devon National Landscape works to conserve and enhance the area’s natural beauty, supporting projects that protect the landscape and help more people discover and enjoy it. Its work brings together local communities, land managers and partner organisations, with accessibility forming part of its commitment to widening opportunities to connect with nature.
The Pebblebed Heaths virtual tour was funded by East Devon National Landscape and created through a partnership between the RSPB, South East Devon Wildlife, Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust, with support from The Virtual Tour Experts. Together, the partners are helping people discover the heaths’ wildlife and heritage, prepare for visits and explore responsibly.
Visit the East Devon National Landscape website.
Featured in BBC News
The East Devon Pebblebed Heaths virtual tour has been featured in BBC News, bringing wider attention to a project designed to help more people connect with this special landscape.
Combining immersive 360° views, practical walk information and inclusive features such as British Sign Language support, the tour gives visitors a way to explore from home and prepare for a visit with greater confidence.
QUICK LINKS
East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Tour | The Virtual Tour Experts