Cambrian Way Website Help Page
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The website has been revamped (December 2019) in an attempt to make it easier to navigate on different sized screens and different platforms and the following notes show what has been intended. It is compatible with Google Chrome and Android browsers but some important features are not supported by Internet Explorer 11. Windows Edge from Microsft supports all of the features and is available from the Microsoft website - it will also work on earlier versions of Windows from Windows 7.
Hints and Tips what3words Negotiating Website Reporting Problems
General Principles
- Scaling to Window Size - Most of the website content is scaled according to the width of the window in which it is operating. This includes text size, buttons and graphics plus the full width image and photo on the page heading. The remainder of the photographs are of fixed size. This can change on mobile phones where internal software can scale things up and down.
- Narrow Windows - Once the width of the window is reduced to less than 900 pixels, many of the objects and text are increased in size to avoid them becoming difficult to read. Below 700 pixels window width the buttons may not behave properly.
- Mobile Phones - When being viewed on mobile phones, the initial view is scaled down to 40% of normal and the software on the phone takes over, allowing the view to be enlarged, reduced and scrolled. This generally results in the text becoming larger in proportion to images, though this can vary from device to device.
- Hiding of Page Content - Because of the large amount of content on the website, most things have been hidden from initial view, enabling the main blue headings on each page to be viewed without too much scrolling. Each heading has a Show button which allows that section to be displayed. The Show button then changes to a Hide button to allow the content to be hidden again if desired.
- Hiding of Sub-sections - Where sections themselves are large, they contain further green buttons to show or hide each sub-section.
- Pull-down Menus - All of the main pages are accessed by pull-down menu buttons at the top of the page. These open up when hovered over with a mouse or pointing device and collapse again when the pointer is moved away. To enable devices without a pointing device to operate, clicking the top button will allow the pull-down to remain in view so that a link can be clicked. Clicking elsewhere will remove it from view. With a pointing device the links can be operated either by hovering or by clicking.
- Pull-down for Current Page - The current page menu button is coloured in blue or, if it is the Home page, in green. The pull-down for the current page shows a black heading with an orange border. Below the heading are internal links to the main sections of the page in white. When a link is clicked it goes to the selected section and also opens up that section for viewing just as if the Show button had been clicked. Note that moving around the current page and showing or hiding sections is very quick as all of the content has already been loaded.
- Pull-down for Other Pages - These pull-down menus have links to the Top of that page first, then to other links within that page. The only difference from links on the same page is that the link does not open up the section selected, but just goes to its heading where the Show button needs to be clicked to reveal the contents. Because the new page has first to be downloaded and initialised this takes longer depending on broadband speed.
- Accommodation Pages - Because there is so much accommodation data, it has been split into three separate pages: Southern, Central and Northern. After selecting the 'Accommodation & Services' section of the 'Route' page there are green link buttons to each of these pages. Once on that page, there is a pull-down menu similar to that on the main pages to link back to other pages of the website (there are only black menu buttons as none of these pages are the current page). There are also green link buttons to select other sections or to go to different categories of accommodation and open them up for viewing. They can also also be accessed by clicking the appropriate Show button on the page.
General Principles what3words Negotiating Website Reporting Problems
Hints and Tips
- Searching for Keywords - Browsers often have a facility for searching for words or phrases within a webpage and this is generally invoked by pressing Ctrl and F. It should be noted that this will only search the page content that is not hidden which initially is only a few headings. To search the whole page, use the 'Show All' button on the right before doing the search. Note that because of the large amount of content on some pages, there may be a slight delay before the 'Show All' or 'Hide All' responds.
- Out-of-Date Web Pages - After updates to the website it is sometimes possible to pick up contents of out-of-date web pages, especially if the pages have been accessed previously through the same device. Old pages may be held locally in the cache and accessed instead of the updated pages. This varies a lot from one browser to another and also depends on various 'Browsing Options' and 'Internet Settings'. If inconsistencies occur, try reloading the web page and, if problems still persist, 'Delete Cached Data' (under 'History' in Chrome or 'Internet Options' in Internet Explorer).
- Text Size - As explained above, most text is sized in proportion to the width of the window. This can result in text that is larger than desired on wide screens with a maximised window. By reducing the size of the window from maximum, the text size can be controlled by varying the window width, which then allows a greater amount of page content to be displayed if the window height remains large. However, if the width is reduced to less than 700px, horizontal scrolling will kick in. This is because most pages cannot function properly with less than 700px width.
Use of what3words to locate places
- what3words is simply a human friendly coordinate system. It is a layer that sits on top of latitude and longitude and allows everyone, everywhere, across all platforms, analogue and digital, to easily communicate their precise location. Instead of long sets of latitude and longitude numbers or Ordnance Survey grid references it gives every 3m square in the world a three word address. These appear to be random but by looking them up via a link to their website it will show the exact location on a choice of zoomable maps or satellite imagery. As well as the exact match for these words, a few alternatives with slightly different spellings are also shown in case a word has been mistaken (e.g. 'result' instead of 'results'). The different ones are often in different continents so it is easy to pick the correct one. An app is available for free download and this can be used to guide you to the location by GPS using suitable software on the phone or to generate three words for your current location so that you can pass it on to others. It is now being used by a number of organisations including the emergency services, as it is easier to communicate three words than a string of numbers.
- We are now using this extensively on the website for most things where a grid reference is given, though the grid references will still be retained for use with O.S. maps. This is an example for Cardiff Castle /// hatch.lowest.socket
Accuracy of what3words entries on this website
- Although what3words will define a location to a 3m square, this is a far greater accuracy than is generally necessary and when shown on the what3words website it is often necessary to zoom out the map in order to see the surrounding area. In remote areas, maps do not show much detail, so it is often more useful to look at the satellite imagery instead, though the image quality of this varies enormously from one area to another. In some areas the satellite image may not show at all but will show when zoomed out by one or more levels. Even when there is no detail, it can still be useful for seeing which direction to head to reach the location. The locations on this website have been resolved to an accuracy that is sufficient for approximate location, but these may not always be precise. For instance if a B&B is in a row of houses it may not show the exact one but should be near enough to enable it to be found from the address. Another important thing to note is that a what3words location that is only a few metres away from a given location will show as an entirely different set of words. Hence anyone obtaining a set of words may get a different set each time they try. This can even happen on the exact same spot as the limits of GPS accuracy mean that it can drift into adjacent 3m squares. Any of these different sets of words is as good as any other as they will all locate within a fairly close distance of the target. There may be instances on this website where the same location has been given a different set of words, but either set can be used.
- If you find any what3words references on this website that could be improved upon for accuracy, please email details to the Webmaster's address below.
General Principles Hints and Tips what3words Reporting Problems
Website Layout - Finding Things
- About the Walk: A brief summery of the walk details.
- Latest News on the Cambrian Way: new developments, problems, corrections
- Useful Links: organisations providing or advertising accommodation, walking organisations, organisations providing walking holidays, other walks near Cambrian Way, National Parks - activities and amenities, environmental and conservation organisations, Ordnance Survey
- Links to Personal Accounts: of walking the Cambrian Way
- Cambrian Way Completions: comments from some who have completed the walk
- Contacting Us: the Cambrian Way Trust and Webmaster
- Southern Section of Route: a brief description of the terrain from Cardiff to Llandovery
- Central Section of Route: a brief description of the terrain from Llandovery to Dinas Mawddwy
- Northern Section of Route: a brief description of the terrain from Dinas Mawddwy to Conwy
- Accommodation & Services: links to accommodation lists for Southern, Central and Northern sections and how to use them (note the 3 accommodation lists themselves are shown further down)
- Route Changes for Cicerone Guide: how the changes came about, list of the 21 Stages, details of the changes
- Planning a Walk: advice on route finding, finding accommodation, weather conditions, contacting Emergency Services, use of what3names, details of road access points and parking along the way stage by stage
- Points of Interest: on or near the route stage by stage
- Mountain Summits: mountains over 2000ft on or near the route
- Cicerone Guidebook: guidebook details and how to obtain it, what will happen to the A.J. Drake guidebook and the support for it
- Free Download of GPX files: for Cicerone route
- Free Download of O.S. Maps: 1:25,000 maps of route on A4 pages
- List Checkpoints: 41 main checkpoints + 3 variants
- Overall Map: main route
- Wild Wales Map: showing main route
- Geology of Wales: map showing main route
- Geology of Wales: table from Precambrian to Present day
- Ordnance Survey: paper maps covering route
- Ordnance Survey: about online mapping service OS Maps
- Origins of the route: a brief history by Tony Drake
- Full History of the route: by Tony Drake - Cambrian Way Committee, 1971 Proposals, involvement of the Recreational Organisations, involvement of the County Councils and the National Parks, the Instant Cambrian Way, effects of the Right to Roam
- Obituary to Tony Drake MBE: - 25/01/1923 to 07/03/2012
- Formation of the Cambrian Way Trust
- A.J. Drake Guidebook and its Support: - details of 7th Edition (now out of print)
- Updates A.J. Drake Guidebook: - downloads of Amendment Sheets and Updates for 6th & 7th Editions
- GPX Files for A.J. Drake Guidebook: earlier route relating to 7th Edition
- Old News Items for A.J. Drake Guidebook: 6th & 7th Editions
- About the Photographs: copyright, permitted use, submitting photos
- List of Photo Albums: links to 13 photo albums from Cardiff to Conwy 800px wide
- Larger Photos & Permitted Use: selection of photos 1600px wide
Three Accommodation Pages - Southern Central and Northern Section
Each Section has accommodation and services under 5 categories:
- All Entries:
Cardiff to Llandovery Llandovery to Dinas Mawddwy Dinas Mawddwy to Conwy- Hotels & B&Bs
Cardiff to Llandovery Llandovery to Dinas Mawddwy Dinas Mawddwy to Conwy- Hostels, Bunkhouses & Self-catering:
Cardiff to Llandovery Llandovery to Dinas Mawddwy Dinas Mawddwy to Conwy- Bothies & Camping:
Cardiff to Llandovery Llandovery to Dinas Mawddwy Dinas Mawddwy to Conwy- Other Services shops, pubs, meals, taxi services:
Cardiff to Llandovery Llandovery to Dinas Mawddwy Dinas Mawddwy to ConwyEntries in the Accommodation pages show the O.S. grid reference of the entry (unless it is a service that is only available by phone or internet).
- By clicking the grid reference, a map will open in a new tab or window showing coloured markers for entries in that area.
- A key panel indicates which marker is which with brief details and the same information is shown when a marker is clicked.
- The map may be zoomed in or out by the + and - buttons at the top left and also by spreading of the fingers on touch screen devices. The map can be moved by dragging with the mouse, or by finger on touch screen devices.
- When two or more markers are close together they are indicated by a * and it may be necessary to zoom in to distinguish which they are, though an attempt has been made to them clearer by adjusting sizes of these markers.
- The Cambrian Way route for the local area is shown as well as any optional variants (in different colours).
- Green flags show the Start of each of the Cambrian Way Main Stages and show the Stage number.
- Links are provided to the next map area and also back to the previous map area for added convenience.
- An attempt has been made to make the map page fit in either landscape or portrait mode on mobile devices but some adjustments to size may be needed on the wide range of different devices. When trying to enlarge the page, avoid touching the map itself as this will just zoom the map rather than adjusting the page position and size.
General Principles Hints and Tips what3words Negotiating Website
Reporting Problems with the Website
For any problems encountered with the website or any other comments regarding its construction, please contact the webmaster George Tod at: webmaster@cambrianway.org.uk