SETTLE Stories has created the first Google Expedition in the national park, with support from the authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF).

The expedition is a virtual reality journey from Settle Market Place to one of the park’s landmark archaeological sites, Victoria Cave.

Settle Stories’ expedition features 360 degree images of the route to Victoria Cave, which goes across spectacular limestone hills, and of the interior of the cave itself - and all people need to do is download the Google Expedition app.

The charity received a grant of just under £5,000 to help make the project possible.

Farmer and archaeologist Tom Lord, who appears in the expedition, said: “Caves are part of what makes the national park special. Taking a virtual walk to Victoria Cave with the Google Expedition gives schools and audiences worldwide an entirely new way of encountering one of the the park’s most remarkable caves”.

Sita Brand for Settle Stories said: “People can experience the Google Expedition with headsets at the Yorkshire Festival of Story here in Settle. We’ve shared it with some young people and older people locally in care homes, and everybody has loved experiencing the Yorkshire Dales virtually.”

Chris Clark, the national park’s member champion for sustainable development, added: “The ‘Journey to Victoria Cave’ Google Expedition will help people to understand and enjoy one of the most famous places in the national park. Victoria Cave reveals the prehistory of the Dales. Now people from around the world can visit it in virtual reality.”