Our website has undergone many changes and updates as it has grown over the last 16 years. Below are screen shots of some of the different designs used on the website as the addition of new content and sections has required a redesign to the previous versions.

2000

The 2000 website had links to all the site pages on the simple top menu.

2001

The 2001 website had the main links moved to the left side and an additional menu added to the right side of the page.

2002

The 2002 site saw the launch of our first "mobile" website aimed at the growing market of PDA's and WAP mobile phones.

2003

The 2003 we site came away from the side menu system to a top dropdown menu.

2004

The top menu system was also used on the 2004 version but with the addition of extra sections.

2005

Christmas version show below with the return of the side menu as more sections were added including a commmunity forum.

2008

The 2008 design saw the side menus broken down into simpler sections with sub pages being shown when each section was selected.

2010-Spring 2012

The 2010 design saw the return to a top level menu on all pages with a left side sub menu on all other pages.

We welcome three new accommodation businesses who have chosen Virtual Swanage to advertise their properties.

Number 83, High Street, Swanage 

7 Ulwell Road

Richmond Road

We also want to thank the event’s organisers who have added their events to the event diary www.virtual-swanage.co.uk/events/

Its FREE to advertise your events with us and your events will be seen by thousands of people every day and also shown on our smartphone mobile apps.

The Virtual Swanage website has now been running for over 16 years and has grown considerably since its first version which contained only 4 pages. As websites evolve and change the design and look of the websites have to change to keep pace with the changes in technology and the way people access information online.

The website has undergone a facelift and now has a fresh new look.

The new look website features all the same useful and local information as before but has been organised into easier to navigate and use pages and some new features have been added.

The old navigation could take 3 or 4 clicks to get to some pages and the new menu system will reduce this down to one or two clicks to reach the same information.

Some pages such as the home page and accommodation pages now feature a new paging system which allows us to show all the businesses that have active special offers rather than only showing 10 at random as before. To move to the next or previous offers or events simply click the small round buttons below the lists to browse.

The local directory has been updated and the Where to Eat section is now independent of the other businesses, clubs and organisations, and now features in the top level menu on all pages.

A new Explore the Area section has been added which contains our photo gallery, local information including emergency contact info, travel and other local resources. The A-Z of clubs, businesses and organisations is now in this area along with weather reports, local history and Education section.

We have added a new page to make it easier for local users to add their businesses, clubs, organisations, accommodation and events. The new Advertise with Us page is linked on the footer from every page.

There have been lots of other small changes and improvements throughout the site which will also help people find our website from the millions of other websites with Swanage information.

Up to June 2012 has been a mix of increases some months and losses on other months

2011 Visitor Stats

2012 Visitor Stats

One of more than 4,000 beacons are being lit across the Commonwealth as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Filmed from the southern side of Swanage from approx 1.6 miles away

We have removed the gallery shop from the website but you can continue to buy prints online from our photographers from their own websites which have a much wider selection of images available as prints and canvas.

Andrew Dorey Photography www.andrewdorey.co.uk

Andy Farrer Photography www.andyfarrer.co.uk

If you keep quiet and still when out in the Isle of Purbeck you can see lots of local wildlife like this

We have been reviewing our visitor stats for the Virtual Swanage website for the first four months of 2012 compared to 2011. The stats show an increase in the accommodation, events, local directory and the Buy and Sell sections but a decrease in the Gallery and the blog.

 From these stats it seems that more people are looking for accommodation for the current year and are looking for events to visit while on their holidays and also local business, clubs and organisations. The gallery hasn't had as many updates this year as we had planned due to other work commitments and weather conditions and this also results in a lack of new blog posts notifying of new additions to the site.

We ask all the business owners who are listed with us to let us know if you allow Dogs and other pets in your businesses. We would like to complile a list of pet friendly businesses to add to the website.

Our family welcomes yours to join us at Easter, from little Silvestre in Europe’s only orang-utan crèche to our family groups of woolly monkeys and golden-cheeked gibbons!

If you’re looking for some eggcitement this Easter, Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre in Wareham is the place to be!  Once again this Easter weekend there’s a tasty treat for children visiting Monkey World as from Good Friday (6 April) until Easter Monday (9 April) the first 100 children to enter the park each day will receive a FREE chocolate Easter egg!

Home to over 240 rescued and endangered primates of 17 different species, Monkey World is a fun and fascinating day out for the whole family. Daily keeper talks provide interesting information about the parks residents, many of whom have been neglected or cruelly treated in the past.  There’s also plenty of opportunity for the kids to ‘monkey around’ in the Great Ape Play area – the largest in the south – or a soft play area in the Treetops Café for younger ones.

With a range of food options and picnic spots available, plus a well stocked gift shop, Monkey World is the perfect Easter holiday day out and there’s no better time to visit as the Rescue Centre celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary this year! The park officially opened on 14th July 1987, and on the same date this year Monkey World is hosting a spectacular ‘Party In The Park’! Tickets for this evening event are now on sale and more details are available at www.monkeyworld.org.

There’s no better time to come and celebrate Monkey World’s achievements throughout the past quarter of a century, so enjoy a fascinating family day out this Easter and come early to make sure your child is one of the lucky 100 children collecting an eggciting chocolate treat!