Today

A new SatNav tour guide that alerts motorists to Britain's greatest historical sites as they drive near them is set to spark fresh interest in our heritage.

Invented by history buff Daniel Taylor, the RoadTour software works with Garmin satellite navigation equipment to trigger audio commentary and pictures of 600 key attractions, including castles, stately homes and battlefields.

The low-cost software responds to satellite prompts as cars approach places of historical interest throughout the UK, delivering fascinating information narrated by a friendly female voice through the SatNav.

Five years in the making, this invention fulfils Daniel Taylor's passion for history and his desire to help Britons use technology to get the most out of our heritage.

Daniel Taylor, RoadTour: "Restoring our knowledge and understanding of the history of this amazing country is what this product is about. A friendly reminder, which tempts us into exploring our heritage as we're driving up the M40 or wherever, seems to me to be altogether a good thing."

Research commissioned by RoadTour shows that a quarter of people think Leeds Castle is in Yorkshire, rather than Kent, one in ten that the Romans built the A1, and 10 per cent of 18-24 year olds that Stonehenge is in Norfolk. A further 38 per cent of all those questioned by YouGov believe that Hadrians Wall is in Scotland, not England.

Once loaded onto Garmin Sat Nav equipment, the software package features a total of 600 sites in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each has an average 90 seconds of commentary, researched and written by a team of 12 amateur historians. There's at least one picture of each place, plus opening times and prices where relevant.

Mr Taylor concluded: "We hope our guide will tempt people to pull off the motorway or A-road and visit some of the wonderful sites which have helped shape Britain's history. But even if they don't, their journeys will be enlivened and filled with interesting stories and snippets about the country through which they're travelling."

Some of the commentary extracts from the RoadTour Heritage software:

Stonehenge, Wilts:

"Some say the ancient circle of stones are really dancing giants who were petrified by a beam of sunlight, others that Merlin the wizard conjured them from Ireland to England and that the warrior queen Boudicca is buried beneath them. There are even claims that it was built by aliens."

Tintagel Castle, Cornwall:

"Tintagel is a romantic ruin where your imagination can run wild. Was this castle atop a rocky headland really the birthplace of King Arthur? Is this where Tristan fell in love with Isolde? And did Merlin the wizard weave his magic within its walls?"

Berry Pomeroy, Devon:

"Legend has it that Berry Pomeroy is haunted by a white lady, the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy who was starved to death in the dungeons by her jealous sister. Then there's the area where two brothers rode their horses off the ramparts to escape a siege, which has become known as Pomeroy's leap. Unearthly screams and thuds have sometimes been heard here. Elsewhere in the castle people have reported seeing strange lights and shadows and hearing voices. Enjoy your trip to Berry Pomeroy - if you dare!"