Time to fess up - I'm a complete Luddite. This newfangled technology is fine and dandy in the workplace but I don't want to play with it at home, not when I could be reading a good book.

My mobile phone was state of the art about 2002 and I thought Snapchat's Reggie Brown was a soul singer.

So when an invitation to try some virtual reality appeared in my inbox, it seemed I was being nudged into getting down with the kids - or whatever they say these days.

Cumbrian Homes has launched the technology at its latest development, where visitors can try it out in the reception office.

They're all amazed by it, apparently - those that don't get motion sickness, that is. Could I be converted to this fancy pants?

A smartphone with the virtual reality (VR) tour uploaded on it was slotted into a huge monogoggle which was then placed on my head and it was showtime.

The first thing that struck me was how clear and bright the images filling my vision were. I was immediately in a different place, with no other stimuli to distract me.

Although - obviously - I didn't know what to expect, or how this new world would unfold in front of me, the system was incredibly easy to use.

Hotspots have been created around the virtual site and the user just looks at the number relating to the hotspot – for instance, number 6 for apartments in the development, number 2 for houses at the top of the site.

The technology recognises that you want to look at this in more detail and the next thing you know you’re entering the building.

I found myself inside one of the manor apartments, walking up and down the stairs, looking along corridors and into bedrooms, all done by turning my head.

It was pretty impressive but felt strange and I didn’t want to spend that long with the goggles on. In fact, I couldn't wait to get them off.

No doubt people used to computer games and other VR applications will have no problem with it but I have to admit that it didn't float my boat.

Cumbrian Homes' commercial manager Scott Edwards says the 360-degree computer-generated virtual tour at the Penrith site allows the buyer to actually see what the site is going to look like once it's finished, taking away the guesswork for buyers.

“I don’t know of any other developer in Cumbria offering this. There's a bit of it going on in London but other than that, not a lot. So we’re not the first in the UK but we’re certainly among the first.”

He thinks this virtual reality tour is a move away from traditional methods of viewing houses, such as online or with printed brochures in an estate agent's office.

“We definitely see it as a swing away from physical media towards this sort of media and it’s not just pictures on websites, it’s a first viewing on a house.”

The VR tour was created by software designer James Bullimore, who is based in Skirwirth, near Penrith. He designed 3D models of all the house types on the development and then textured them in stone or brick.

"I’ve even made the whole site based on topography so users will get the feeling of the fall of the land, the undulations and contours, which is really quite special in CGI and housing terms.

“The difference with this is that you might see a lot of 360 VR photographs or video tours but because this is all CGI, there’s something quite magical about it."

My verdict? It’s certainly an interesting and unusual way of looking for a new home but is Cumbria ready for it? I didn't feel the magic - but at least I didn't feel sick.

Jo Blakemore is property content editor for the CN Group.