Destination NC500

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We suggest taking a look at Motorhome Republic as a good starting point for comparing prices on campervan rental in the UK. They have listings for many of the major campervan rental firms in the UK. You can see their UK listings here. The popularity of the North Coast 500 has brought both benefits and negative consequences to this part of Scotland. Some of the negative side effects of increased tourism have been increased littering, overwhelmed local services during the summer, and more traffic accidents and complaints.

Some of the islands are really small and you can easily explore on foot whereas others you would probably want a car or to book a driving tour with a local. Inverness Airport has flights to and from a number of locations in the UK, Ireland, and continental Europe. If you are arriving from outside the UK, your flight is likely to have a layover in a larger UK airport like London, Glasgow, or Edinburgh. Both, my wife and I, are in love with castles, so we would definitely like to sleep a few nights in several of the famous Castle Hotels, however, we would REALLY love to include the NC500 route in our schedule… In Inverness, you can rent a car from a number of rental car agencies in Inverness Airport or downtown Inverness. Just be sure your rental is fully insured. Enterprise is usually our go-to company for car hire. I think based on what you said you are looking at a Scotland itinerary that looks something like this, and if so, it seems pretty reasonable to me:Yes, as I am sure you expected, we would not recommend this. As you have read on our blogs as well as it sounds like from other people online who have done the trip, we’d not recommend that route for you. Basically you’ll have 1.5 days or a little more since you arrive late on 24th and need to be in Inverness by the evening of 26th. The best time to drive the North Coast 500 for most people is between May and October as during this period you’ll find most attractions and restaurants open, the greatest variety of lodging, and the best chances for warmer weather. However, this also corresponds with the busiesttime along the North Coast 500 which is from early May to late September. That is great that you have more time for your North Coast 500 trip and you could easily make all of the overnights from 1 night to 2 nights if you wanted. I’d definitely recommend spending a bit of time exploring the area around Inverness as there is a lot to see if you haven’t been before (e.g., Loch Ness, Fort George, Cawdor Castle, Culloden, etc.). The NC500 is not an actual single road or highway like Route 66 or the Pacific Coast Highway, but is a series of existing roads that form a loop around the northern Highlands. If you are trying to plan your route and what attractions you might want to stop at along the route, we recommend that you take a look at our detailed 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary.

For the most part, you’ll want to bring the same things you’d bring on any road trip, but there are a few things you may want to consider for a Scottish road trip. First, you may want to invest in a guidebook for the North Coast 500 or if your travels are taking you elsewhere in Scotland, a Scotland guidebook.Here is our suggested 5 day Scottish Highlands itinerary that may help a bit for things to do/see. Although with a baby, you won’t be able to see as much and will need to move at a slower pace each day. We also started this one from Edinburgh but it should hopefully give you some ideas. Just come prepared for the weather and don’t let it stop you from enjoying your trip! How Many Days Does it Take to Drive the North Coast 500? Inverness Mobile Tyre Fitting are a local, family run company who supply, fit and repair tyres 24/7 using their mobile service, covering all of the North Coast 500, Highland, Strathspey and Moray-shire region. Be prepared before you head out on your journey and add their number to your phone – 07785295534! Deer lovers can spot red deer throughout the Scottish Highlands and the best time to see them is early in the morning in the fields away from villages. We saw loads of them, especially along the western and southern parts of the route. If you want to get really upclose to a large herd of deer, we can recommend a guided tour with gamekeeper Colin at Reraig Forest near Lochcarron. It is recommended by the NC500 to not drive anything over 18 feet (about 5.5 meters) on these. Partly because of the narrow stretches and also because you need to be able to safely pull into and reverse the vehicle into passing places which are not always that long.

Many thanks again for all the wonderful information and links and in advance for whtever advice you may have for us. If you are traveling off-season, there will be fewer travelers, but many of the businesses are seasonal so there are fewer lodging options and attractions open between October and April. So again it is wise to plan ahead. How do you decide how long to drive the North Coast 500?I would recommend taking the route from Ullapool south to Inverness and stopping at the many scenic and interesting places along that part of the route. There is lots of lovely scenery, gardens, hiking, and wildlife viewing opportunities in that area and also a couple of whisky distilleries you could visit. Plenty to keep you busy for 1.5 to 2 days and you can follow the final two days of our recommended 1 week NC500 route itinerary. Perhaps also consider extending your trip if you can to do the rest of the route after the pipe band championship or planning a second trip where you’ll fully be able to enjoy the scenery and attractions that make this a wonderful area to visit. My wife, Nicole, is in love with trains, and taking the famous steam train ride with the Jacobite is a MUST! Short hikes– There are hiking trails all over the North Coast 500 and you’ll likely find many suitable for your kids. If you have babies or infants that need to be pushed in strollers, look for all-ability paths which are suitable for wheelchairs as they also work for prams. Planning a North Coast 500 road trip can be a bit overwhelming as it is a relatively new route and there isn’t as much information available online or in guidebooks compared to other top road trips around the world. But not to worry, we’ll provide all the information you’ll need to plan your NC500 road trip. Have at least a tentative itinerary can also help you identify and fit in places you really want to see that have limited opening times (e.g., a museum or attraction only open 3 days a week or a restaurant only open on weekends for dinner).

If you are someone who hates planning ahead and wants to be able to stop and spend as much time in a place as you wish, I’d consider doing a camping or campervan trip along the NC500. That way you won’t need to search for last-minute lodging each night which can be difficult on sections of the route. This way all you need to worry about in advance is your transportation and camping gear and you will have the flexibility of either traditional lodging or camping each night. Once you have your flights and dates set, I would then recommend booking your sea kayaking trip as Tim can often only do one activitiy per day since it is mainly him leading all the tours so he is often booked out in advance. Then I’d sort out your rental car and accommodation once you have those in place. I would recommend starting with our 1 week North Coast 500 itinerary which will help you plan your days around the NC500, I’d recommend spending 7 to 10 days on that route but you can certainly spend more. If you do more than 7, you can just add additional nights to some of your stops so you have more time in some areas. This is especially a good idea if traveling with young kids. A very popular time of year in which to visit the North Highlands. The spring and summer months bring long days and lighter evenings, allowing you to stay active for longer – you’ll be able to take an evening walk, play golf until late, or just get out and about and explore. During spring and summer, you’ll also be able to see seabirds nesting, and perhaps even spot dolphins and whales. To maximise your chances of seeing these majestic mammals, why not book a boat trip? During spring and summer, the North Highlands hosts plenty of events, from traditional Highland Games, to food and music festivals. The majority of visitors to the North Coast 500 take their trips between May and September. However, while summer brings longer days, lighter evenings and warmer temperatures, the autumn and winter seasons are becoming more popular – these colder months open up a magical world of different activities and experiences that can be enjoyed even when the temperature drops.

Durness

I’d recommend at least 3 nights to do the NC500 – 5 days is ideal. We have a NC500 hotel guide that has all the main castle hotels listed. Let us know if you have a specific question about any of them. We only have a camping itinerary up so far, but will have more NC500 itineraries up before your trip in Sept., if you want to sign up for our monthly newsletter to be alerted with our new articles. If you are thinking about taking on something that feels a bit challenging, we can recommend a local guide, Tim Hamlet of Hamlet Mountaineering as a guide. He can do day hikes or longer overnight or even multi day trips. We’ve done kayaking and canoeing trips and Laurence and my brother just booked a trip in May to do a overnight hiking/camping/kayaking trip with him.