North Coast 500 The Road Trip of a Lifetime – NC500 Guide Book by Robbie Roams

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Note that this road is generally considered unsuitable for larger motorhomes and if you are towing a caravan. It can also close due to poor weather, especially in winter. So instead, you would want to take the A896 that goes between Sheildaig in the north and Ardarroch in the south, and thus skips the Applecross peninsula. Continue from Corrieshalloch on the A832 out around the coast. If you want to visit a beautiful and fairly deserted white sand beach, a detour to Mellon Udrigle beach is a great option, after which you’ll come to the village of Aultbea where there is a nice memorial to the wartime convoys. You’ll find this in a small park just north of the village. Visit the town of Durness, take a stroll through the village and heat yourself up with a hot chocolate before you head on to Handa Island on the western coast of Scotland. Take a Boat Trip to Handa Island Boat trip out on Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle –The Loch Ness Monster is a national treasure – and don’t let anyone tell you she isn’t real. Take a leisurely boat trip out on Loch Ness* to the dramatic Urquhart Castle. Day two of our NC500 7 day itinerary takes us further north along the coast and involves exploring some of the most breathtaking castles in Scotland. As the sun rises in the sleepy town of Dornoch, the sound of gulls overhead and the waves crashing on the shore of the beach, it is time to get ready for a busy day ahead.

For more options see our guide to our favourite B&B’s along the NC500, as well as our overall guide to NC500 accommodation. Thurso– a good wee town for lunch. Walk along the river to the beach to watch seals. Read more – Things to do in Thurso Why not take longer to visit huge sea caves, sail to a tropical island to see puffins, or bag Scotland’s most northerly Munro … there is so much to see and do along the route it’s a shame to not do it justice.

I am thinking of doing the 5 day tour, I will be driving alone and not good at map reading . I would depend on my Sat Nav. Is that practical giving reception etc. Are places well signed. I intend to follow your 5 day Itinerary

The last location you’ll pass on the first day of our itinerary is the Whaligoe steps, a series of steps carved out of the cliff face here which lead down to the sheltered Whaligoe Bay. This was once a popular harbour for local fishermen due to its natural protection, but when artificial harbours were built nearby, it fell into disuse.

Your trip to Scotland will be a lot more comfortable with a midge net and midge spray. These little biting bugs can be enough to ruin a trip if you don’t have the equipment to protect yourself from them. A repelling candle can also be helpful if you are sitting oustide. We hope this is the year you get to do it, it’s one of our favourite parts of the world. We’re actually setting of in a few days to do it again, and also to visit Orkney, Lewis & Harris as well 🙂 Can’t wait! Visit the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve– explore the woodlands, home to 350-year-old Scots Pines remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest. Beinn Eighe is a Unesco Biosphere, covering 500,000ha meters of protected landscape.

The road rises to a height of 2,053 ft with gradients of 1 in 5 and hairpin bends. Not advised for learner drivers, very large vehicles or caravans after first mile”. To help you plan your own epic adventure, we are giving you this detailed North Coast 500 7 day itinerary completely free. This guide to the North Coast 500 contains all the information you need to know, including the best North Coast 500 accommodation, a complete NC500 camping itinerary, and all of the best sights to see along the NC500 route. Gairloch is a fantastic place to visit and for exploring Wester Ross and the north west Highlands . Situated on the shore of Loch Gairloch amongst the awe-inspiring scenery of Wester Ross, Gairloch offers a wealth of spectacular scenery and activities for visitors. There are several good sandy beaches in the area, such as the Big Sand and Redpoint, which offers lovely views to Raasay, Skye and the Western Isles. The trip ends making the short drive to the Highland capital of Inverness. We can arrange additional nights here or further south as suits. I recommend that your stops are no more than 1-1.5 hours apart unless much of the journey is on a motorway or you know the rules of the road. 2 hours on mountain roads will exhaust even the most patient of drivers.Our new book North Coast 500 Where to Eat and Stay shares the best places to eat and stay around the NC500 and includes whether places are dog friendly, accessible, have wifi, electric vehicle charging and whether they cater to dietary requirements. Paired with our Destination NC500 guidebook, you will have the perfect combo to start planning your roadtrip of a lifetime. Whale Cruise – Take a Hebridean Whale Cruise to spot otters, seabirds and even dolphins and sharks in the waters off Gairloch. Attadale Gardens– where, in the late 19th century a plant collector started a garden on the Attadale Estate, importing rhododendrons from all over the world. Visit Attadale Gardens. How Long SHOULD you spend on the NC500 is the better question to ask, and to that our answer is between 7-14 days. When we first set off on the North Coast 500, we spent a total of 8 days on the coastal route. We found this to be enough time to see all of the best sights on the NC500, however, we could have easily spent more time at some of the beaches and mountain ranges to really explore them properly. Old School House B&Bin Gairloch – This relatively new B&B is run by Sarah and Rob who have spent many years in the area.