the Bealach Na Ba) may be closed due to bad weather. For those with less time, you can also check out our less detailed 5 day NC500 itinerary. For non-whisky stops, consider Black Isle Brewery and Dunnet Bay Distillery (best known for its gin and vodkas). Yes, I think for those worried to drive themselves (or can’t due to rental restrictions), a guided bus tour or private driver guide of the North Coast 500 route can be helpful and definitely takes the worry out of driving and allows you to enjoy the scenery. (BTW I’m a west coast American and have driven Scotland’s single lane roads before, but my British son-in-law will be driving on this trip, so we’ll be less of a menace!) Are there places that I can call for a shuttle? There is also this map of the route; however, this is not the official NC500 route map and has mixed reviews. If you are bringing your own car or renting, most of the things you need should already be in it, but it is important to check before you go. But the North Coast 500 is designed for touring, sightseeing, and taking things slowly. If you are planning to spend time camping outside (and standing/sitting in one place for awhile) or are particularly sensitive to insect bites, you may consider a midge net. After reading your reply I think we might go for around 10 days for the NC500, a week for the islands en some days for edinburg / inverness etc. I also wanted to say that there are several people who are part of our Facebook group who are planning to drive the North Coast 500 at the end of summer or in September. During our 12 day winter trip in February most days were mixed (rain/light snow/clouds/some sun) and it rained at least a little on almost every day of the trip. But just let us know if you have any questions. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland’s northern coast, offering drivers rugged landscapes, sandy beaches, wildlife, museums, castles, whisky distilleries, and so … – Glencanisp Lodge outside Lochinver – dog-friendly hotel run by local community members, great location for hikers Just let us know if you have any questions as you start your planning, and have a lovely time at Loch Lomond! You can see more about all the suggested attractions and where they fit on the route by taking a look at our North Coast 500 itinerary. If you are planning on drinking, even one drink could put you over the legal limit, so plan to stay in after drinking, have a designated driver, or call a taxi. I’d recommend heading over to either the main island of Orkney (get the ferry from John O’Groats or nearby) or to the Isles of Lewis and Harris (ferry from Ullapool). Go ‘off the beaten track’ and discover the villages and hamlets off the route. The Highlanders' Museum (Queen's Own Highlanders Collection). We’d like to take 2 weeks doing the drive. W. e’ve had several readers ask us if the North Coast 500 is appropriate for younger children and what stops we’d recommend for kids. – Loch Fleet – This national reserve is a nice spot and there are plenty of walking trails, many flat and easy. I enjoyed reading the information about the NC500. Indoor attractions often don’t allow dogs (as you probably expect) but you can always take turns watching the dogs when you want to visit these places. We will be sure to bear this in mind when we undertake the trip In terms of food, I’d expect fresh, rustic, and homestyle meals that rely on the local produce at most eateries along the NC500. This post may contain affiliate links. – Summer Isles Hotel in Achiltibuie – I think they allow dogs in many of the rooms plus in the bar area (but not the restaurant) So the ruggedness continues to increase along the drive which is nice. Great article guide on the North Coast 500. Hi, I’m planning to do the NC500 over about 10-12 days this May in my camper van.I have solar power for lights and recharging phone, torch and e-bike but my cooker and fridge run off autogas. If you are looking for a special place to stay to celebrate your wedding anniversary, I’d also check out this list of hotels on the North Coast 500 as it includes some special places like castle hotels, historic homes, country estates, and really nice B&Bs. The speed limits are often low and single-track roads mean a lot of slowing down and stopping. There are many rental car companies. Thanks in advance. Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard! I need to find couchsurfers for all rout in a most big cities. However, you are likely going to be causing frustration to those behind you wanting to drive at a normal speed, especially those not on vacation. You might also be wondering if you can do the North Coast 500 by train. Now, you’ve probably stumbled upon this post because you’re already planning to drive the North Coast 500, an award-winning route in north Scotland. Planning on taking the new Overland vehicle on its first official adventure in early September with our 2 dogs, so came across your guide. If you have more time, we’d recommend at least 5 days to complete the route. So it may not be ideal for such a short trip with a baby and wanting to see a lot. We will be in an Elddis Autoquest 200 motor home which is approx 19 feet in length and 7 feet wide. Sorry for the delayed response but hope this is helpful as you being your North Coast 500 road trip tomorrow. Would greatly appreciate if you could share your thoughts please. We’ve driven the route several times and never had an issue finding fuel (regular or diesel). Everyone will have a different set of general packing items they bring on any trip and things they enjoy having on a road trip. If you plan to rent a car in another country, please check your rental agreement as bringing a car to Scotland may be against your car’s rental terms (particularly any ferry crossings). We haven’t traveled the route with kids, but we definitely think it doable and can make for a nice holiday for children of any age. – Royal Marine Hotel in Bora – dog-friendly hotel that caters a lot to golfers Most of these we’ve stayed at ourselves. As you say, there are plenty of other places to occupy our attention. Glad you are enjoying our monthly newsletter and articles. Jessica. Wishing you a wonderful road trip! You can check out the North Coast 500 Moto Experience in Inverness and the Highland Motorcycle Hire in Muir of Ord (20 km west of Inverness). You could still be charged even if you are riding a bike. 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. Hopefully, you’re paying attention to the road, which means you’ll miss much of the passing scenery. I think your itinerary is certainly doable with a baby, I’d just check the driving distances each day and see what you want to do/see along the way so you can better plan your driving distances. Great blog, thank you. We’ll try to keep this list updated but if you know of any other group tours, please let us know! I have only 4 days for the trip and not so much money to stay at hotels. If you are looking for stunning landscapes, fascinating history, endless horizons, ancient castles, golden beaches and crystal-clear water, all wrappe, Done this trip loads of times since the 60s roads better now then all single track with passing places we can do it in a day from where we live we're lucky in the earlier days took a week with a tent, Four of us rented an Astra from Hertz in Inverness after flying up (but got a Corsa - beware of Hertz - anywhere) and drove to Ullapool. But in some areas, like Applecross, there is only one campsite so for places like this it is good to book a bit in advance if you can. Many thanks for the advice Jessica. I … We’re really looking forward to the trip, especially as my son has recently started experimenting with his new camera and can’t wait to capture the scenery ! Historic Sites, Military Bases & Facilities. Their website also lists some affiliate hostels along the NC500. – Castle of Mey has a farm animal petting/viewing area that might appeal. I’d recommend 2 nights on the Isle of Skye after you finish the NC500 drive. We are planning to write a North Coast 500 itinerary or two, and more related content out over the next few months on both of our blogs. Ice and snow often close this route during the winter months. They will be very grateful! My wife, Nicole, is in love with trains, and taking the famous steam train ride with the Jacobite is a MUST! You mention hiring a driver or doing a tour. There are lots of seldom visited sandy spots along the route, and you can discover your own spots by just asking a local villager. Jessica. Sharon. Thanks for the advice. If you are traveling off-season you’ll want to really check ahead. Hope you have many more chances to return and visit the northern Highlands of Scotland! Main rental car companies include  Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Arnold Clark, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Focus Vehicle Rental. The roads around Scotland’s northern coast have always been spectacular – but in 2015 the world suddenly took notice. Please check your e-mail to confirm your sign-up. This 500 mile coastal route spans the north coast of the Highlands taking in the best bits of this glorious region. ), we’d recommended trying to book your lodging 3 months in advance (especially if you are thinking hotels, B&B’s or self-catering options) as the amount of lodging in some areas is currently not sufficient for the demand at the busiest times of the year. The North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most epic road trips taking you over 500 miles around the far north coast of Scotland. You can book your RV for the UK through them here. Hi sorry if this has been asked before, are there Just note that some sections can be dangerous for bikers, horse riders, and pedestrians (e.g., blind turns, no bike lanes, one-track roads) so be sure to take proper safety measures and I would not recommend this route for inexperienced cyclists. Enterprise are usually our favourite for car hire. we love Scotland and lived there several years until our children wanted us back in Dorset Paul, Hi Paul, Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. But even right along the route, few people get out of their cars to hike around lochs, hills, beaches, or fields so if you get out into nature you’ll probably find yourself relatively alone. To sum up, you will have an amazing time if your are careful and prepared, as well as open to a bit of flexibility. 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. I am guessing you are specifically referring specifically to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)? Then you can use this to create your own personalized North Coast 500 Packing List. Just let us know if you have any questions if you are planning a trip. Could you, yes, but you’ll just be driving most of the time and won’t really have time to enjoy much along the route. Here is some ideas for the Isle of Skye and also a Skye & Scottish Highlands itinerary that might be helpful. As noted, the weather is pretty unpredictable year round and I’d come prepared for some cool weather and rain. However, many of the scenic viewpoint stops are viewable from the parking area or a very short walk from it and even some of the longer paths have been designed for those with restricted mobility in mind such as this one in Assynt. While most lodging doesn’t accept dogs, there are a number of hotels and B&B that do so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a place to stay. We’ve written an article on lodging tips (what to expect, when to book) and created a list of, You can stay at campsites with a tent or campervan, do, Some campsites (in order as they are located counterclockwise along the route) include, If you are planning to camp, you’ll want to check out this. Continue Reading; Ullapool. Hopefully sooner than later. The largest city (by far) is Inverness with a population of close to 50,000 people and the next biggest places are towns and villages like Ullapool, Durness, Dornoch, Wick, Thurso, and Lochinver which each have a population of under 2,000 people! Its an iconic hill here and attracts a lot of hikers and climbers in the warmer months. Hi Anda, Thanks so much and you get a chance to do a NC500 road trip some day Best, Jessica, First off, it was great meeting you guys at TBex! The least expensive B&B rooms usually have shared bathrooms. There is also public transportation, depending on where you are. Closer to Inverness, you can also find some nice little local beach spots around Nairn, the Black Isle, Potmahomack, Dornoch, and Embo. Then you can plan accordingly if you know that you are going to have to fill up along the trip. There are also a lot of attractions in and around Inverness worth seeing (Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, Cawdor Castle, etc.). You might want to give them a call and ask if they provide transport in such situations. They often start biting around the end of June. The first is that if you are not used to single track roads, driving the route counterclockwise helps ease you into them better than driving it clockwise. Please, please, please familiarise yourself with how to drive on a single-track road in Scotland. The minimum number of days we’d recommend to drive the North Coast 500 is 5 days, but 7 to 10 days would be ideal. Obviously, the best time to drive the North Coast 500 is the time you have available, and if you need to set out at a less than opportune time of the year, just be prepared and be flexible. If you plan to hike, just be prepared by bringing along good hiking shoes, rain gear, Now, six months is a pretty long time in advance so don’t worry if you just decided to drive the NC500 and it is 2 months away, you’ll still find plenty of places with availability, but start booking now. If you plan to speed around, you could do it with 3 full days and night, but we’d recommend more time. 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. Just wondering what’s the laws about pulling up in a safe place and having a bbq? That sounds like a good plan if you have about 3 weeks for your holiday. For the midges, you will likely encounter them since you will be there in July. But the weather is typically warmer and all the seasonal businesses and ferry routes should be open. We would like to hit the road on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, going North toward Inverness; although it has not been made official quite yet. I’d probably set your dates and flights first, and then you can think about hotels and any tours. Hi Kathleen, Yes, unfortunately, cars are not legally required to carry a spare tyre in the UK so many of the rental cars do not come with a spare. We are thinking of going in September and have used your article to refer to as it provides such in-depth information and has been extremely helpful to plan our journey. We are doing the trip, starting the 4th October for 10 nights and haven’t planned any stops yet along the way. She has the experience and skills to do this kind of thing, but I would like her to phone me every evening as a ‘safety check’. When is the Best Time of Year to Travel the North Coast 500? You can also find local whiskies, beers, and other beverages made in the Scottish Highlands offered on most menus. But it sounds like you still had some great stays on the NC500 and were well looked after by the hosts and staff along the route. The North Coast 500 Map has been created for those interpid adventurers undertaking the 500 mile round trip from Inverness, through the Black Isle all around the North Coast of Scotland, down the uniquley scenic West Coast of Sutherland and Wester Ross before finally returning cross-country to Inverness. But if you have 2 full days you could definitely explore a portion, perhaps drive the west part from Inverness to either Ullapool or Lochinver or do the east part from Inverness to Wick or John o’ Groats? There is always the chance of temporary road closures and such so I would check the road conditions during your trip, but you’ll probably find plenty of people to chat about the roads going in both directions at the campsites along the route. What you need and want to pack is going to depend a lot on you (what do you normally pack for trips?) Is there any specific information to tell for a 2-3 week trip on and around the NC500? But you can spend less if you stay in simple B&Bs (£40-£80 per night for 2 people), hostels (£17-£25/person), or campsites (£5-£30). This looks like a fantastic drive! We’ve put together this comprehensive North Coast 500 guide to help you plan the perfect North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. Festivals, special events (e.g., music concerts, bike races, car rallies), and holidays (e.g., Christmas, Hogmanay) also bring more people to the area. Heritage Sites, History, Geology, Culture, & Museums: Pictish stones, local history and heritage museums, cairns, crofts abandoned during the Highland Clearances, important geological and archaeological sites, churches, castles, old battlefields, and more can be discovered along the North Coast 500. (lists any kind of charging point, free, fee, and customer use only ones). Yes, there are plenty of fuel stops along the NC500. There are hundreds of things to see and do that require that extra mile for the whole Highland experience! There is also lodging at just about every village. For those interested in geology, I’d recommend heading to the North West Highlands GeoPark which covers a large section of the northwestern part of the route and includes sites such as Smoo Cave, Knockan Crag, and The Bone Caves near Inchnadamph. Once you click the icon a box will pop up that will be asked to enter your first name and email address. You could speed along the entire 500 miles in less than 24 hours if you don’t mind not sleeping or seeing anything along the way! From Edinburgh head north on the A9 towards Inverness, stopping in Pitlochry at the world renowned House of Bruar to stock up on kit- fine sport clot… In terms of the weather, the further north, the colder it is likely to be. Later continue on the North Coast 500 Route to find yourself on the famous stretch that also McLaren uses in their driving tours. Thanks again for your reply and all the information you have shared. Extra storage bags to store garbage, wet clothes, etc. Therefore, we probably don’t need to spend too much time telling you how incredible this drive is. – Aberfeldy Guesthouse in Inverness – dog-friendly B&B -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. Best, Jessica, Hi Jessica and Laurence Here is a run down of our 7 day itinerary - Day One - Inverness to Dornoch Day Two - Dornoch to John O'Groats Day Three - John O'Groats to Thurso Day Four - Thurso to Durness Day Five - Durness to Scourie Day Six - Scourie to Ullapool Day Seven - Ullapool to Applecross And here are the best sights that you simply cannot miss out on - - Falls of Shin - Dunrobin Castle - Dornoch Beach - Whaligoe Steps - Castle Sinclair and Girnigoe - Duncansby Lighthouse and Stacks - John O'Groats Signpost - Strathy Point Lighthouse - Skerray Bay - Coldbackie Beach - Smoo Cave - Handa Island - Kylesku Bridge - Ullapool Harbour - Falls of Measach - Sheildaig - Bealach na Ba Pass - Applecross - Ceannabeine Village Trail. Winter is better for more flexible itineraries and some of the attractions along NC500 are closed in winter. A lot of useful info. Photography: There are tons of scenic spots throughout the route. 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