Destination NC500 - The Ultimate North Coast 500 Road Trip Guidebook

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We would like to make the most of the NC500, and eventually spend 2~3 nights at your recommended Castle Hotels that might be in our way; Destination NC500 is the ultimate travel guide to the North Coast 500. Written by local experts, this book covers everything you need to know about planning your trip, from where to stay and where to eat to the best hiking trails and scenic drives. We definitely agree with encouraging people to stop and spend money at the local campgrounds, hotels, museums, restaurants, shops, visitor centers, etc. It is the best way to support the local economy, meet people, and get the most of the route. The slower you go, the more you’ll see and the more you are likely to enjoy your trip!

Even if you are planning to visit at the busiest time of year (say July or August), you can still avoid some of the crowds and find some peaceful spots along the route if you make an effort to do so. First, go out when fewer people are going to be around. Get up early or stay out late as most people don’t get onto the road until after 8:30am and stop for lodging around dinner time. Early risers will be rewarded by local wildlife sightings, especially the local deer and birds. 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. Just note that the most in-demand properties and the best value ones often get booked up well in advance. See our prior article for more information on where to stay along the NC500 which covers some of our favorite hotels and B&Bs along the route.If you have 3 full days and are starting from Inverness, I’d probably recommend 2 day exploring one section of the coast and 1 day on the other, so you get a bit of a taste of both. The east has more towns and cultural stuff, but the west is more dramatic and scenic. I’d take a look at our suggested North Coast 500 itinerary for what you can do in each area and town to help you decide if east or west is better, as either would work fine for heading over to Skye afterward. 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?

The NC500 guide book is available worldwide and delivery typically takes 5-10 working days to most countries (for instance USA is 7-10 working days on average). There’s also free UK Delivery which is typically 3-5 working days with the option to upgrade to 1st Class which is 1-2 working days delivery. Of course, getting a little lost is just part of the journey! Which Direction Should I Drive the North Coast 500? Having said that, it would be great if you could provide us with some advice, considering the following: Just note that the water is always cold, even in the summer so bring a drysuit or wetsuit if you want to spend some time in the water! Many Scottish beaches have limited or no facilities so be sure to bring anything you may need. Hope this helps, and if you have further questions as you plan your trip feel free to reach out. We’ve driven this route several times now and happy to try to help!The NC500 route officially begins and ends in the city of Inverness at Inverness Castle, forming a loop. However, you can begin and end the route anywhere you choose although Inverness, as the largest city along the route, is a convenient place to start and stop. Inverness Castle How Do I Find and Stay on the North Coast 500 route? In this first section we’ll try to answer the most common questions such as: what is the route, how many days do you need to drive the North Coast 500, when is the best time of year to drive the route, where should I stay along the NC500, how far ahead to starting booking, and other common questions.

Coastline & Beaches:The route has coastline (and several beaches) along its western, northern, and eastern sections. Our favorite coastline in terms of views is probably the rugged western and northern sections. Our favorite beaches are around the northwest between Melvich and Sandwood Bay in the northwest, and then around Achmelvich Bay. That is a good question. I think that obviously you want to be prepared as you could be cycling a fair distance to the nearest village in some places so good to always have the basics on you of course (repair kit, first aid kit, food/water, safety gear, emergency numbers) and I think the phone could come in handy as reception is not great in certain places with a regular cell phone. We noticed a lot of people who were stopping on the road, to the side of the road, or in passing places during our trip. This is unsafe and also illegal in some cases. We would recommend renting the smallest size campervan or RV that you need as the narrow roads of the Highlands are not designed for large vehicles and RVs are prohibited on some roads. We have spent a lot time looking around for suggestions regarding our upcoming, once-in-a-lifetime event (out 40th Anniversary), and when we have come across your wonderful guide, we knew we have reached our goal!Hi Northard & Gitti, So glad that you are finding our Scotland articles helpful in planning your trip! The midges normally start emerging around mid May and are usually in full swing by early June. How bad they are varies each year (2018 was a bad year) and throughout the summer. I don’t think it will likely matter too much as you can find them throughout the Highlands in summer, although from our experience they do tend to be worse along the west side of the North Coast 500 route. If you are looking for places to travel in Scotland where there are lots of hostels and cheaper places to stay I’d recommend looking at the larger cities in Scotland as these are well connected by public transit (both train and bus, which will save you money so you don’t need a rental car) and offer hostels – your chances of couchsurfing there would also be much higher. So cities you might look at are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Stirling, and Inverness. Smoo Cave – An impressive cave. It is free to see the exterior. You can also join a seasonal tour to visit more of the inside of the cave that includes a geological tour on foot and a raft ride to reach the inner chambers. Tour requires appropriate footwear.