Map is an Ordnance Survey Style Road Map which can be purchased as a handy folded map or as a wall map for display. just type in your destination below. Harry Potter. North Coast 500: This walk’s a real delight! The North Coast 500 (NC500) was created in 2014 by the North Highland Initiative to highlight some of Scotland's magnificence to the world. A little detour to Shin Falls to watch the salmon leaping before trying to spot some dolphins the Cromarty Firth from Chanonry Point (however the timing didn't work out - try to make it there an hour after low tide to increase your chances). 8. North500 Motorhomes, Glenurquhart Rd . INFO LEAFLET. Have you heard about the North Coast 500? For example, when travelling Applecross to Shieldaig, you need make sure you go via Kalnakill on the coast or it'll send you on a much more direct road and you'll miss a beautiful whole chunk of the route! We grabbed a much-needed takeaway coffee at Coast Coffee Company and enjoyed it overlooking one of the village's pretty beaches. Bringing together just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery, the route follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands. Take a look at the North Coast 500 map, route, and our itinerary here. Always one for a challenge, but unwilling to walk 500 miles, I set about trying to cycle the route non-stop, laying down a time-to-beat on Scotland’s It is a journey of ups and downs, a lot of wet weather, and endless adventures! Always one for a challenge, but unwilling to walk 500 miles, I set about trying to cycle the route non-stop, laying down a time-to-beat on Scotland’s You are free to use them on your mobile device - Just request the the KML files that you can then convert and upload to your own GPS! From there, it was a memorable drive alongside Loch Ewe until we reached Gruinard Bay to enjoy some of the Saturday sunshine. 6. After a responsible tasting, we took the road off the route up to the lighthouse at Dunnet Head - the most northerly point of the UK! It’s a beautiful part with many potential stops and activities along the way, and extending it out would have allowed us to go make the most of them. The North Coast 500. From there, you'll venture to some of the most northerly coastal points in Scotland, passing by Caithness and John o' Groats before heading south again through Dingwall and finally back to Inverness. Main points of interest | Rogie Waterfalls, Lochcarron, Bealach na Bà, Applecross. Road type | All good quality roads, but not as fun or picturesque as those elsewhere on the route. In the lead up to your own North Coast 500 road trip, a large chunk of your time will spent working out just how to structure your itinerary and trying to answer key questions like... Where to stay each night? A single track road or one-lane road is a road that permits two-way travel but is not wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass one another. Scotland’s North Coast 500 is a 500-mile (800 km) route that takes you all the way round the coast of Scotland north of Inverness, visiting some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in the world. North Coast 500 - Distance: 816.99 km - Elevation: 2029 hm - Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom We have shared key information about the driving and road conditions in specific route sections in our day-by-day breakdown below.3. Main points of interest | Torridon Deer park, Poolewe, Loch Ewe, Gruinard Bay, Corrieshalloch Gorge, Ullapool, Ardvreck Castle and views of Loch Assynt. and spent a little time in the pretty town of Tain where it’s situated. Scotland’s very own “Route 66”, crammed with some the best scenery Scotland has to offer. In 1988, The Proclaimers penned Scotland’s alternative national anthem: I’m Gonna Be (500 miles). It has been dubbed Scotland’s answer to the renowned ‘Route 66’ and doesn’t disappoint. Are there any restaurants or distilleries along the way that you simply have to visit? We then visited the Torridon Countryside Centre to say hello to the packs of friendly red deer and continue through stunning valleys and hill-ranges (lots of hillwalkers were out here taking on the ascents) towards the picturesque Gairloch harbour. Some roads in the Scottish Highlands and islands, are single track roads. If you’re still in full on planning mode for your North Coast 500 itinerary, then we highly recommend you read three other posts: 23 Things To Know Before Driving The North Coast 500, The Best North Coast 500 Accommodation + Places to Stay, The North Coast 500 Highlights + Best Things To Do. We've gone into much more depth on some of these over on our cornerstone '23 Things To Know Before Driving the North Coast 500' post, so we won't bore you with too much repetition here: 1. It's a beautiful and challenging drive with hairpin bends and steep gradients. The sun was shining, the water a lovely blue and, once we found a sheltered spot away from the wind, we couldn't have asked for anything better. We spent a fantastic morning kayaking around the Summer Isles with Summer Isles Sea Kayaking (highly recommended!) What activities can't you miss? Route at a Glance The North Coast 500 (NC500) was created in 2014 by the North Highland Initiative to highlight some of Scotland’s magnificence to the world. We have shared the best alternatives in Tongue and the surrounding area for various budgets and travel styles in our NC500 Accommodation post. Main points of interest | Duncansby Head and Stacks, Sinclair & Girnigoe ruins, Ackergill Tower, Old Pulteney Distillery, Whaligoe Steps, Grey Cairns of Camster, Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch Beach, the village of Dornoch and the Castle Whisky bar. ), but we unfortunately couldn't spot any seals from their lookout point. Whether you like to rough it up on the campground or are looking for a little more luxury, there are a plethora of options available. The North Coast 500 is a defined 516-mile road trip route starting and ending in Inverness. That detour meant that we didn't get back onto the official route until 2.30 p.m. With time catching up with us, it meant we had to rush through quite a lot of the scenery which was actually the most beautiful we saw on the route so that we could make it to our final destination by a reasonable time that night to check-in and find food. Following this, we had spontaneous stops at a cluster of gorgeous and empty beaches - Farr Bay, Strathy Bay and a wee picnic in Melvich. At this time of year (we travelled in June), the sun doesn't set until 10.30 p.m. or later, so we made the most of the epic views from our deck at the excellent Natural Retreats with a glass of wine and the feeling that moments like these are exactly what we travel for. The short drive to Wick, with a detour to the Castle Sinclair Girnigoe ruins, took us to a short tour around the Old Pulteney Distillery and photo opportunity at the underwhelming 'shortest street in the world'. It is important to plan ahead! North Coast 500 is a spectacular 516-mile scenic route around the northern coast of Scotland, The route snakes around beautiful scenery and the many well known and historic features located in the Highlands of Scotland all incorporated into one very iconic pleasurable touring route around scotland. Changes | An earlier start from Inverness would have been sensible and given us more time to linger in certain parts. until we made it to Corrieshalloch Gorge (there's also an incredible view over a lush green valley just before you reach it). Our itinerary left us with fewer miles to cover on the last two days, so we were - theoretically - planning to go at a very leisurely place in Caithness. We’re about to take you on the ultimate road trip adventure along Scotland’s North Coast 500 route! For example, if you find a cottage, Airbnb, or hotel that you absolutely love or an experience you want to stay close to, simply adjust your itinerary around making that your last stop for that particular day’s driving. When you have eliminated the JavaScript , whatever remains must be an empty page. You can then print the map and a list of directions or just use the map to find your way around the northern Scottish Highlands. East Coast 250. The North Coast 500 is Scotland’s answer to route 66 and one of the most beautiful coastal touring routes in the world (well, we think so, anyway!). The North Coast 500, the Route 66 of Scotland has been opened since 2015, to link the beautiful scenery of Northern Scotland. Buckle your seat belts! A quick stop in Ullapool to watch the ferries at the harbour and to fill up on fuel (we would have loved to stop at one of the pubs for a drink in the sunshine!) Before we share our specific route, we wanted to share a few essential things to know when it comes to planning any North Coast 500 route. The route is also known as the NC500 and was launched in 2015, linking many features in the north Highlands of Scotland in one touring route.. Then, it was only a few more miles until we reached Dornoch - the prettiest town we saw on the entire North Coast 500 route. The North Coast 500 route is a series of roads which form a loop, circling the northern coastline of Scotland, beginning and ending in Inverness. Road type | The majority of this section was on very decent 'A' roads, so the driving was pretty easy-going. BOOKING FORM. North Coast 500 route maps are made easily available online plan your route around Scotland's Route66 NC500 with google maps & plan your route around the Coasts of the Northern Scottish Highlands as you drive through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, visit famous location made popular by movies like Braveheart filmed in Glen Nevis by Fort William. Miles on the clock | 530 - as you can see, we'd already passed the official mileage of 516 miles by the end of this section. North Coast 500 Route Map. Changes | Nope. This section of the route has some truly wonderful scenery and sights - just make sure you leave yourself more time to enjoy it all than we had! Here’s how t… Where we stayed | Hartfield House Hostel, Applecross. We knew the highlight of today's section would be the notorious Bealach na Bà road, however we wanted to start the route with open eyes and to drink in the first few hours of scenery. With over 500 miles of dramatic driving roads, beautiful coastal scenery, turquoise blue seas and white sand beaches, the North Coast 500 (NC500) is one of Scotland’s best road trips. Route profile for 'North Coast 500'. Download the NC500 Map here We’ve shared great alternatives in Loch Assynt and the surrounding areas in our NC500 Accommodation post. At the top, there is a small car park and viewing point, with the a cluster of islands visible in the distance. Enjoy it, the two variants from the 'official' 500 route are far better for bicycles … This means it's sensible to drive, fly, or train into Inverness and bookend your travels with a night or two there. Inverness Airport serves limited domestic and international routes, … However, it really is worth spending a night or two in this section as it’s got some of the best hospitality and accommodation choices on the NC500 (not just the castles). Three of us rode this exact route last week in near perfect conditions. but as our meeting place that particular day was near Achiltibuie, which is an hour or so off the NC500. We drove from Aberdeen to Inverness, although it is possible to arrive by plane, bus or train. Komoot user Global Cycling Network recorded a road ride: North Coast 500 - Scotland Bikepacking Adventure with Mark Beaumont. Before we share our specific route, we wanted to share a few essential things to know when it comes to planning any North Coast 500 route. info@torvean.com. Additionally, as a wee gift from us to you, you can also get £25 off your first ever Airbnb booking (there are a bunch along the route) by signing up here. Find out more about the North Coast 500 at www.NorthCoast500.com North Coast 500 FAQs; North Coast 500 highlights (voted by NC500 fans) Final words. If you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. After Kylesku, you've got some lovely tarmac to eat up before a return to single-track country roads nearer Durness and towards Tongue. Take a look at the North Coast 500 map, route, and our itinerary here. 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 … If you want to add one to your own road trip, then here are five of the best castles you can stay at on the North Coast 500. The North Coast 500 has become very popular in the last few years, even being labelled Scotland’s Route 66. We also met another lovely bunch of Highland Cows on the way to Strathy Point. This detailed day-by-day 1 week North Coast 500 road trip itinerary covers all the basic details (mileage, general route) and sightseeing highlights along the approximately 500 mile route. We tried to cover too much ground on the latter across single-track roads, and that meant we didn’t have enough time to fully explore and savour some of the prettiest sections of the route there and further north. This is one of the most common questions about the North Coast 500 when it comes to planning the road trip, however, it … See this route and plan your own adventure with komoot! Each route offers detailed directions as well as popular landmarks and viewpoints along the way. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). The absolute minimum length of time we'd advise is five nights for the NC500. In the late afternoon, we arrived at our castle for the evening, enjoyed a fantastic meal at their restaurant and, over a carefully selected whisky, looked back upon what had been a fantastic roadtrip in the Scottish Highlands. The North Coast 500 is an iconic route circumnavigating the entire north of Scotland, from Inverness, across to the west coast and then right around the west, north and east coasts, via John O’Groats, and back to Inverness. If you dont want to miss the highlights of the North coast 500 it is always an idea to purchase a map of the highlands there are several good quality avaiable, well show a few that we reccomend below, Drive all the way round the North Coast 500 coastal route or you can just drive some amazing Day trips to stunning Highland locations, we have chosen a few of the most popular destinations that tourists always want to visit when in the area. Main points of interest | Beaches at Achmelvich and Clachtoll, a number of signposted viewpoints, Kylesku Bridge overlooking the water, Sandwood bay and other beaches in and around Durness, the Smoo Caves and Cocoa Mountain in Durness, the view over the Kyle of Tongue at sunset with the Castle Varrich ruins, the village of Tongue. The official route is a little over 500 miles but in reality, you’re bound to add … However, never underestimate how quickly the time passes whilst you're driving the North Coast 500; it'll be 5 p.m. before you even know it! Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 50 miles on these roads takes much longer than you may expect, especially once you factor in stops along the way. Indeed, at various points, it will try to put you back on yourself or via a quicker route because that's what GPS is for. The above North Coast 500 map details the main NC500 route, however, I’ve broken it down into smaller, more detailed, day to day itineraries below. However, after several days of stunning sunshine, the weather had turned into rolling mist and fog, so the visibility was very poor (this is summer in Scotland remember). If you’re doing the North Coast 500 before or after the summer season, please factor in the shorter days and early nights; you don’t want to be driving sections of this trip in darkness. Outlander. Inverness IV3 8JL. Tasting Brazil | A Cooking Class in Rio de Janeiro, 23 Things To Know Before Driving the North Coast 500, how to save money on car rental + car insurance, several excellent distilleries in the surrounding area, five of the best castles you can stay at on the North Coast 500, North Coast 500 Highlights | Where To Find The Things You'll Love, The Best Hostels Along the North Coast 500, How We Fell in Love with the Scottish Highlands, Distilleries and Breweries To Visit On The North Coast 500, 5 Castles to Stay at on the North Coast 500, The Best North Coast 500 Accommodation And Places To Stay, 12 Reasons To Make The Scottish Highlands Your Next Adventure, 23 Things to Know Before Driving the North Coast 500, plan your itinerary for the north coast 500. The official North Coast 500 route begins in Inverness and heads west towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Be prepared for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists walking or riding in the road. Road type | Most stretches of road on this section are single-track, narrow country lanes but there were some sections of very decent trunk road, particularly closer to Ullapool. The Ultimate North Coast 500 Route - And How to Plan Your Own! North Coast 500 – Scotland Road Trip of a Lifetime. We don’t have any major regrets, apart from missing the Smoo Caves, but hopefully sharing our own NC500 itinerary has provided you with ideas, information, and inspiration to plan your own based on your travel style and what you love. A paradise for camper or motorhome travel, miles of beautiful winding roads along the coast and an indefinite amount of small roads. The North Coast 500 is a roughly 500-mile road trip around the far north-west of Scotland. The turquoise beaches, the fresh fish from line to lips and the friendly locals looking to share a sing-song with you are not new but they definitely are unique and thanks to a strong marketing strategy, the secret is out and Scotland’s North Coast 500 itinerary is on the map. Scotland’s very own “Route 66”, crammed with some the best scenery Scotland has to offer. There, we stopped to take some photos of the beautiful ruins of Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt (which are supposedly haunted) before finally making it to our accommodation for the evening. Our North Coast 500 Directory will help you get the most out of your Scottish Highland's road trip, No matter what you are looking for, from Accommodation & Lodgings to Vehicle Recovery, we have something for everyone. After taking some pictures in John O'Groats, we drove the short distance to Duncansby Head where we were hoping to catch a glimpse of some puffins. Changes | Nope. Where we stayed | Dornoch Castle Hotel. Dornoch beach, afternoon tea at Kincraig Castle or a stop off at Storehouse of Foulis' farm shop stocking the best of Scottish food and drink are all excellent stop offs before you reach Inverness. The North Coast 500 has become very popular in the last few years, even being labelled Scotland’s Route 66. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile (830 km) scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle. We use cookies on our website. and we kept on going through lovely scenery all the ways up to Loch Assynt. Main points of interest | From Dornoch to Inverness, via Kincraig, there are several distilleries and breweries you can visit, whilst there are dolphin and seal spotting opportunities in Rosemarkie and Chanonry Point. Famed as the Scottish Route 66, the North Coast 500 has everything you could want from a Scottish road trip.Filled with mysterious lochs, towering mountains, ancient castles and secret beaches just waiting to be explored. 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