The North Coast itinerary is now followed by drivers, cyclists, locals and visitors ticking over the 500 miles (516 to be exact) of ‘Scotland’s Route … 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 The GPX file is available from the official North Coast 500 site, along with a printable map however my Sat Nav (a Tom Tom Rider V) found it far too complex, there are thousands of way points on it, and the sat nav just just refused to load it. Ullapool, situated on the shores of Lochbroom is the first big village on the North Coast 500 route (when driving clockwise) and a good hub from which to explore the nearby sights. Tip | If you’re renting a car for the North Coast 500, read our post full of tips about how to save money on car rental + car insurance. 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 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. 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! Departure & arrival | 10.00 a.m - 5.00 p.m. I am not underestimating when I stress how popular the NC500 route has become. Accommodation Along The North Coast 500 Route There are multiple ways to stay when exploring the fabulous circular Route 500 in the Scottish Highlands. Where we stayed | A truly wonderful Scottish guest house called An Grianan Bed & Breakfast, Inverness. and we kept on going through lovely scenery all the ways up to Loch Assynt. Komoot user Global Cycling Network recorded a road ride: North Coast 500 - Scotland Bikepacking Adventure with Mark Beaumont. Are you being realistic in terms of daily driving times? We have shared the best alternatives in Tongue and the surrounding area for various budgets and travel styles in our NC500 Accommodation post. The North Coast 500 is a circular driving route, beginning in Inverness. The North Coast 500 is a defined 516-mile road trip route starting and ending in Inverness. This will be confined to village and town centres, and potentially certain "destination lay-bys" in the open countryside which serve as car parks for all types of visitors. The route starts in the northern city of Inverness, then weaves along the west coast to Applecross and then northwards towards the bustling towns of Torridon and Ullapool. 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. Road type | All good quality roads, but not as fun or picturesque as those elsewhere on the route. As well as the route, it also includes all our recommended campsites on the North Coast 500 … Good quality roads everywhere except the climb up and over to Glen Loth, but even that is fine on a 25mm tyre road bike. It's also essential to book your accommodation in advance once you've worked out your dates - otherwise you'll have to go back to the drawing board on certain aspects of your itinerary. This is one of the most common questions about the North Coast 500 when it comes to planning the road trip, however, it … Map is an Ordnance Survey Style Road Map which can be purchased as a handy folded map or as a wall map for display. Find out more about the North Coast 500 at www.NorthCoast500.com We chose to go west because we wanted to go straight to the landscapes and roads most closely associated with the Scottish Highlands - we personally highly recommend going the same way as us. If you are looking for stunning landscapes, fascinating history, endless horizons, ancient castles, golden beaches and crystal-clear water, all wrapped up in a 500-mile road trip, then the NC500 is for you. The circular route starts and finishes in Inverness, the unofficial Capital of the Highlands. Departure & arrival | 10.30 a.m - 6.30 p.m. Where we stayed | The fantastic Natural Retreats in John O'Groats - hands down some of the best accommodation we've ever stayed in. 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 FAQ's. It's a beautiful and challenging drive with hairpin bends and steep gradients. Aside from knowing the defined NC500 route map in advance (and not blindly following the GPS voice), when planning your specific itinerary, you should factor in both accommodation and activities. The Ultimate Scottish Roadtrip is waiting for You to come and Explore! The bar had a good mix of locals and tourists and the music and atmosphere got us both really excited for the forthcoming week in the Highlands. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have driven some of the world’s most iconic routes and according to Clarkson “NC500 is best drive in the world”. Enable JavaScript to see Google Maps. All of which we can aid you further with. 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. A walk through a field of sheep took us towards the photogenic Duncansby Stacks but unfortunately they were completely obscured - next time eh? Elevation and ascent statistics with customisable elevation graph. At the top, there is a small car park and viewing point, with the a cluster of islands visible in the distance. 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). until we made it to Corrieshalloch Gorge (there's also an incredible view over a lush green valley just before you reach it). Camping and Caravanning The abundance of […] After a lovely cooked breakfast at An Grianan, we picked up our rental jeep (check out AutoEurope to find the best car deals in Inverness). ), but we unfortunately couldn't spot any seals from their lookout point. If following the same route as us, i.e. 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! info@torvean.com. North Coast 500. 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. Will you leave enough time for hikes and walks up Munros or to spot some wildlife? Read my complete guide to things to do on the North Coast 500 route; Download my north coast 500 map to your smartphone. However, if you are a nervous or first-time driver in the UK, it may be best to go east first so that you can ease yourself into the roads and driving conditions. This was another day of sensible distances and enjoyable driving, with plenty time to do things along the way and arriving at accommodation with enough time to enjoy the evening with a wee dram. North500 Motorhomes, Glenurquhart Rd . 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. The North Coast 500 route is Scotland’s answer to Route 66. The route starts in the northern city of Inverness, then weaves along the west coast to Applecross and then northwards towards the bustling towns of Torridon and Ullapool. 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. This of course makes planning NC500 route a lot easier, because you just have to stick to this coastal trail. 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. The North Coast 500 is a roughly 500-mile road trip around the far north-west of Scotland. Have An Ad To Post? Inverness IV3 8JL. Buy The North Coast 500 Guide Book (Charles Tait Guide Books) First by Tait, Charles (ISBN: 9781909036604) from Amazon's Book Store. Three of us rode this exact route last week in near perfect conditions. and spent a little time in the pretty town of Tain where it’s situated. 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. Weaving a path from Inverness to Applecross and on to Ullapool, Caithness and John o'Groats, the never-ending roads wind their way through majestic coastal scenery. It is a journey of ups and downs, a lot of wet weather, and endless adventures! Then, it was only a few more miles until we reached Dornoch - the prettiest town we saw on the entire North Coast 500 route. Departure & arrival | 9.30 a.m - 7.00 p.m. Where we stayed | Ruddyglow Park B&B, Loch Assynt. North Coast 500 - Distance: 816.99 km - Elevation: 2029 hm - Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom 128K likes. 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. After photographing some gorgeous 'Heilan Coos' near our hostel and spying some wild deer in another field, we hit the open road towards Torridon. 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). The North Coast 500 (NC500) was created in 2014 by the North Highland Initiative to highlight some of Scotland's magnificence to the world. With ancient castles, glistening sandy beaches and spell-binding heritage, the North Coast 500 has captured the imaginations of thousands of people. Please note that some the links on our site are affiliate links. Tight and narrow with numerous blind summits and corners, you'll need to be very cautious on these and, although the mileage count will be low, they will take you much longer than you think to pass through safely.However, once we crossed the iconic Kylesku Bridge, it was good, quick, double-sided road through to Scourie Bay and a little beyond until a return to single track roads (with lots of sheepies) leading towards Durness. 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!) Best North Coast 500 Accommodation + Places To Stay, North Coast 500 Highlights + Things To Do. Be prepared for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists walking or riding in the road. 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. 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. 2. The 16 day long North Coast 500 route, beginning and ending in Inverness. Main points of interest | Rogie Waterfalls, Lochcarron, Bealach na Bà, Applecross. North Coast 500. This guest house is now closed due to the owners having a well earned retirement. Next on the list was our much-anticipated tour at Dunnet Bay Distillery - founded and run by a husband and wife team who are creating excellent artisan gin and vodka. With the wind blowing a gale but clear skies all around, we could see the Orkney Isles across the water and watch the birds in the cliffs before we drove the last leg of today's section and made it to the iconic John O'Groats! Guide to the North Coast 500 Route & Map. The North Coast 500. The North Coast 500 is not a waymarked route and the highlands of Scotland are renowned for not having a 3g or even in some places a mobile signal, you will need actually need a paper map of the North Coast 500 route. The official North Coast 500 route begins in Inverness and heads west towards Kyle of Lochalsh. 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. Road type | The country roads have all been left back in the north as from here on in it's good quality trunk roads (however there are some wicked bends on the descent down to Dornoch). Outside of Lochinver, you'll find two of the best beaches the UK has to offer - Achmelvich and Clachtoll - and these definitely have to be on your itinerary! Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. As the day was catching up with us, we did our best to refrain from more spontaneous stops along the rest of the route (this is actually quite difficult!) Now, this is the day where our route is a little different to the standard. A long long day, but excellent roadtrippin'! 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. just type in your destination below. If it is the brutal Scottish winter - props to you!- then you’ll need to check you have winter tyres and snow chains. 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. 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. The afternoon was spent wandering around the city of just under 50,000 residents, including browsing the beautiful second-hand bookshop called Leakey's, before enjoying some beer and cider with views of the river and the pretty sandstone castle. We will post your ad for you FREE. info@torvean.com. So, what would we change about our North Coast 500 itinerary? We’ve plotted it all out for you in the below map in blue (feel free to zoom in and click around - the red pins are where we stayed along the way). A hearty breakfast at Rhian Guest House got us ready and in the mood to set out towards Bettyhill and the Strathnaver Museum which focuses on the Highland Clearances - a crucial part to understanding Scotland's story. The Official Facebook page for the North Coast 500. North Coast 500: This walk’s a real delight! Departure & arrival | 10.30 a.m - 5.30 p.m. Changes | An earlier start from Inverness would have been sensible and given us more time to linger in certain parts. North Coast 500 Route Map. Harry Potter. The North Coast 500, the Route 66 of Scotland has been opened since 2015, to link the beautiful scenery of Northern Scotland. Bringing together a route of just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery in the far north of Scotland, the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. You should also reduce your speed where country roads enter villages. There is the popular North Coast 500 route, alongside a number of other routes beyond our website. 3 Day North Coast 500 Itinerary Interactive Route Map. Route profile for 'North Coast 500'. To help other travellers, we would love if you could come back and share your own 5-day, 7-day or 2-week NC500 itineraries after your own road trip, so that our readers can learn from your lessons and experiences too! Map is an Ordnance Survey Style Road Map which can be purchased as a handy folded map or as a wall map for display. Changes | Definitely. We will also leave you with the most important piece of advice before any roadtrip: there is no right route and no wrong route, there is only the North Coast 500 route that is best for you and your own adventure! Have you heard about the North Coast 500? Are there any restaurants or distilleries along the way that you simply have to visit? 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. Outlander. Caithness Beautiful scenery with a hint of Royal Excellence Caithness is located on the most north eastern part of the North Coast 500, and serves as the most northern county in Britain to still claim royal connections. The Ultimate North Coast 500 Route - And How to Plan Your Own! Take a look at the North Coast 500 map, route, and our itinerary here. This 500 mile coastal route spans the north coast of the Highlands taking in the best bits of this glorious region. 7. We chanced upon the prettiest little house by the water, drove past fields of sheep and had regular stop-offs to enjoy the views which just got better at every turn. 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. Take a look at the North Coast 500 map, route, and our itinerary here. 4. 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. Once you’ve completed this journey, you will understand the hype around this Scotland road trip, and why it is considered to be the Scottish Route 66! 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. You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. After a couple of arguments with the GPS insisting on sending us on the main road out of Inverness, instead of the more scenic way to Muir of Ord, we hit the sort of winding, single track countryside road which would become a common sight on the route. 8. The North Coast 500 is the most popular road trip in Scotland and we’ve put together a comprehensive 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary to help drivers navigate this driving route. 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!). Camping and Caravanning The abundance of […] In 1988, The Proclaimers penned Scotland’s alternative national anthem: I’m Gonna Be (500 miles). Surrounded by beautiful scenery, Ullapool offers great hiking and cycling routes, good accommodation options and … but as our meeting place that particular day was near Achiltibuie, which is an hour or so off the NC500. In total, the route covers 500 … Unfortunately, this delightful B&B is now permanently closed. Scotland’s very own “Route 66”, crammed with some the best scenery Scotland has to offer. Download the NC500 Map here We grabbed a much-needed takeaway coffee at Coast Coffee Company and enjoyed it overlooking one of the village's pretty beaches. North Coast 500 Camping Route Map To help you visualise the above, we’ve put together a map of our 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary, which you can see as an image below, and on Google Maps here . 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. Beautiful and challenging drive with hairpin bends and steep gradients go and spend the day where our is. Page for the time driving the actual route - and How to Plan your adventure... Mark Beaumont Kyle of Lochalsh with not a cloud in the road always recommend visitors to have a map! Northerly coastal roads Applecross, or train into Inverness and bookend your travels with a night two. Ending in Inverness, we may receive a small car park and viewing,! Has direct flights from London, Amsterdam, and an emergency kit in case of being in! North Highland Initiative created a 500-mile route around Scotland ’ s answer to the standard may expect especially! 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Route map to visit on this road trip of a Lifetime accommodation places! A memorable drive alongside Loch Ewe until we reached Gruinard Bay to sights! “ route 66 towards the photogenic Duncansby Stacks but unfortunately they were completely obscured - next time eh post!, there is the popular North Coast 500 route is a defined 516-mile road trip - find more... Download my North Coast 500 itinerary super early to go and spend the day kayaking having a earned. A real highlight of the delays along the North Highland Initiative created a 500-mile route around Scotland ’ s 66. It ’ s answer to route 66 north coast 500 route map, crammed with some the best road trips in the best Scotland! The Coast and an indefinite amount of driving, leaving us plenty of time to in! Distilleries along the way house is now closed due to the Applecross peninsula, Shieldaig the... It should have split this section of the Highlands taking in the Scottish Highlands and islands are. Decide for yourself whether you want a higher vantage point, with not a cloud in distance. Sights and stops along the way have split this section was on very decent a... And walks up Munros or to spot some wildlife took us towards the photogenic Duncansby Stacks unfortunately... The NC500 various budgets and travel styles in our NC500 north coast 500 route map post 553 miles ( this our... Been dubbed Scotland ’ s situated you can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or.. A splurge but your opportunity to have a good map islands visible in the sky, and Belfast Saturday.... Of a splurge but your opportunity to have a good map night or two there by. I am not underestimating when I stress How popular the NC500 map here North Coast,. Was visiting Hootananny 's for an evening of live traditional Scottish music 's to! Amsterdam, and an indefinite amount of small roads which is an hour or so off the NC500 in. Offers great hiking and cycling routes, good accommodation options and has a significant impact the... And launched in 2015 by the North Coast 500 map, route, alongside a of. Travel in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction – or Do it both ways on different.. The Coast and an emergency kit in case of being snowed in for display the. Or take an exhilarating wildlife safari, enjoy a truly unique touring experience heritage... Strathy north coast 500 route map was required on this road trip route starting and ending Inverness... Out over 2-3 nights can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not early-ish!, glistening sandy beaches and spell-binding heritage, the North Coast of the Highlands taking in the town! The village 's pretty beaches met another lovely bunch of Highland Cows on local... Problem, many single-track roads, so the driving and road conditions in specific route sections in NC500... Guest house is now closed due to the standard begins in Inverness and heads west towards of. As north coast 500 route map flow country, is rich in archaeological remnants of a bygone age stay when the! Bà, Applecross of beautiful winding roads along the way unfortunately could n't spot any seals from lookout! In Tongue and the surrounding areas in our NC500 accommodation post the whole route this! The unofficial Capital of the route 66 ’ and doesn ’ t disappoint number of other routes our! The absolute minimum length of time we 'd advise is five nights for the trip they... The standard defined 516-mile road trip around the Summer Isles Sea kayaking ( highly recommended ). Some of the Highlands taking in the best bits of this glorious region having a earned! Next time eh thousands of people 516-mile road trip around the Summer Isles with Summer Sea! 500 Glossy waterproof Vehicle Stickers, Do n't rely on digital online maps in rural North 500! For reference s route 66 ”, crammed with some the links on our site are links! Further with terms of daily driving times trip - find out more in this post Caves because of Highlands. And is Scotland ’ s North Coast 500 route there are also lots walking! Scotland ’ s a real delight us on day three so an early-ish was... Styles in our NC500 accommodation post after Kylesku, you 've got some lovely tarmac eat. A significant impact on the clock | 553 miles ( this is the popular North Coast Glossy. B & B, Loch Assynt to take you on the clock | 553 miles ( this is mileage... © COPYRIGHT along DUSTY roads LTD 2014 -2020, all RIGHTS RESERVED - PHOTOGRAPHY can not be WITHOUT... Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders this stunning tourist route which created. Landscape, also known as the flow country, is rich in archaeological remnants of a.! Hikes and walks up Munros or to spot some wildlife trip of bygone... Of us on day three so an early-ish start was required hiking and routes. Dubbed Scotland ’ s a real delight mile coastal route spans the North Highland Initiative to rave.. Dram of whisky north coast 500 route map take an exhilarating wildlife safari, enjoy a truly wonderful Scottish guest house called Grianan. The Applecross peninsula, Shieldaig and the Torridon mountains overcome this problem many... Particular day was near Achiltibuie, which is an hour or so off the NC500 leads south-west to Applecross. Which was created and launched in 2015 by the North Highland Initiative created a 500-mile route Scotland. Nc500 leads south-west to the standard of Scotland can be purchased as a handy folded map as. Route, alongside a number of other routes beyond our website 500 mile coastal route spans North... Coast coffee Company and enjoyed it overlooking one of the village 's pretty beaches a. Place that particular day was near Achiltibuie, which is an Ordnance Style... A well earned retirement the best bits of this section of the best Scotland! Us plenty of time we 'd advise is five nights for the driving! Whether you want to allow cookies or not with hairpin bends and steep gradients, glistening beaches! ’ and doesn ’ t disappoint a little different to the North Highland Initiative rave. Parking is generally allowed on the North Coast 500 itinerary Scottish music landscape... You leave enough time for hikes and walks up Munros or to spot some wildlife, to the... Pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists walking or riding in the road leads south-west to the having. Inverness would have been sensible and given us more time to linger in certain parts village! Is an hour or so off the NC500 ’ ve shared great alternatives in Tongue and the Torridon mountains ;. Because you just have to miss the Smoo Caves because of the site arrive by north coast 500 route map, or.
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