Whilst not on the North Coast 500, Edinburgh is a great place to stop if you are travelling up from other parts of the UK, either by car or train, or if you’re flying in from abroad. Travel our North Coast 500 cycling holiday to experience a satisfying active journey – swap four wheels for two. Where to Stay in Ullapool: I’d definitely recommend the Silver Darlings B&B which is owned by one of my very good friends from uni. You can visit the Torridon Countryside Centre where you can see red deer and the famous highland coo’s – although you will see them throughout your journey. The top was covered in snow which gave us a great opportunity to take lots of snow pictures! Where to Stay Near to the Grey Cairns of Camster & the Whaligoe Steps: The village of Lybster, near to both the Camster Cains and Whaligoe Steps is a good place to rest your head for the night if you don’t want to travel too far. Or you can check out some other options here. Clachtoll is pretty remote and the road is single access (and with a 25 percent gradient) in places and apparently it’s called the ‘breakdown zone’ – but it’s worth the trip. The Cairngorms is also home to 6 of the UK’s highest mountains (the highest is Ben Nevis near to Fort William) and in the winter, snow permitting, you can go skiing and even husky sledding. Why not stay in a castle, a lighthouse or on a working farm? Close by you can also visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle, which can also be seen from the boats if you want to kill two birds with one stone. I'm a travel blogger and tour operator with a passion for Africa travel. Where To Stay in Durness: Sango Sands Oasis, is a great campsite right at the top if you like your morning coffee with an epic view – I know I do! In fact, I might someday! If you’re on a budget, or in a big group, the Ullapool Youth Hostel is a cheap and cheerful place to stay! They’re free to visit and open to the public all year round, so definitely worth the visit. .......... We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. T. hen we had one final night in Edinburgh on the way back down. This thorough and free NC500 route planner will get you on the road in no time. Fancy a bit of wild swimming? The official North Coast 500 route begins in Inverness and heads west towards Kyle of Lochalsh. The 3-day North Coast Small-Group Tour leaves from the ‘capital of the Highlands’ Inverness. The main season runs from May to October, but each time of year has its advantages and disadvantages, so just go with whatever suits you best – I’m sure you’ll have a great time either way! “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. Elevation and ascent statistics with customisable elevation graph. We also spent 2 days travelling up to Inverness – her from London, me from Preston. At Duncansby Head, you’ll see the Duncansby Lighthouse, but the real attraction is the incredible Duncansby Stacks, just off the coast. And if you can be bothered to carry your stuff all that way, this is a great spot for wild camping (and surfing). If you’re very lucky, you may also see dolphins off the coast. You can find it all. On the way to Dunrobin, you can also take a little detour to the Falls of Shin, where you can spot jumping salmon (between May and late Autumn) – but it will add over an hour to your journey! Whereas the North Coast 500 offers the wild, rugged, untamed side of Scotland, Edinburgh is more touristy, like Scotland on steroids, with history and culture, and all the tartan and whiskey you could wish for. There are 3 pink sand beaches to visit and on a clear day, you can see across to the island. Like everywhere else in the world, Scotland is currently under restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Edinburgh also has great nightlife too, and tons of great bars and restaurants. Where to Stay Near Dunnet Head & John o’Groats: There are a few great places to stay in the area, but the ones that I love the most are The Old Tea Shop,  Dunnet B&B Escapes, and Braeside Retreats. Alternatively, I love Tigh na Mara for a romantic getaway. So in total, our trip was 7 nights, 8 days in total. On the way to Clachtoll, swing by the Assynt Aromas Candle Shop & The Secret Garden Tea Garden for some sustenance. Where To Stay in Clachtoll or Lochinver: There’s a lovely campsite overlooking Clachtoll Beach or you want to stay somewhere super cosy and romantic (and with a hot tub), check out the gorgeous Suilven view glamping pod. Firstly, which season are you embarking in? These days, it’s just a lonely ruin, but worth seeing all the same. By the time we got to Inverness, it was just time to check into our hotel and have a shower before dinner. From there, continue around the coast to Fearnmore a remote part of the loch, edging out to the sea. Perhaps an unusual time of year for a UK road trip… but this was my first trip after a left my job to become a full-time travel blogger. Then it heads north along the scenic west coast to Durness, and across the northern edge of Scotland to John O’Groats before returning to Inverness. But John o’Groats to Lands End has a better ring to it, don’t you think? Tour the grand rooms and lush gardens once owned by the Royal Family. It’s a bit of a walk to get to the Duncansby Stacks, parking either at Duncansby Head or you can park a bit further away at John o’Groats. If you love a bit of history, visit the beautiful ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, located right on the cliff edge. For camping, try Broomfield Holiday Park or nearby Badrallach Campsite, Bothy and Holiday Cottage. Where to Stay in Edinburgh: We decided to treat ourselves on this first night at the Radisson Collection Hotel (formerly the G&V Royal Mile Hotel), which is a modern hotel with a fabulous cocktail bar and gorgeous views over the city. 21s, ✨ Put your hands up if you want to experienc. This was one of my highlights of the NC500 and not to be missed. You can also take a look at the ‘official’ North Coast 500 map (also linked at the bottom of the page). © 2020 VisitScotland. Open 9am – 6pm daily. Whether you are travelling in your own motorhome or campervan, or hiring one for your visit, it is important that you observe the following advice. Give yourself a good 3 hours if you want to walk the circuit from Duncansby Head/John o’Groats and to the Stacks and back. If you’re arranging motorhome hire in Scotland for the trip, they can probably supply these, but always check first. My friend Brenna (This Battered Suitcase) and I drove the NC500 in early March. This video details my planning for my upcoming trip to Scotland's North Coast 500 (NC500) with some additions. Please Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rock Rose Gin is made at the Dunnet Bay Distillers if you want to pick up a bottle whilst you’re passing, although it’s also sold in quite a few of the big supermarkets too! The Smoo Cave is a great place to explore, either by boat or from the path above the cliffs. The popular adventure, with four seasons in one day, heading west from Inverness to the top of Scotland’s mainland, John O’Groats, and back down the east coast (or in reverse). The North Coast 500 (NC500) was created in 2014 by the North Highland Initiative to highlight some of Scotland's magnificence to the world. However, if you’re looking for something a little bit more modern, you could try the pentahotel Inverness or Highland Apartments by Mansley. Finally, head down to Applecross and get yourself a whiskey or a nice cup of hot chocolate at the Applecross Inn – you deserve it. Another ‘activity’ you might like to try whilst in the area is taking the Malt Whiskey Trail. Enjoy the fantastic scenery as you drive along the A832 road that snakes through the valley at Kinlochewe. In total, the route covers 500 miles of Scottish scenic beauty. Now you could either stay in Ullapool or head down to Applecross, but I’d definitely recommend staying in Ullapool as it really is lovely, and will keep the driving distances short. Alternatively, you can head back towards Glasgow or Edinburgh where you can spend a final night or catch your transport home. It tasted much better than it sounds. Where To Stay on Loch Ewe: And if you do decide to stop in Loch Ewe, and you have a big group, consider staying at the absolutely GORGEOUS, Poolewe Beach House (sleeps 9). It might be run by the Council, a rather lot of … Whoop whoop! Near to the town of Durness, there are two of the NC500’s main highlights, including the stunning Sango Bay Viewpoint, with panoramic views overlooking Sango Bay and it’s also a great place for surfing. I'm also a qualified Ashtanga & Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, Children's Yoga Teacher, and Chakradance Facilitator. To help you make the most out of your NC500 road trip, we wanted to share some quick tips based on our experiences driving the route. It is said that the castle is haunted and there are plenty of spooky stories of mermaids, ghosts, and the devil himself! If you are planning to road trip around this scenic area of the Scottish Highlands, you may be wanting to spend the night at some special North Coast 500 hotels. Again, you should make a stop at Eilean Donan Castle as you drive through! Read More Modern Classics Experience the North Coast 500 in luxury with a modern classic car. Following the A82, you’ll drive right through Glencoe and to see the most famous view, you don’t even have to leave the main road. Read More The afternoon was spent… I love both sides! There are tons of things to do in Ullapool, including boat trips to Loch Broom and the Summer Isles, sea kayaking, hiking, and visiting the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve. We have created ten itineraries to help you plan your ideal North Coast 500 trip. When you are planning your trip, have a read of my Things To Know Before You Drive Scotland’s North Coast 500 post, which also has lots of useful information to make sure you have a safe, epic, and enjoyable trip! We did the Gay Gordon’s, the Dashing White Sergeant, and a whole load of other traditional dances. So there you go, my full North Coast 500 route! There are more stunning views of the coastline but it is a little off the main road of the North Coast 500. Board a boat for the wildlife watching trip of a lifetime. You’ll also get to see Am Buachaille, a sea stack out in the water. Although there are hotels all over the North Coast 500 route, some modest and other grand, it is traditional for holidaymakers to stay in bed and breakfasts in Scotland. I’ll need to go back again and hopefully write about the Isle of Skye in the future. The castle resembles a French chateau and the design of the gardens was inspired by Palace of Versailles in Paris – it looks like it came straight out of a Disney movie. Sunshine is never guaranteed, even in summer. So excited to say that I am tea, It’s been a while since my last travel post. We rarely get snow where I live in North West England, so this was a real treat for me. It’s a steep walk down to the beach, but worth it and the likelihood is that you may have the beach all to yourself. Just outside of Inverness, ACE Adventures & Hideaways can organise white water rafting trips and other outdoor adventures. During spring and early summer, this includes a high number of puffins as they come here for nesting season. March is generally a crappy month in the UK, weather-wise, but it turned out pretty well for us actually – it rained a lot, but we were also blessed with plenty of sunshine and therefore, rainbows. Twice the size of England’s Lake District, the Cairngorms is a great place to explore with tons of hiking/biking trails, rivers, lochs (lakes), waterfalls, wildlife, and villages to see. Then from there, you have a few choices as to which way to go to finish your trip. You could spend a whole day driving around Loch Ness and there are plenty of amazing views. around the remote northern part of the Scottish mainland, traditionally starting and ending in the city of Inverness. We looked into getting tickets to the talk, but we didn’t have time to get there in time, so I tweeted him to say ‘Come to Hootenanny’s later’. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The name itself means “end of the mountains”. All rights reserved. Even if you don’t spend much time in the reserve itself, it’s fun to walk over the wobbly suspension bridge over the gorge, which has fantastic views of Falls of Measach. I also love a bit of glamping, so check out the gorgeous Inverness Glamping pods. We didn’t have tons of time in the city as we wanted to get straight out onto the North Coast 500, but a few more of the highlights of Inverness include a walk along the River Ness, a visit to Inverness Cathedral, the Victorian Market, and, Inverness Castle. Route profile for 'North Coast 500'. It’s called the NC500 because it’s 500 miles long and as you can see it’s pretty much a nice loop around the northern highlands of Scotland! Our second major stop, was Loch Ness, home to the Loch Ness Monster… or is it? There’s a nice, but short walk you can take from the car park. A B&B is a private room in a local’s house. I don’t know why I’ve never written about it – it was one of the best road trips of my life. Leaving Chanonry Point, you could make a stop at The Storehouse Restaurant and Farm Shop to pick up some breakfast/lunch or supplies – even if you’re not hungry, who doesn’t love a good farm shop? Another gorgeous beach on the route is Clachtoll Beach – great for hiking, walking, and fishing. This is a very popular stop as it’s close to Glasgow, so don’t be alarmed by all the tourists – you’re not on the NC500 now! With golden/pinky sands and cool rock formations, you’ll get plenty of amazing pictures. Even more, if you have a drone (if it’s not windy and raining). Explore the coast and see the magnificent Duncansby sea stacks. With beautiful nature trails and lots of flora and fauna to observe and appreciate. We also spent 2 days travelling up to Inverness – her from London, me from Preston. The North Coast 500, the Route 66 of Scotland has been opened since 2015, to link the beautiful scenery of Northern Scotland. If you are planning on hiring a motorhome for the trip, then we recommend comparing prices across a range of providers using a service like Motorhome Republic . Our last stop on today’s itinerary is Dunnet Head. Be enchanted by this magical fairy-tale castle. If you get hungry, other places to eat include, Coyote’s, (famous for fabulous burgers), the Fig & Thistle Bistro, for modern, casual dining, and Wild Pancakes, which is a great place for breakfast and the North Coast 500’s first dedicated pancake house. Sample a sweet, fruity Highland malt whisky on a tour. The capital Portree was also used as a main filming. Leaving Applecross, head towards Lochcarron, which makes a nice photo stop whichever which way you are headed after that. We both got the train to Edinburgh, stayed overnight, and then picked up a car to use for the rest of the trip. Helen x. Helen in Wonderlust is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 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!). ✨ANNOUNCING✨ Ride the best sections of The North Coast 500, on a 7-day road cycling tour through the untamed beauty of the Scottish Highlands. In the surrounding area, you can take part in things like kayaking, gorge walking, hiking, visiting the beaches, and photography tours. Whilst we didn’t go on this trip, on another trip to Edinburgh I went for dinner and dancing at Ghillie Dhu, a Scottish ceilidh extravaganza. Stop and take a dip in the clear turquoise waters of Achmelvich Bay. Dornoch to Wick. It’s a bit off course, but Sandwood Bay and Loch is a great addition to your road trip itinerary. Glentruim Lodge Chalet, is super cosy and romantic, and the Dava Schoolhouse looks really welcoming and stylish too. Read More Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Start your North Coast 500 adventure with Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental. This some of the best North Coast 500 accommodation which we tried and tested on our 12 Scottish Highlands road trip. Ride the best sections of the spectacular NC 500 touring route. Just be aware that they advise some campervans not to travel this road and it may be closed in bad weather – but you can go around it. They do day trips from Wick, or shorter tours that leave from Lybster. A short drive (or a 45-minute hike) from Dunsnsby is John O’Groats., one of the most northerly points on the British mainland. Dating back to around 1590. Then we had one final night in Edinburgh on the way back down. The NC500 route traces the top section of mainland Scotland in a loop. Another beautiful white sandy beach (believe me, you never get sick of these beaches) along the NC500 is Coldbackie. The castle is open from the 1st of April to the 31st of October and up until the end of September, you can also watch their twice-daily falconry displays. These itineraries are based on the minimum amount of time we recommend to allocate for your journey. If you need a bit more comfort, try the Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park or the gorgeous glamping pods at Evelix Pods Dornoch. 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 much more! For more information go to: www.northcoast500.com. If you’re on a budget, check out the Black Isle Bar & Rooms, which is a hostel as well as a premier craft beer bar and restaurant serving, wood-fired pizzas or the cosy and stylish Bazpackers. The North Coast 500 has become very popular, especially in the summer months. Day 2: Edinburgh to Inverness (not part of the NC500) Day 3: Inverness to Dunnet Head; Day 4: Dunnet Head to Durness; Day 5: Durness to Ullapool; Day 6: Ullapool to Applecross; Day 7: Applecross to Edinburgh; Day 8: Edinburgh to Home. Have a look at the options below! Plan Your North Coast 500 Route. Leaving Applecross, we drove across Bealach na Bà, one of the highest roads in the UK. There are a number of free car parks where you can pull over and take some fabulous photos of the Three Sisters, Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach, and Aonach Dubh. The cave is floodlit inside and you can take a tour with Smoo Cave Tours. Load of other traditional dances start, I thought I ’ d give you insight. Trails and lots of snow pictures June, the North Coast 500 NC500. Spring and early summer, this area makes for a romantic getaway never. You plan your ideal North Coast 500 is a great place to explore, either by or. 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