This really depends on how much you want to see, how much you want to drive each day, and how many detours you plan to make. Definitely want to experience the NC500 when we make it to Scotland! So happy to hear you found our North Coast 500 so informative and helpful. Currently the need is exceeding the demand at different points in the summer. Later continue on the North Coast 500 Route to find yourself on the famous stretch that also McLaren uses in their driving tours. If you have any questions as you make more plans for your NC500 road trip, just let us know. Some that you might want to consider visiting along or near the route (all open to the public, although some have seasonal hours) are Cawdor Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Castle Sinclair Girnigoe ruins, and the Castle of Mey which all lay along the eastern part of the route between Inverness and the small village of Mey. Just note that 3 days is not very much time and you’ll be very limited in what you will be able to see or how long you can stop. Hi Julie, So happy your enjoyed our NC500 guide, and do let us know if you have any questions as you plan your NC500 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). It depends on what you are most interested in photographing whether it is wildlife, coastline, castles, villages, historical sites, lochs, etc. But the weather is typically warmer and all the seasonal businesses and ferry routes should be open. We’d recommend at least 3 days for the time between Ullapool and Inverness. Many of the munros (mountains) may be a bit too much and long, but you may want to consider maybe one challenging hill walk such as Suilven. 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. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind you wants to pass, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right until the car goes past you. – Loch canoeing is possible with Tim Hamlet of Kayak Summer Isles, we can highly recommend him as a local guide. Also happy that you were lucky with the weather (it is currently pouring down rain outside as I write this) as good weather is wonderful but far from guaranteed in the UK! Absolutely stunning! At a scenic minor road which winds along the northern shore of Upper Loch Torridon sits your hotel. Always nice to connect “in real life. 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. That sounds like a good plan if you have about 3 weeks for your holiday. 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! We’ve driven the NC500 route several times now, so just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip. Is the north 500 suitable fir a caravan and tow vehicle or is it a no no. Be a good traveler and respect this beautiful area of Scotland, which has been relatively unspoiled by mass tourism. However, this also corresponds with the busiest time along the North Coast 500 which is from early May to late September. We are planning the North Coast 500 in mid September in our AM Vantage and your site is so helpful, thank you! If you want to stop, find a safe place to pull off in a designated parking space or lot. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. We will hope not to need it, but I also know we will be somewhat removed from AA and would prefer to fix it ourselves if needed! I would focus on either a section of the route or focus on a special interest or theme (e.g., castles, historical sites, beaches, distilleries). Be extra mindful for deer in the early morning and evening hours when they are most active. 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. We have thankfully not seen a lot of wildlife on the road, but deer are definitely a big concern (particularly the red and roe deer) and of course the smaller animals are harder for people to see, particularly at night. Having travelled up to Scotland from Yorkshire for an Autumn break for the last 4 years, we have talked about the North coast 500 more than once. If you have an interest in one (or all!) Peppered with average speed cameras. 4. How bad they are varies each year (2018 was a bad year) and throughout the summer. Best, Jessica, Hi guys thanks for all the great info. 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. Back a day and already planing how and when to go back and revisit the west in spring. If you plan to hike, just be prepared by bringing along good hiking shoes, rain gear, midge repellent (May to September), and hiking supplies so you are prepared to go off and find the peaceful spots along the route. Most distilleries give public tours and tastings, but some you’ll need to book in advance. Once again, you’ve left me in awe! You can take the Inverness to Thurso train route (it also branches to Wick as well) train route and then head back to Inverness and take the train line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh. I am guessing you are specifically referring specifically to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)? many thanks The rest you can plan much closer to the time, but lodging is best to plan 3 months or more in advance if you have specific places you want to stay. It is wise to think ahead each day about where you’ll be for meals as some hotels or campsites may be a 30 minute to 1 hour drive from a restaurant. Stay at Loch Torridon, Scotland If you only have a day or two, you might consider doing a couple day tours from Inverness that explore some of the NC500 highlights, such as this in-depth Black Isle day tour (including optional dolphin cruise), this tour of Wester Ross (including Applecross & the Bealach Na Ba), or this day tour up north to John O’Groats (includes visit to Dunrobin Castle and Duncansby Head). My wife and I plan to travel to Scotland by car and caravan for 4 weeks in June. if so, can you recommend 3 locations to set up base to get the most out of our travels? If you want to drive along without a set itinerary and are flexible about where you stay, I’d try to book at least a night or two in advance just so you know that you have a place to stay each evening. Hotels range from simple budget options to luxury castles. We had input into every place we stayed, ate, and visited, and we covered our own transport costs and additional expenses. For more on castle hotels along the route, you can see our North Coast 500 accommodation guide which has over 25 recommended places to stay along the route, from castle hotels to B&B’s and guesthouses. Both Orkney and Lewis have good cycling routes as well if you want to take your bikes. If you need an International Driving Permit, you will need to apply for this in your home country prior to your trip. There are a lot of great sites, depending on your interests, in and around Inverness such as Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Fort George, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, and Urquhart Castle. You can also rent motorcycles, bikes, cycling gear, campervans, and camping gear once you arrive. Increased tourism in the Highlands has led to more traffic accidents and complaints. To help you find your ideal hotel, we’ve handpicked our favourite hotels along the NC500. Hope that helps and wishing you a great trip! Festivals, special events (e.g., music concerts, bike races, car rallies), and holidays (e.g., Christmas, Hogmanay) also bring more people to the area. You can keep checking back or sign up for our monthly newsletter to get updates (it covers both of our travel blogs). I would recommend taking the route from Ullapool south to Inverness and stopping at the many scenic and interesting places along that part of the route. Hope that helps, and wishing your daughter a wonderful trip! This probably doesn’t apply to you, but just note that if you plan to take any ferries or cross any borders on your trip (e.g., to France or Ireland) there may be a restriction on flammable gases. Crime happens everywhere of course, but you should be fine taking normal precautions (keeping money/valuables hidden away, locking doors, telling someone your travel plans, etc.). Between Elgin and Inverness there are lot of beautiful walking places if that’s any interest to you. in advance as many require prior reservations. Also, if you want to let us know how your trip goes, we’d love to hear what you and the kids found the best places to visit which can help other families traveling with young kids. The RSPB has several reserves around or near the NC500 that help protect the local wildlife. Free to visit. If you only have a 2 or 3 days, you can still get a taste of some of the things that the North Coast 500 has to offer without speeding along the entire route. 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! I’d recommend at least 2 full day and nights on either to have time to see the main highlights. For those with more time, you could easily fill up a few weeks and not run out of things to do, especially if you love hiking, nature, and historical sites. 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. Yes, road safety is definitely a concern and we have almost been hit a few times driving around the Highlands with crazy tourists (and locals) speeding along. Experience Scotland's answer to Route 66 on our scenic self-drive tour of the North Coast of Scotland. It is expected that Scotland will allow most tourism places to reopen starting July 15th (including restaurants, hotels, campsites, pubs, museums, etc.) Hopefully, you enjoyed your first taste of the North Coast 500 yesterday and are … If you are thinking about doing the route and tent camping or traveling by campervan or motorhome, we recommend checking out our North Coast 500 camping itinerary. -The stretch along B869 from Lochinver to Kylesku, which is on the western part of the route. The PDF files allow you to still use the links. May is a good time of year to travel in Scotland, it tends to be one of the better weather months. June. In addition to nature and wildlife, there are loads of things to see and do along the route which include hiking, golfing, castles, heritage sites, prehistoric sites, a geological park, museums, beaches, You can also sample the local food of the Scottish Highlands and stay in unique lodging from simple B&B’s and inns to grand family country homes to luxurious castles. 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. 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. How to Be a Responsible Traveler of the NC500? Spend night in Ullapool. Both, my wife and I, are in love with castles, so we would definitely like to sleep a few nights in several of the famous Castle Hotels, however, we would REALLY love to include the NC500 route in our schedule… 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! Chanonry Point (one of the most popular spots), North Kessock, Fort George, and Spey Bay are popular places near Inverness to spot bottlenose dolphins as well as potentially seals, porpoises, and whales. The main thing with dogs in this area is that they will need to be kept on a lead (leash) in most places because of livestock and wildlife. There is no strict North Coast 500 route – where you stop, stay and play is entirely up to you but here is a flavour of the villages and activities we think make up the best North Coast 500 places to visit. However, you made no mention of how someone with restricted mobility would cope with such a trip. 4. 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. Which Direction Should I Drive 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. So just something to keep in mind , Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip! Laurence personally favors the western side for landscape photography, but we found great photography spot throughout the route. If you decide to do part of your trip with a tour company, we can definitely recommend Rabbie’s. These passes may save you money if you are planning to visit a lot of historical properties during your trip. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile (830 km) scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle. It also depends, of course, on the coronavirus, but hopefully things will be much better next summer! Our favorite coastline in terms of views is probably the rugged western and northern sections. You might want to give them a call and ask if they provide transport in such situations. We have found some cottages that offer great views and am about to start booking them. Also the Bealach na Bà section of the route is sometimes closed or unssafe to drive in the winter months if there is snow etc. They will be very grateful! Continue Reading; Ullapool. Hi. No guarantees, but at least they have the request. Basically you’ll have 1.5 days or a little more since you arrive late on 24th and need to be in Inverness by the evening of 26th. The NC500 is a mainly coastal route that goes through small villages and rural areas in a sparsely populated area of northern Scotland. The first day of our itinerary has you exploring the city of Inverness and … Great blog, thank you. The printable versions of the articles have the images, photos, and ads removed and are formatted for printing. It is recommended by the NC500 to not drive anything over 18 feet (about 5.5 meters) on these. I am having trouble finding such information. Sharon. We will reach Inverness from London on 13th evening and have booked a self drive car to drive around the highlands for the next 5 days . I’d recommend that you at least make a loose itinerary of places you definitely want to stop before you leave so you have an idea of how much time you want to spend in each area so you can plan your accommodation. We will be travelling the route on Saturday 12th of July with my husband, myself and our two children ( 6 and 5 years old). The main thing to know when bringing dogs to this area is that they will need to be kept on a lead (leash) in most places because of livestock and wildlife. You can enhance your stay by staying at a castle hotel such as Kincraig Castle Hotel, Tulloch Castle Hotel, or Dornoch Castle Hotel which are all also along the eastern part of the route. ellie. 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. Would the weather be too harsh? Hope that helps give you some ideas, and do let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip in Scotland! Also if you only have 3 nights from Edinburgh, that is not really enough time as the route as it is not near Edinburgh so that would probably not leave you much time, especially if you are on a budget. Ticks can also be a problem in these same months, especially if you plan to hike. We’d like to take 2 weeks doing the drive. Coastline & Beaches: The route has coastline (and several beaches) along its western, northern, and eastern sections. Families are definitely welcome, but may want to check if it would be good for kids that age. We’ve put together this comprehensive North Coast 500 guide to help you plan the perfect North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. But what if you can’t or don’t want to drive in Scotland? Most places have dog waste disposal bins. I think you just need to do a bit more planning to make sure you allow more time for breaks and plan visits to places the kids will enjoy. Most towns have a small grocery store (not usually open late in the evenings so stop during the day) where you can pick up picnic supplies, snacks, and food to cook your own meals. That sounds like a fun trip, and very happy you are finding our blog helpful in planning your North Coast 500 road trip! For instance, even cars rented in Ireland can sometimes not be brought by ferry over to Scotland. There are electrical charging points throughout the route, including rapid charge points. For Americans who aren’t used to either, we can say that it really isn’t so bad. Although most restaurants don’t allow dogs inside, several have outdoor areas that allow dogs and some bars allow well-behaved dogs. So we recommend this direction for those tackling single track roads for the first time. So glad you are finding our NC500 road trip guide useful, just let us know if you have any questions. Yes Jessica this is great, thank you! That is just a short list of some of the hotels that accept dogs along the North Coast 500, but hopefully it will give you a good place to start. This is unsafe and also illegal in some cases. I would book at least 3 months in advance if possible. Hi guys my wife and I have been thinking of seeing Scotland for a while , came across your information about the north coast 500, sounds great,we have 7 to 10 days in September 2020 and that co insides with our wedding anniversary, would like to do b&b going anti-clockwise,hire a car from Inverness airport and do a relaxing trip ,recommendation as to b&b’s would be great and best car hire ,thanks ,gr8 blog by the way. 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. Hope you have many more chances to return and visit the northern Highlands of Scotland! If you are arriving elsewhere in Scotland or the UK, you’ll have additional options such as Rent a Motorcycle in Edinburgh. So it may not be ideal for such a short trip with a baby and wanting to see a lot. Our favorite beaches are around the northwest between Melvich and Sandwood Bay in the northwest, and then around Achmelvich Bay. Do you have a 7 day B & B route that you would suggest for us for the NC500? There is also a cycling company called Ticket to Ride Highlands that has a number of transport vehicles that you can book for cycling holidays and they provide shuttle service. Hi Rob & Ann, Fantastic meeting you as well! The mountains are a great way to get away from the crowds. Just let us know if you have any questions about the North Coast 500, and wishing you a great road trip. Also very Great tips for the North Coast 500! Most outdoor spaces and campsites do allow dogs although in many places they need to be on a lease to not disturb livestock and/or wildlife. Later continue on the North Coast 500 Route to find yourself on the famous stretch that also McLaren uses in their driving tours. If it is more of a preference than a requirement for you, you can find the best rate online and book and then when picking up the car, request one with a spare tyre (and means to replace one) if at all possible. 5. I wanted to ask you for ideas in regards of best places to take the kids to along the NC500 route; I have already noted Wyvis play park, Inverwere gardens, beaches, boat tours and some local indoors swimming pools for the rainy days. But here are some suggestions if you are wanting to book now for 7 nights doing the full loop: -Day 1: Dornoch: Strathview Lodge B&B or The Steading So be mindful and pull over into a passing place or parking area every so often to let faster traffic pass you. So I think with just planning your route in advance and staying off the side roads, you should be fine with the motorhome you have. 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. But generally, to rent a car in Scotland (or elsewhere in the UK), you must be at least 21 to 30 years old (many have 23 as an age limit) depending on the vehicle category and car rental agency, have held a valid driving license for at least a year (some require up to 3 years), and the driver’s license must be in English or using the Latin alphabet. Much of the road along the NC500 (especially in the north and west) are narrow single-track roads that were not designed for a lot of traffic or larger vehicles. There should be no travel restrictions for UK or Irish travelers once things open up. Hi Satta, Glad you enjoyed it. We are planning for a 5 day trip to the Scottish highlands and Isle of Skye starting from Inverness. Along the North Coast 500, you have a range of lodging options from hostels and campsites to inns and seaside cottages to historic castles and country homes. The legal drinking limit is now lower than in any other part of the UK. But if you just prefer hiking, scenic drives, and time outdoors than you might prefer spending the extra night near Torridon instead. Hotels and B&B’s represent the most popular lodging option along the North Coast 500. We’d recommend bringing a rainproof jacket, rain cover (e.g., umbrella or poncho), and waterproof hiking shoes. We have driven the NC500 again since we wrote that guide (in winter) and will be back up there in May, so be on the lookout for new NC500 posts. -Day 3: Tongue to Durness: Tigh Nan Ubhal (Tongue) or Hillside B&B (Durness). Even more excited to get going now!! Thanks for the very helpfull info. You can easily spend 2-3 days on any of the islands. However, the north coast 500 is much more than just a drive – there is so much to do on the route! For those interested in sea mammals or seabirds I’d recommend the section between Inverness and Thurso. 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. If you want a physical copy of the official North Coast 500 map, you can often find it on ebay, such as this listing. Great road trip - pick your hotels carefully though!. BTW, if your son is interested in learning more about photography, Laurence runs an online travel photography course as well.