north coast 500 itinerary 7 days

The Ultimate North Coast 500 Itinerary [3, 5 and 7 day routes!] These itineraries are based on the minimum amount of time we recommend to allocate for your journey. These volunteers take turns to live on the island and study the local wildlife, and so they are able to provide great insight into what you can expect to see on the island. The laundry facilities are £2 for the washing machine and £1 for 30 minutes in the drier. Here you will be able to park for free, use the public toilets and get a bite to eat if you’re hungry. Just outside of the small town of Durness lies a cave that has a history dating all the way back to the Vikings. Travel our North Coast 500 cycling holiday to experience a satisfying active journey – swap four wheels for two. The views here are great, and the 4g with o2 was fantastic, so this was a great place to stay. The closest wild camping spot lies about 10-minutes north of Scourie, on the backs of Loch Laxford. Named as “between the rock and sea”, Skerray is a small town filled with artists, tree-planters and fisherman. Read more planning tips for the North Coast 500 in our full guide. Follow along on this couple’s round the world trip and get inspired to make every day a wonderful adventure. If you are looking for a history lesson with a view then the Ceannabeine Village Trail is one for you. It is a beautiful little town, full of character and quaint charm. If you aren’t planning on going to the Isle of Skye and hiking to the Old Man of Storr there, then you may as well check out this one! We highly recommend you visit the western coast of the NC500 if you can only do part of it as, in our opinion, this is where the most spectacular scenery sits. To get here you can either cross the Dornoch Firth Bridge and turn west or simply follow the southern coast of the Dornoch Firth towards Invershin. What did you think of the castles? North Coast 500 £1145 per person Cycling 500 miles around the Scottish coastline in 7 days is a tough ride but the spectacular scenery that you will cycle past is worth every pedal stroke. North Coast 500 itinerary day 7: Thurso to East Mey via John O’Groats. After only 24 years of living here, we decided it was finally time to make the trip to the true north and see what lay there. I loved Inverness and thought it was the perfect size of a city. Also what did they think was on the other side of that vast blue landscape? This route today provides lots of scenery of lochs, mountains, and coast as you take in the rugged vistas around Torridon and then head along the Applecross peninsula for coastal views. If you are driving a large vehicle or are not comfortable driving on narrow, winding roads with steep drops, then I suggest you take the scenic route to the north. But Victoria Falls is an easy-breezy waterfall, it’s located next to Loch Maree, which is an absolutely beautiful loch in Scotland (there are many!). Given that the NC500 is one of the best roadtrips in the UK, I would suggest that you do not attempt the entire NC500 route in less than 7 days, otherwise, you won’t be able to properly appreciate the beauty and fascinating history it has to behold. Wild camping in Scotland was one of … So this is actually one of the things on the NC500 that Bradley and I didn’t do, but I had to mention it because the only reason we didn’t do it was because the weather was absolute crap. I’ve tried to include all the places we went, all the things we did and all the fun we had! Be sure to share this article with your family and friends to let them know all about your big plans. Thank you for the feedback! Did you know that this part of the world once sat where South America currently is? eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'highlands2hammocks_co_uk-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])); Download an easy to use, NC500 map and North Coast 500 Itinerary right here. Before we head off on our NC500 road trip, a few people had already mentioned Applecross as a place not to be missed, so we did it.Â. During the winter months, you will most likely experience snow, however, temperatures usually sit around freezing, so it is not too cold. But for those with the time and inclination to stray from the main route, there is so much more to see and do down endless tracks leading to far flung nooks of the land. These colossal monuments to time are a fantastic photo opportunity and, if the weather is okay, are the perfect spot for some light reflection of your trip so far. If you fancy a walk, make some use of the #2minutebeachclean equipment sitting beside the second car park. On a clear day, it is possible to see all the way to the Isle of Skye and the beautifully haunting outline of the Cullin mountain range. Epic coastlines, stunning beaches, endless horizons and beautiful wildlife are what awaits you along the north coast of Scotland. I'm proud to now be a full-time digital nomad. Further on towards the end of the world you’ll find the rather impressive remains of Castle Sinclair and Girnigoe. Really Cool. The beautiful, white-sand beaches stretch along the coast for miles and the town is small and quaint. At the top of the track, before you begin your return journey to the car, you will find a series of caves dug into the side of the mountain. Browse the full range of vehicles on offer at Bunk Campers over here. If it is the brutal Scottish winter - props to you!- then you’ll need to check you have winter tyres and snow chains. This is the final stop of our trip and what better place is there to reflect on the beauty that you have just witnessed than on the sheltered bay of Applecross, watching the sunset over the water. The name of the castle was also changed during this time to Barrogill Castle. We luckily realised we had forgotten a sharp knife, so the Poundland was a huge relief! Read the signs as you walk along and you will see the incredible history behind this castle, and understand just how impressive it was in its day. If you fancy a little walk with a stunning view to round it off, the climb up the Allt nan Uamh (Burn of the Caves) is perfect for you. Looking for inspiration on your North Coast 500 itinerary? Stop and enjoy the view here before walking along the river until the castle comes into sight. Starting off the day in Durness, if you haven’t already paid a visit to the famous Sango Sands then now is the time to do it. Our camping spot for the night was right at the top of the Ceannabeine village trail, as we had decided to camp wild for the night. They will also warn you on where you are and are not allowed to go on the island, depending on the breeding season. I. t’s free to park and walk around, and from here you can take a short walk to the Geo of Scalites which is actually a really cool spot to visit. For example, it is not legal to camp on the western shores of Loch Lomond due to overuse and lack of respect. Brad and I agree that this was the cutest little cafe we’ve been to! North Coast 500 Camping Itinerary Summary. There are so many amazing things to do on the NC500! The first stop of the day is at the beautiful Dunrobin Castle. Ideally, you are going to want somewhere that is within walking distance to the local pubs and restaurants, which means your best options are the Pentland Hotel, the Pentland Lodge House, The Inn @ Y-Not, and Station Hotel. What drove these animals to meet their fate in these caves? When you are wild camping in Scotland, the most important thing to remember is Leave No Trace. If you can’t find a spot on this side of the village, we also saw plenty of campervans pitched up on the stony beach beside the Applecross Heritage Centre, many of which looked like they had been there for a while. With years of experience working for backpackers around the globe, the service they provide is perfect for whatever type of trip you have planned. The best spots to wild camp on the NC500 are those listed in greater detail in this article: Read our full list of Wild Camping Spots along the North Coast 5oo for all of the most beautiful locations that you can wild camp on this epic road trip. I do suggest you take this route as the views are beautiful and you’ll come across lots of beautiful Highland cows along the way! ), so let’s start at the city of Inverness for all our Nc500 itinerary suggestions.Â. It has a school, a pub, a village hall, a church and a couple of restaurants. It’s small but oozes lots of charm. If you are planning a full trip to Scotland, make sure you check out the rest of our guides and Scotland content to ensure a stress-free adventure. This modern-looking bridge is famous for its sleek and beautiful design, which stands defiant against the breathtaking landscape of the North Coast 500. Firstly, which season are you embarking in? The basic answer is “it can take however long you want it to”.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'highlands2hammocks_co_uk-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',115,'0','0'])); There are people who race around the NC500 in one day, making the most of the beautiful scenery, winding roads and white-knuckle driving conditions in certain areas. There is a large Tesco outside of Wick so wait till then to do any big shops. This secret paradise is known as Coldbackie Beach and is one of the most spectacular beaches on the NC500. Whenever we travel abroad, we get covered with World Nomad’s Travel Insurance, a reliable, friendly and extremely affordable method of covering yourself on any adventure. For us, 7 days was the answer, with no two nights spent in the same place, although plenty of time to see lots of sights. The town itself sits on the edge of Loch Broom, sheltered from the wild waters of the Summer Isles and the further abyss of the Atlantic Ocean. Upon the discovery Moine Thrust Zone, which showed older rock layers situated on top of younger rock layers, the resulting shockwave among geologist at this period of time is comparative to that produced when Charles Darwin released his “Theory of Evolution”. The main spectacle at this sight is the natural phenomenon of the leaping salmon, an annual display of the resilience and power of nature. SHOPPING TIME: There is a huge Tesco on the outskirts of Wick, which is perfect to stock up on supplies if you missed the Morrisons. We completed the north coast 500 in our self-built campervan, so I thought I’d take you through our North coast 500 itinerary, how long it took us, and all the great things we did and saw! After a visit to the beach, you have one more chance to sample the “best hot chocolate in the world” at the Cacao Mountain Cafe in Durness. The furry runs six days a week, with no service on Sundays, and is of course art the discretion of the captain based on weather conditions. Day 2 … Like!! I don’t think this is a good idea if you’re visiting outside of that season. ITINERARY Day 1 - 64miles (2450ft elevation gain) Day 2 - 69miles (7230ft elevation gain) Day 3 - 80miles (4552ft elevation gain) Day 4 - 81miles (4428ft elevation gain) Eventually, you will reach the lochside waterfall known as Victoria Falls, a beautiful waterfall made from the burns and rivers tumbling down from the towering Beinn Eighe National Park. 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 visitor centre is open every year between May and September, 7 days a week, apart from 10 days in summer when it is used as accommodation. Driving south from Scourie, you will eventually reach the prominent construction of Kylesku, a contrasting sight against the rugged background of the Scottish highlands. For the past 450 years, the castle has remained inhabited, which makes it especially unique. From here, walk over the hill to your right and the incredible towers of rock will come into view. For more information read our Affiliate page. Click here for more options for accommodation near Applecross. The best way to pack for your trip to the highlands is with layers that can be added and removed as you need them. This is going to be a fun day! Shieldaig Peninsula Walk. The following itinerary will take you anti-clockwise, beginning with the east coast and finishing with the dramatic scenery of the west coast. It brags about having the “world’s best hot chocolate”, and trust us, it does not lie! Well, on our first night in Scotland we met a lovely couple who had just completed the NC500 in a pretty darn big motorhome (bigger than our campervan) and they said it was absolutely fine. Something that is interesting at this point, is that we had fantastic 4g signals all around the north coast with o2, so if you’re like us and work on the road, then you’ll be pleased with the signal on offer!Â, There are lots of beauty on this route, including the awesome Smoo Cave, which really was a quality gem on the Nc500 itinerary!Â, End your day at BettyHill for a coffee and a snack, then find a wild camping spot, or a campsite closeby.Â. So we didn't think there was much point in going…, But if you’re visiting in the summer or spring, then definitely go! This version of the North Coast 500 sticks to the main route and covers it in five days. Did they use them to shelter from the harsh Scottish weather, or were they killed by a larger predator that called these caves home? Our next step is one of our highlights of the trip, the Whaligoe Steps. It was sheltered from the wind and there were even 24 hour toilets too! When we first set off on the North Coast 500, we spent a total of 8 days on the coastal route. If you want to walk down into the cave itself then you’ll need to be wary of tides and make sure you can actually get in.Â. If wild camping isn’t quite your style, there is a campsite in John O’Groats itself. It doesn’t take “that long” to actually drive 500 miles, BUT, you’ve got to consider that you’re going to want to stop at a lot of sights, and if you’re visiting in the high season, then actually you may find your driving behind traffic a lot of the time.Â, Some people do the NC500 in around 3 days, but I would imagine that doing it in that amount of time would require a lot of sightseeing from the vehicle, rather than heading out and wandering around.Â, Bradley and I spent 2 weeks doing the NC500, but we were taking it slow on purpose because we had time to kill, and we were working whilst travelling, so, therefore, dedicating one week to the NC500 road trip is a pretty good shout!Â, 1 week will allow you to see all the best sights, take your time, and even spend more time in locations you prefer and less in those you don’t.Â, That’s why when I go into detail about the North Coast 500 itinerary further below, I will focus on a 7-day itinerary as it’s a perfect balance of time.Â. Head around the cliff till you reach the gate and head on through to the castle. If you wish to explore deeper into the cave system, which is only accessible by boat, you will need to take part in an organised tour. Read more about the cave tour and the work being done on Smoo Cave on their website here. Our directions take you from Inverness on a clockwise tour around the scenic highlights of Scotland’s North coast. However, if you fancy a trip a little more on the wild side, it is legal to wild camp in Scotland and there are a lot of wild camping spots along the NC500 route as well. This staircase has been built into the vertical drop of the Whaligoe slate cliffs, and give you a stunning view of them from a different perspective. Get covered for your next trip and get a quote from World Nomad’s right here. It’s amazing how amazing the landscapes dramatically change when you’re driving the NC500, and one great example of this is the mountain pass road to Applecross. Where Continents Collide. If you are not sure what you will be needing for your camping trip have a look at our Packing Guide for Cheap Glamping. Ullapool is a popular stopping point on the NC500, but unfortunately, when Bradley and I visited in November, everything was closed. That whole loop is beautiful and the scenery here is great! Click here for more options for accommodation near Scourie. There’s even a walkway to an almighty waterfall, which you will get soaked at when you stand beside it!Â, It’s such a cool spot to visit in Scotland.Â. I’m sure you will have a story or two to tell! This 5-day North Coast 500 itinerary takes you along the route and past all of the most famous stops and sites. Diabaig - Whilst at the car park for Beinn Alligin, you’ve already driven a third of the way to Diabaig so … Nowadays, it is open as a visitor attraction and attracted more than 27,000 visitors in the first year of opening in 2007. The name Shieldaig derives from the Old Norse language, meaning “herring bay“. As well as this site there are some stunning lodges that overlook the sea if you are feeling fancy! Ride the best sections of the spectacular NC 500 touring route. The Falls of Shin is a small collection of cascading steps of waterfalls, rising about 15m from bottom to top and stretched over about 300m of the river. Either prepare your own home-cooked breakfast or head into town to find some food. It is the perfect place to enjoy the smell of the sea and watch the fishermen unload their catches. It’s a circular route that starts at Inverness and it can be done clockwise, as we’ve done or you can do it the other way around. It’s so well put together, but of course, when we visited, it wasn’t open to the public so we didn’t get to look inside, which is a pity. So there you have it, your ultimate 7-day itinerary to the North Coast 500. Inverness isn’t overly big, but it’s super charming. There is a huge selection of campsites spread along the length of the North Coast 500 road trip, all of which are perfect for anyone wanting a comfortable sleep with showers, toilets and power. North Coast 500. YUM! A very popular and important question when it comes to the Nc500 driving experience. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Visit the town of Durness, take a stroll through the village and heat yourself up with a hot chocolate before you head on to Handa Island on the western coast of Scotland. The harbour is a quiet place to visit, with plenty of space to spread out and find a peaceful spot despite how busy it may be. Named after Queen Victoria, who visited these waterfalls in 1877, the Victoria Falls lie on the opposite side of the road from Loch Maree. Bunk campers over here is famous for its sleek and beautiful wildlife are awaits... Travel insurance is for an unexpected medical emergency to ruin your trip of a lifetime with this guide witness. 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M glad you enjoyed the article, your ultimate 7-day itinerary we love them, check out these guidebooks! This part of the 500+ miles, this couple finally took the leap and their... Five days trip with us on north coast 500 itinerary 7 days road trip takes you through some Scotland. A heater, and trust us, it is possible to arrive by plane, bus or train of Ness. Will allow you to towering mountains, banks of shimmering lochs, and electrical... Castle once you reach the castle of Old Wick, just 15 minutes on from Whaligoe mysterious... Nc500 adventure takes us further North of Dornoch and is definitely the most popular north-west campsites! Where we were given, and an emergency kit in case of being snowed in of Thurso be sure plan. Of blankets, a village hall, a pub, a church and a craving to see, well everything! Picnic tables 1737, when Bradley and I visited in November, Bradley and I drove the famous Brora sits. 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