North Coast 500 The Road Trip of a Lifetime – NC500 Guide Book by Robbie Roams

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We spent the night at Lochness Shores which had great facilities, really friendly staff, and of course, stunning views of the Loch Ness. If you are looking for the ultimate road trip in Scotland, the North Coast 500 (NC500) should be at the top of your list. Now for the not so good news. Many businesses along the North Coast 500 have been hit very hard by the cancellations of the last year and ongoing uncertainty. A decent number did not open in summer 2020, with a survey pointing to just 67% of businesses polled saying they anticipated opening their doors. This will obviously affect the availability of certain facilities and your ability to visit certain attractions or establishments this summer (and beyond). Please also note that 'passing places' are NOT parking places. Neither are they photo opportunity stops or places to pull over for a rest, a cup of tea and a natter - you can however use them to allow others to overtake you safely. On hills, the custom is that the car going uphill has priority. If you are looking at visiting the distilleries and breweries on the route, please be wary of drink driving limits in Scotland – as they are different from the rest of the UK. . What else does the North of Scotland have to offer drivers?

NORTH COAST 500: All You Need to Know BEFORE - Tripadvisor NORTH COAST 500: All You Need to Know BEFORE - Tripadvisor

Whether it is driving in the summer or travelling through heavy rain– the NC500 has a wide range of different conditions that you should be prepared for. How many days does it take to drive the North Coast 500?' is a very different question to 'How many days should you spend on the North Coast 500?' As we've mentioned, the North Coast 500 has been wildly successful since its creation in 2014. When we first drove it in 2016, it had some press attention but was still flying under the radar; it’s now busier each year.Before you set off on a big trip it’s worth asking yourself: can I share the driving responsibilities with somebody else? From Port a Baigh, we made our way to Durness which turned out to be one of our favorite stops of the trip. Right after you leave Port a Baigh, there is a little town called Lochinver which is well-known for its pies. Quite frankly, it’s the best way to do it! We had so much freedom to go wherever we wanted to, allowing us to really explore every nook and cranny of Scotland’s rugged coast.

500 | VisitScotland North Coast 500 | VisitScotland

At over 500 miles long, it is advised that the NC500 journey should be spread across fiveto sevendays – with multiple stops along the way to take in the local scenery,culture andfood. As for winter...well, we're sure the landscapes would be utterly enchanting, but we wouldn't attempt it then. Update: A kind reader pointed out that wild camping is technically not extended to vehicles so definitely stay in the side of caution when finding places to park up for the night. This Scottish Access Outdoor Code is worth reading to familiarize yourself with basic rules. If you are in a large campervan, the hairpin turns might be a challenge but to be honest, we had no difficulty driving through it despite being in a 6.1m van. Yes, the roads are narrow but the views from the viewpoint at the top more than makes up for the hassle. Now, that isn't something to fret about too much. The wide open spaces, empty wild beaches, and isolated hiking trails are not adversely affected, but it does obviously have an impact on accommodation availability, facilities, and traffic congestion.This popularity has not come without its issues however, and these are showing a worrying increase each summer. Following an increase amount of charge stations/charge points along the journey, electric cardrivers can now safely take the trip without fear of running out of battery charge. If you're visiting Scotland and need to rent a car to do the North Coast 500, this post tells you nine ways to save money on car rental + car rental insurance.

The Rough Guide to the North Coast 500 (Compact Travel Guide)

First of all, if you just happened to stumble across this article and have no idea what the North Coast 500 is, you’re in for a treat. The Aero itself was super easy to drive, never limiting us from some of the challenging steep roads that the NC500 has. We made a couple of other stops along the way by Big Sands Bay before heading to Mellon Udringle Beach for the night. Plan | We’ve shared all the key information on how to get to Inverness, plus how to spend your time in the city before or after your North Coast 500 adventure, in this post: Our Wee Guide to Inverness.For beaches, to ruined castles, to outdoor adventure and distilleries - find out where to find the things you love on the NC500 in our North Coast 500 highlights guide, which includes interactive maps. Inverness Airport serves limited domestic and international routes, but has direct flights from London, Amsterdam, and Belfast. However, it's also possible to fly into Aberdeen and drive the 2.5 hours to Inverness, or take the scenic train between the two northern cities. If you are travelling in Scotland for a long period of time, then you could also arrive in Glasgow or Edinburgh and spend time there before driving or taking the train north.

500: The Ultimate Campervan Itinerary North Coast 500: The Ultimate Campervan Itinerary

Planning a successful road trip isn’t as easy as it might sound, even if you’re remaining in the UK. Share the drive on your road trip

For dinners out anywhere along the NC500, you really do need to plan ahead. If you're expecting to eat in a hotel or restaurant in the evening, then phoning ahead of time to book your table in high season is essential (especially on weekends). The most common eating time in this part of the world is 7-9 pm, with few tables available much later than that. Some restaurants' last-seating time is actually at 8 pm. All drivers (especially Clarkson types) need to note that driver etiquette and road awareness is hugely importantwhen driving the North Coast 500. If you are not used to driving on the left side of the road, ALWAYS keep this in mind! We saw a few cars do this then realize that they were on the wrong side of the road after a couple of beeps. Sometimes two vehicles will meet in the middle of the road just through bad timing. In that scenario, the expectation is that the person closest to the nearest 'passing place' on their side of the road should reverse into it, but only if it is safe and sensible for them to do so.