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

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Read more: the complete guide to the best beaches on the North Coast 500. My favourite beaches on the north coast 500 are: Castle Varrich– climb up to Castle Varrich from the village of Tongue for a great view over Kyle and Ben Loyal. However, as its popularity has increased, the visitor season on the route has extended closer to seven months. May and September are really great options if you're hoping to share the road with fewer vehicles, whilst the route would still be absolutely beautiful in the early spring months or further into autumn. Whether you want to drive the route in 4 days or 3 weeks, take a tent or stay in luxury accommodation, there is a NC500 itinerary for you! A good way to plan out your NC500 road trip is to think of the route in four stages.

North Coast 500 - Scottish Route 66 - Book Your Tailormade Tour North Coast 500 - Scottish Route 66 - Book Your Tailormade Tour

Unlike the American Route 66 – the NC500 is not a single road or highway – but a series of roads the hug the coastline. We made a couple of other stops along the way by Big Sands Bay before heading to Mellon Udringle Beach for the night. April 2021 Update | Locals along the North Coast 500 route, after a catalogue of horrendous experiences throughout summer 2020 due to heightened domestic demand, are really concerned about the impact of visitors who do not respect the land, nature, and the people who live amongst it. Gairloch is a fantastic place to visit and for exploring Wester Ross and the north west Highlands . Situated on the shore of Loch Gairloch amongst the awe-inspiring scenery of Wester Ross, Gairloch offers a wealth of spectacular scenery and activities for visitors. There are several good sandy beaches in the area, such as the Big Sand and Redpoint, which offers lovely views to Raasay, Skye and the Western Isles.These old country roads roads link remote communities, are access points for workers and medical care, and were not designed for the scale of traffic which arrives come Scottish summertime. It's therefore incredibly important to prepare and know the following in advance:

Scotland’s ‘Route 66’ – the North Coast 500 - RAC Driving Scotland’s ‘Route 66’ – the North Coast 500 - RAC

The loop takes you through incredibly scenic landscapes that honestly took us by surprise. Facts about the North Coast 500 Nestled in the heart of Wester Ross, with its spectacular sunsets and golden sandy beaches, your hotel offers a fabulous location with stunning, panoramic views across the loch to Skye and the Hebrides. Stylish and comfortable, in contrast to its rugged surroundings, it’s the perfect location to explore the local area. You must experience the conservatory, it’s the ideal place to sit and enjoy the stunning vistas after a day on the road. If you just want to see the main sights I would suggest you will need a minimum of four days to do the main stages of the NC500, however, I would suggest a week to 10 days to really make the most of your trip. What’s the best time of year to drive the North Coast 500?

Map of the North Coast 500

The Split Stane, Sutherland– the boundary between Sutherland and Caithness – said to have been split by the devil’s tail. Find the stone at Drumholliston near Melvich. Melvich Beach– one of the north coast’s most stunning beaches, just a short walk from the road to Melvich Beach. Drive over the Kylesku Bridge – a famous photo stop on the NC500, the Kylesku Hotel is nearby serving up great seafood. Cape Wrath– the north west point of Scotland, Cape Wrath is accessible by the Cape Wrath Ferry or a very long hike over mooreland! Visiting Cape Wrath on the ferry takes around 3 hours.

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

As ever, be a responsible and respectful traveller and help keep the North Coast 500 road trip as beautiful as before. The mountains as beautiful as before. The North Sea as beautiful as before.We had long dreamed of discovering the Scottish Highlands together, and the creation of the North Coast 500 offered the perfect opportunity. Strome Castle– stop on Loch Carron to discover one of the National Trust for Scotland’s little gems.