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

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When planning your NC500 routeor once you're on the road, don't look at the map and think 'we've only got 80 miles to drive today, we'll have loads of time'.

The North Coast 500 - Love, from Scotland The complete guide to The North Coast 500 - Love, from Scotland

Not prioritising your photography opportunities (or doin' it for the 'gram) over the experiences or safety of others. Or to the detriment of the destination. Take your time, enjoy the stunning surroundings, visit as much as possible! We traveled 765 miles in 13 days with a rental car and stayed in B&Bs, Hostels, Hotels and Castlehotels. Just amazing! 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. Many in the media call it 'Scotland's Route 66', but for us you should throw that comparison out the window; this is a road trip withoutcomparison. We've been fortunate enough to road trip together through southern Italy, Morocco, the Faroe Islands, Sweden, the Dolomites and a few other places in the last few years, and we can tell you that this route is very, veryspecial and can stand on its own two feet. We could have had easily spent two weeks on the NC500, especially when the weather was on our side. This would have allowed us more time to discover each place and explore some of its less accessible hidden gems, bag some Munros(a 3,000+ feet Scottish hill if you didn't already know), rush less and enjoy more of what we were there to see.

We made a couple of other stops along the way by Big Sands Bay before heading to Mellon Udringle Beach for the night. If you don’t already have breakdown cover in place, organise it before you start the North Coast 500.

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

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. However, the inexperienced and those not used to driving on the left should approach this route with caution and the correct mindset. In terms of conditions, we can report that there aren't any dusty roads along the NC500 route, but you will encounter quite a few potholes! 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. The NC500 is not a route for drivers looking for driving fast through the rugged landscapes of northern Scotland. The speed limits are often low with single-lanes.

For those who want a bit of a visual, here is an overview of the route that we did. As we get deeper into this NC500 route planner, I will go into our recommendations on what to see, do, and where to stay along the way. Therefore, we'd personally recommend seven to ten days to drive the North Coast 500 days as perfect for most of you. If you have the budget and want to explore the route at an even more sedate pace, relax as an NC500 2020 summer staycation holiday, or just have more time exploring the glorious wilderness of the Scottish Highlands, then you'll love two weeks. While this viewpoint isn’t usually a stop in most North Coast 500 itineraries, I recommend you make the detour up here as the views are INCREDIBLE. We drove up to Torridon and made our way up the single-pass road up to the Bealach na Gaoithe viewpoint in Diabaig. The most important skill you will come away with after the NC500, especially if you're not experienced at driving in the British countryside, is the underappreciated art of the 'passing place'.

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

And, if it's possible, try to linger a little longer along the route rather than simply treating villages, towns, or accommodation as pit-stops. There are obviously restrictions on how much you can feasibly do this, but staying more than just a night in an area and accommodation not only helps, but also enriches your own travel experience. The vehicle closestto a 'passing place' on theirside of the road has the responsibility to pull into it. So, if you've got a passing place accessible on your left, you should go into it and let the other car proceed. If travelling outside of the summer season, note that some restaurants may be closed or operate on shorter opening times. 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: As hinted at above, there are a variety of tourists and travellers making their way around the NC500 at the same time. That's largely due to the fact that accommodation and activities along the route cater to a diverse range of tastes and budgets - the only common denominator is that most people require a passion for Scotland and some wheels (although we did see a couple of hitch-hikers!).Unlike the American Route 66 – the NC500 is not a single road or highway – but a series of roads the hug the coastline. As for winter...well, we're sure the landscapes would be utterly enchanting, but we wouldn't attempt it then. If you are closest to a 'passing place', but it's on the right hand side of the road, then it's your responsibility to wait on the left hand side of the road so that the approaching car can safely arrive and pull into the passing place to let you proceed. In this situation, a driver might flash their lights to let you know to proceed as they've safely pulled into a 'passing place' and are waiting for you to proceed.

North Coast 500 - The ultimate road trip around the North of

It is the jump-off point to Orkney Island during the summertime. However, because we went during autumn, the conditions weren’t as favorable so we opted to give any ferry crossings a miss. For the NC500, we were both genuinely surprised at just how much there was to see, do and enjoy all along the route. And, the fact of the matter is that in five or ten days you simply will not be able to do and see everything, so instead concentrate on creating an itinerarywhich allows you to do most of what you want, whilst leaving aside some time for a wee bit of spontaneity.But, have no doubt, midges (which are sort of like teeny tiny angry Scottish mosquitoes) can be a major pain in the arse. They swarm around you in a cloud of nuisance at dawn or dusk and make you very uncomfortable - with a group capable of landing around 3,000 bites an hour.Dangerous? Not really. Annoying? Absolutely! That romantic drink on a cool summer night by the water can be ruined by them. 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. The route begins and ends in the northernmost city in Scotland: Inverness. Technically it starts at the Castle in the centre, but you don't reallyhave to start there. 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.

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