On A832 and shores of Loch Gairloch, sits Gairloch, a pretty harbour village with galleries, shops, a post office and inns. The car park is small, but if you can squeeze in your campervan, stay here for a night. And don’t worry, the descent to Applecross will be much gentler. Located between Coast and Mungasdale in Guinard Bay, it holds a grim past dating back to WWII when the British were testing Anthrax, a dangerous infectious chemical for use in the war. Take a look at the map below! Sitting on a dramatic coastline, the 16th Century Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is the absolute star of this site. The walk along the Knockan Crag was a pleasant surprise. Planning Your Motorhome Trip for Winter. Thurso is only a 45-minute drive northeast from Bettyhill via A836, then a left turn onto the 4-mile long B855. As soon as you leave the cave to continue your epic North Coast 500 adventure, there will be two fabulous, easily accessible beaches on your left-hand side. As you start leaving the town, Look out for a lovely beach on your left and stop at the viewpoint of Loch Garliosh. The wild camping spots, do they have toilets, I can cope without showers, but not toilets. Oops, there was an error sending your message. Check the link to see what’s available right now. Explore the famous locations of Harry Potter and Outlander! The hill was used as a monitoring station as it affords good visibility across the Pentland Firth. The beauty of the North Coast 500 is that it allows you to see the wonders of the Scottish coast and drive through beautiful small villages and towns that you might have otherwise missed. It’s a lovely peaceful spot for the night. The coastline is so striking it’s hard to take it all in. Our breakfast consisted of baked goods and coffee from Harry Gow Bakery. North Coast 500 route maps are made easily available online plan your route around Scotland's Route66 NC500 with google maps & plan your route around the Coasts of the Northern Scottish Highlands as you drive through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, visit famous location made popular by movies like Braveheart filmed in Glen Nevis by Fort William There’s a big car park located right on the A835 with plenty of space to park up even the largest motorhome. Follow the link to see what’s available in Gairloch today. The detour drive from Clashnessie Bay all the way towards Balchrick (detour for Sandwood Bay) is lovely, even on a misty day. As you leave the valley, follow the road sign to Gairloch and Ullapool. We stayed here for 2 nights and found it peaceful. Plus, you’ll get a great view of the Duncansby Head cliffs that broke away from the main peninsula. But is it really? Most of the stops we’ve mentioned have decent footpaths but some spots might have some steep steps down towards the sea etc. 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. With picnic tables, fantastic views of Little Loch Broom and An Tellach, the highest mountain in the area, this place is what the NC500 route is all about. If you’ve never been on one track roads, just keep left at passing places. Check out their website. There’s a nice view of another bay from up here. There’s a well-trodden path leading up to the summit from where you can look down on to the huge breathtaking craggy sea stacks. And if you leave the beach early enough in the morning, before 9 am, you’ll be lucky to miss the oncoming traffic along the one-track road. It was quite fascinating to see the river quickly eating into the sandy ridge. Applecross is a very popular camping spot in the Scottish Highlands and one … Inverness is where this epic Scottish road trip starts and ends regardless of whether you’ll do it clockwise or anticlockwise. When you decide to explore the famous Route 500 that runs along the north coast of Scotland, it will be a decision that you never come to regret. The Clootie Well site is very much alive today, covered in cloth of all kinds and sizes. The start of the North Coast 500 motorhome route: Inverness The NC500 route starts at Inverness, the gateway to the Highlands. Starting with the Smoo Cave, the rest of the ride between Durness and Wick will be pretty spectacular with many high viewpoints along the North Coast 500 route. With over 500 miles of dramatic driving roads, beautiful coastal scenery, turquoise blue seas and white sand beaches, the North Coast 500 (NC500) is one of Scotland’s best road trips. The North Coast 500 road tour is one of the world's most stunning road trips, making it a fantastic choice when hiring a motorhome.With spectacular scenery across the coastline, Scotland's answer to Route 66 has something for everyone! The causeway hugged by the turquoise waters of the Kyle of Tongue Bay, looks especially beautiful on a clear day. On a clear day, you can see the islands of Stroma, Hoy and the Orkney Mainland. In a quarter of a mile past Occumster. To get there, look for a big brown sign for Cairns of Camster just past Camster. Pin for later! And it is absolutely stunning with the purple-coloured river Naver rushing into the blue sea. Follow the link to check accommodation options in this area and keep exploring. And don’t hold on to the walls – they might be unsupported or just recently repaired. North500 Motorhomes to routes, north coast 500, skye, whisky trail, Highlands. We were lucky to see panoramic views at the summit just before the mist covered the site completely. North Coast 500 Itinerary. At Kinlochewe the road turns to the left onto A832 all the way to Shieldaig. No matter where you wish to go... from the rugged West Coast and North Coast 500 route to the Cairngorms National Park and the many beautiful Islands, ... Zefiro 675 and Zefiro 690 motorhomes are all 2018 or 2019 registered and come in a choice of manual or automatic. Take the woodland trail and cross the Victoria suspension bridge to see the spectacular show of the falls plunging into the River Droma. Sort By . All of which we can aid you further with. To visit Lybster, turn off the main road on the left, pass the main town and drive down the steep road into the harbour. Tonyg3nwl Ps met up with a fellow Ham radio enthusiast on Skye.callsign MM0LUP. The trek might be rewarding on a clear and dry day, but when you have constant rain drumming into your face and a hazy beach at the end for a reward, it’s not much fun. The North Coast 500 route. Once you cross the Kyle of Tongue bridge, join the A836 road for Bettyhill. Have yourself a wee break and stop at Halladale Inn in Thurso. Then book a glass-bottomed boat tour to sneak on sea stars, urchins, seals and sea birds. If you have very little time to spare but still really want to do the Route 500, you can book a 3-day whirlwind tour from Inverness with the very popular Rabbie’s minivan. Now buckle up, you are off to the most challenging part of the North Coast 500 loop. You’ll see a smaller red-hue sand beach in the distance but keep driving further until you crossed two stone bridges and reached a small car park. They believed that if you leave a piece of cloth here, over time, as the cloth disintegrates, it will relieve their bodies from illnesses. Once a big herring fishing village, these days Lybster is a sleepy harbour village. Lot’s of useful information – thank you! If you’re arranging motorhome hire in Scotland for the trip, they can probably supply these, but always check first. There might not be any dramatic views at this stop, but John o’ Groats is an iconic landmark in Britain. Elevated so that you could enjoy this elaborate mansion from the gardens, Dunrobin Castle is the seat of the Clan Sutherland. If you have time, check out Badachro Inn and the small gin distillery under the same name. Back home now, so where to next???. We saw so many people turn around at the point of a slight incline, which is a shame. There’s also no right or wrong direction to drive it. Most of the suggested routes cover the whole North Coast 500 route in 5 days, but for a motorhome tour that will be quite tiring. This is the most northerly point of mainland Britain and home to puffins, razorbills (which we were lucky to spot), shags and cormorants. Check out their website here. Next up will be the intriguing Neolithic Tombs – Grey Cairns of Camster. We were going to hire a converted van, as I’m thinking campervans may be too big for some of the route? It houses the famous Applecross Inn and Smokehouse. Even though perched close to the road, Clashnessie is another lovely beach in beautiful surroundings. From Achnahaird beach, head southwest and re-join the A835 at Drumrunie for the short drive to Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve. The valley was covered in thick mist when we were driving through the pass. Don’t miss the tiny Gruinard island inhabited by sheep. Follow the A862 road. Check the link to see what’s available right now. Due to the dangerous tide and often wild weather, the ferry and bus service don’t have a regular schedule so it’s best to contact the minibus company first. On a clear day, you can explore the spectacular summit of Bealach Na’ Ba. However we don’t recommend heading into the city itself, it isn’t very motorhome friendly and doesn’t have a great deal to offer. It’s busier than the other peninsulas on the road, but for a reason. The picture-perfect Shiledaig will forever be known to us as the “best banana bread stop” on Scotland’s most scenic North Coast 500 route. See out trip of Scotland's beautiful NC 500 North Coast 500 by Motorhome in May 2017. 30 motorhome parks near the North Coast 500 . The garden is beautiful and probably in full bloom in May, but couldn’t even begin to compare to some of the stately homes in England. Why a motorhome is the best way to explore the NC500. What we weren’t too sure about when we got there was the 8-mile round trek to the beach. But we hung around until the weather improved (at around 9 pm) and got to see the legendary valley with our own eyes. The original priory consisted of many buildings but only the church is all that remains today. North Coast 500 by motorhome and campervan. 4.0 out of 5 stars 24. If you are a passenger, look out for two little cute sandy bays on your left (if driving clockwise), if you are the driver on NC500 – keep your eyes on the road. These will have clearly marked trail maps and so you’ll be able to judge is they are suitable. As if it was a fast-forward movie of natural coastal corrosion. We suggest stopping at the tourist office you will pass on the A9. They also have a sign in their garden (kind of hidden away behind the smoking bin) of the Route 500 which is a copy of the Route 66 in the US. Recent Posts. Traveling the North Coast 500 by motorhome is by far the best way to explore it. Also, be careful when crossing the road as there are lots of blind summits and hairpin bends. and witness the scenery get increasingly more dramatic. Driving away from Thurso, you’ll be able to take quite a few dramatic detours, starting with Dunnet Head, a peninsula on the north coast of Scotland. On the official website for the North Coast 500 the route is describe as follows: Neither of us is particularly fit so wouldn’t do anything akin to rock climbing or walking along narrow ledges. The North Coast 500 (nc500) has everything you could want from a Scottish road trip. FREE Delivery on your first order shipped by Amazon. You’ll also need a lot of blankets, a heater, and an emergency kit in case of being snowed in. If you are doing NC500 in a campervan or motorhome, we did the full loop in our van conversion and have some good tips for you where to wild camp. Achnahaird beach: This is our top wild camp spot. How long did it take you to cover this route? You can take the quick route (approx 2h) but you’ll miss some epic drives. They are duplicates of Scotland’s oldest monuments, built here over 5000 years ago. Download an app called park4night and it will show you all the facilities and parking spots around the route. We didn’t plan to stop here but were intrigued by the big brown heritage sign. At 626 metres (2,053 ft) high, the single track road twists and turns sharply in places and should be taken seriously. North Coast 500 Road Trip Motorhome / Camper Van Journal / Notebook: Treasure Your Memories. The heritage garden has quite a few trails plus a museum and a cafe. They will have the official NC500 map, pretty handy when you loose mobile signal further North. Hey Nick, glad you found the post useful! Clashnessie Bay: There’s a tiny car park across the road from Clashnessie beach, suitable for overnight parking for around 4-6 motorhomes. Need a few tips and inspiration before you go? It was a new moon that evening, so we were hoping to get clear dark skies in order to photograph an abundance of bright stars! There’s a visitor centre in the town if you are looking for more things to do and see in the area. Full attention must be paid to the road here, Due to the dangerous tide and often wild weather, the ferry and bus service don’t have a regular schedule so it’s best to. There is a hut with lots of information about, supposedly, the oldest rocks in the world, at the start of the walk. I would go the zip-line, that would be interesting activity to do. Drive further west from Priory for just under 2h and witness the scenery get increasingly more dramatic. From John o’ Groats, drive up to Duncansby Head. And it was, supposedly, endorsed by Mary Queen of Scots during her visit in 1564. It’s a wishing well where pilgrims would make offerings by leaving a piece of cloth to the water spirits. Sadly Colin, the main Smoo caver and tour operator has passed away in early 2019. Here’s the website where you can check out prices and availability. From Drumberg, make your way towards Balchrick. We missed the sign for the viewpoint and went all the way up into the tiny village. If you have time on your hands, you could also explore the amazing tidal Littleferry beach, part of the Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. We met him while he was repairing one section of the footpath and had a quick chat about the amount of time he spends repairing the stone slabs. The boards explain in detail the controversy of the 19th century when two Scottish geologists, Ben Peach and John Horne, discovered that there was something wrong with the sequence of the rocks here. Drumberg viewpoint is a lovely stop along the way with a view of Eddrachillis Bay, Handa Island and mainland Sutherland. Like a true explorer, Charlie had a go at crawling into each of the three tombs through a narrow passageway to explore the inside of the monuments and got a bit muddy in the process. Clootie Well or a Cloth Well is associated with ancient Scottish and Irish traditions and dates back to pre-Christianity. It can get cold at night even in the summer so bring warmer PJs. You will then be picked up by a minibus service and given a 3-hour tour with commentary. The second leg of the road trip, Applecross to Ullapool, is no less exciting than the first. In this epic North Coast 500 post, we’ll tell you all about the things to do and see on this 500+ mile scenic loop around the coast of the Highlands. What was your North Coast 500 highlight? Look to your left to discover a lovely waterfall rushing down the impressive rocks. Popular searches for North Coast 500 … There’s a visitor centre in the town if you are looking for more things to do and see in the area. What are the highlights of the North Coast 500? From here you can also catch a ferry to Stornoway and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides if you are thinking of exploring further away from the initial NC500 route. The drive itself to the beach is a beautiful winding one track drive for about 12 miles from the turn-off. It can get crowded and a little bit noisy with people coming and going, but in general, it was quiet at night. Although people are asked to leave only biodegradable cloth, we’ve noticed that some are getting the whole idea wrong. Campervan Hire RV & Motorhome Rentals You don’t even need to make a special effort to stop here to admire the view. Check out the official page for Smoo Cave to see if the tours are still running. No one bothered us. North Coast 500 Route Map. North Coast 500 map (download the digital map and then pick up a paper copy at the Inverness Visitor Center) Scotland road map or atlas ; GPS ; Road Trip music (in a format that works with your vehicle!) We don’t recommend wandering in the mist as visibility can be very poor. You can just show up and glide over the Atlantic at 40 mph, no booking required. Thanks, Lakica, the NC500 route is quite spectacular. They filled bombs with the Bacillus anthracis bacteria and dropped it on Gruinard island in order to check if they could contaminate cities in Germany. From here you can explore Loch Ness further, but if we are brutally honest, there are many more beautiful and less touristy lochs around. Experience Scotland's answer to Route 66 with everything from fairytale castle ruins to delicious seafood and white beaches. This kind of phenomenon has never been detected anywhere else in the world at the time. Experience and see for yourself the journeys pictured throughout the films. But don’t rush just yet to complete the Scottish 500 route. You’ll see a plaque tribute for him as you explore the information boards outside the cave. N … Perhaps try one of the related searches below. Tour buses stop here too so you might have a mob of tourists suddenly obstructing the view for 5 minutes. Down in the bay you can park at the harbour and have some of the best crab rolls on the North Coast 500 route. The journey to cross the Kyle of Durness takes around 10 minutes. Take care when going down and up the steps, as they are steep, uneven, and cracked in places. I’m doing the trip in July with my family (young children $ & 10) and friends. Be sure to follow the path leading over the highest point of the peninsula for fantastic views over the Thirle Door and the Stacks of Duncansby. Firstly, which season are you embarking in? If it is the brutal Scottish winter - props to you!- then you’ll need to check you have winter tyres and snow chains. Similar to the mountain passes in the Alps, Bealach Na’ Ba, aka the Pass of the Cattle, is the steepest road ascent in the UK. Thinking of taking a North Coast 500 road trip? As you join the A837 road at Ledmore towards Inchnadamph, make a quick stop to explore the ruins of the 16th Century Ardverk Castle, once owned by the Macleods of Assynt Clan. Once you’ve done the dramatic bit of the coastline, you might be tempted to head straight for Inverness. I swear I was feeling chills when taking pictures early in the morning with no one else in sight. 99. The photos look really beautiful. It’s the largest city in the Scottish highlands in case you need to stock up on essentials for the road. As you cross the valley, you’ll feel like you are in a James Bond movie, rushing to save the world through the vast wilderness. If you are not scared of heights, you can cross a super narrow path to the summit of the bluff. We recommend popping into the Ullapool Smokehouse shop in the town and stock up on cured salmon and other locally produced goodies. It’s a good stop before tackling the remaining east coast of the Scottish 500 route. Download an easy to use, NC500 map and North Coast 500 Itinerary right here. Check out the post at the viewpoint pointing to some of the main landmarks in the area. You’ll have lots of options around the entire coastal route. Here’s how t… If you can time your visit to this fairytale castle on a Monday (or any other weekday) morning, you’ll have a pleasant wander without too many crowds. Full attention must be paid to the road here. The parking lot for the beach can be accessed via the town and then a drive through the campsite. You’ll find lots of little wild camping spots between Achiriesgill and Keoldale (ferries for the Cape Wrath). Yum. Check out some of these less-visited sights. The village was originally founded in the 1800s to train up seamen for war against Napoleon, hence the cannon along the seafront. Around 10-15 minutes south down the road from Wick, there’s a quick detour to Whaligoe Steps on your left just before Ulbster. Needless to say, we came back soaking wet despite wearing waterproof gear. Tony. Take your goodies and leave money in the box. Be sure to (carefully) walk around the cliff to take in the view of the thrilling rocks beneath the castle. Many NC500 travellers miss these ancient tombs. Have some spare pennies? Nice read. The ladies at Waterlines cafe will serve you freshly prepared rolls with different fillings and delicious homemade cakes. There is a small car park at the top of the stairs and a sign leading you to the 330 steps descending into a harbour. The further one, Ceannabeinne beach, has a zipline if you fancy thrills on your Scottish 500 route. But The Junction Cafe nearby serves up a really good full English including a fab veggie option. We’ve also divided the guide into 5 sections with the top highlights for easy navigation. North Coast 500: NC500 in 3.8 ton motorhome - See 705 traveller reviews, 842 candid photos, and great deals for Inverness, UK, at Tripadvisor. Lovely. It would only be the massive RV type motorhomes which would struggle on the smaller roads. It is important to plan ahead! It’s a small site maintained by a local chap who works really hard to replace the dilapidating steps. Scotland’s incredible road trip takes in 500 miles around the north coast of Scotland taking in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world – there’s no wonder they call it Scotland’s Route 66. From here you can enjoy a lovely view of the bridge. Paperback £5.99 £ 5. Travelling The North Coast 500 In A Motorhome. Situated along the River Ness, Inverness is easily walkable on foot. The spot is peaceful, offers great walks and views. The Scottish 500 route is becoming increasingly popular and you might miss out on great places to stay if you don’t book in advance. You’ll have to either do it from the car or simply enjoy the ride. There are also a lot of places just to pull up and wander down to the sea or beach in a few minutes. The road across the mountains of the Applecross peninsula is open all year round, however, occasionally it gets closed during extreme weather conditions. Another great thing about the beach is that it’s only a short and easy walk away across the cliffs from the car park. It was founded by the French monks in 1230, hence the name “Beautiful Place,” that comes from the riverside setting (beau lieu). Yes, you can see the craggy rocks from further away, but the most delightful part of Duncasby Head lies a little further along. Stay focused, keep your eyes on the road and enjoy the ride. If you’re doing the opposite, and cruising dow… If you are after breakfast, the inn serves breakfast to the residents only. Which was lucky as we needed to stock up on fresh fruit and veg. We can help provide advice on routes, activities and campsites before you go. You can see the route on the North Coast 500 map above. We recently came across this brilliant map containing wild camping and pub stopovers for campervans doing the North Coast 500. Tacky, but we still took a quick picture. We were indeed very excited to make a detour here. Boasting 1,000 years of history, the castle has witnessed the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th Century and was passed repeatedly from hand to hand between Scots and English. This more bike-friendly course takes in smaller roads on the West Coast, that motorhomes and caravans can't go on and away from the busy A9 on the East Coast, as well as including the beautiful Black Isle. North Coast 500 Scotland's answer to Route 66, the new scenic route showcasing the fairy tale castles, beaches and ruins. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a small commission for any purchases at no extra cost to you. There are also some lovely beaches between Coast and Mungasdale if you fancy a quick stop. Wild and remote, Red Point Beach is worth a quick detour or an overnight stay if you are tackling the North Coast 500 in a campervan or motorhome. There are many more easily accessible and beautiful beaches along the route so skip it if the weather isn’t on your side. You’ll be passing right through the Torridon valley on the A896, with a view into the mighty Ben Eighe with its many summits. Read about our incredible experience on the recently launched North Coast 500 route : PART 1 - WEST COAST WANDERING Move over Route 66! Sandalwood Bay: If you are running low on the water, there’s a tap behind the toilet block. Come here for the sunset or early in the morning to hear the wind howling in between the walls. Not cheap, but really good. If you want to discover this quirky site, follow the A9 motorway for about an hour until you reach Munlochy village. We highly recommend staying here before visiting Dunrobin Castle if you want to beat the tour buses and get there as soon as it opens. Plus, the countryside, bathing in the morning light, is so beautiful and fresh – great for photos. As you leave Dunrobin Castle, you’ll cross the bridge into the Black Isle, towards Inverness. It’s relaxing and picturesque. If you are craving peace and an off the beaten path spot, then Achnahaird beach is worth the detour. The drive from Shieldaig and especially from Torridon towards the Red Beach is, you probably already guessed, stunning and picturesque. This lovely botanical garden is a true manifestation of the founder’s vision to plant and grow as many exotic plants as possible. Applecross Campsite. The family still lives here but a large chunk of the manor is open for exploring. If you are doing NC500 in a campervan or motorhome, we did the full loop in our van conversion and have some good tips … With no need … 6, then a left turn onto the 4-mile long B855. The 15-minute drive along the road hugged by the Scotch pine trees is as lovely as the beach itself. This crazy picturesque stone-walled road alongside Clashnessie Bay is not for faint-hearted. Allocating a good chunk of time is a good idea. A hat can also be handy if you are thinking of going for a wander in the valley later in the day. It’s a tidal almost-white sand beach located in Coigach peninsula. The beach itself is a lovely white-sand bay framed with beautiful black rocks sticking out into the sea. North Coast 500 map by Thincat, CC 4.0. Framed with sand dunes and adorned with Am Buachaille, a sea stack in the distance, Sandalwood Bay is an unspoiled 1-mile long beach. Great spot if you want to be the first or the last one to have a spooky wander around the castle. There is the popular North Coast 500 route, alongside a number of other routes beyond our website. Turn right and drive on a what feels like Roman Road for around 8-10 minutes until you see grey bumps in the grass. The only way to access the peninsula is by the Cape Wrath Ferry, a foot passenger only boat. The discovery that the older rocks moved on top of the younger rocks due to tectonic action had a significant impact on the science of geology. As with many roads in the Scottish Highlands, the stunning single-track route from Lochinver to Clachtoll beach is full of turns and twists winding through the rocks. Just like many other incredible sites on this route around the Scottish Highlands. If you’re interested in discovering the beautiful North Coast 500 by motorhome, don’t hesitate to contact us on 07720 260596 or browse our website to learn more about the amazing models we have at your disposal. Maybe I wasn’t alone after all?!? Keep driving on the main road for the magnificent Corrieshalloch Gorge and Falls of Measach. Plus, it wasn’t that busy during the day either. Dunnet Head: A popular nightspot among campervans/motorhomes on NC500. In this epic North Coast 500 post, we’ll tell you all about the things to do and see on this 500+ mile scenic loop around the coast of the Highlands. I’m wondering if you would recommend any stops that wouldn’t be good for them (too long a walk, dangerous walk, too many steps). Let us know in the comments below…. My advice would be to either book a couple of campsites (or hotels) around the route ahead of time or hire a campervan with a basic toilet included. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter - you'll be first to find out about last minute offers, great deals and inspiration about our motorhomes. Scotland at its best. We recommend the longer route and taking a few detours along the way, such as Torridon glen. From here cross the stone bridge on your left if driving clockwise and then it’s around 9 miles on the one-track road. It’s broad and easily accessible with a small patch of land for parking. Experience and see for yourself the journeys pictured throughout the films. It was busy during the day, but the traffic died down at around 9 pm. Your adventure can be as exciting or as relaxing as you wish it to be. Inverewe is a delightful stop to inhale the dreamy English rose scent and walk the woodland trails. 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