Since the NC500 marketing strategy has been so successful, accommodation is in high demand on the North Coast 500 route. Dating back to around 1590. This got me thinking about the road trip I took driving Scotland’s North Coast 500 (aka the NC 500) route a little while back. From an overview of the route, tips on driving and sights you can't miss, we'll help you plan perfectly for the NC500 - Scotland’s answer to Route 66. “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. Leaving Chanonry Point, you could make a stop at The Storehouse Restaurant and Farm Shop to pick up some breakfast/lunch or supplies – even if you’re not hungry, who doesn’t love a good farm shop? I’ll need to go back again and hopefully write about the Isle of Skye in the future. Three of us rode this exact route last week in near perfect conditions. 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 Which he did. For more information, before you go, check out the dedicated Visit Scotland Covid-19 page. Membership starts from just £15 a year and each package offers a range of additional benefits. As we’d hired a car in Edinburgh, that’s where we went – but it is a pretty long drive. Dog friendly Cafes. There are a number of taxis/private drivers in the area who can take you around. There are 3 pink sand beaches to visit and on a clear day, you can see across to the island. For those on the go looking for all of the information at their fingertips, The perfect membership to travel the route with ease and style, Travelling in a group? There’s no shortage of things to do in Edinburgh, including walking tours of the city (with different themes – historical, haunted, underground, Harry Potter), open-top bus tours, visiting the castle, or climbing to the top of Arthur’s Seat. Just don’t drink and drive – the drink driving limit in Scotland is very low, so I wouldn’t even risk it! At the moment, travelling along the North Coast 500 is a bit different. With just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery, the route path naturally follows the main roads across the coastal edges of the North Highlands taking in … Check out the lovely ones at North Coast 500 Pods. Try North Star Glamping or the Camster luxury glamping pod. Difficulty: For camping, try Broomfield Holiday Park or nearby Badrallach Campsite, Bothy and Holiday Cottage. Where to Stay Near to the Grey Cairns of Camster & the Whaligoe Steps: The village of Lybster, near to both the Camster Cains and Whaligoe Steps is a good place to rest your head for the night if you don’t want to travel too far. Hi, I'm Helen! Cachtolll Beach! Ardoch Bothy (sleeps 2) and Gracie’s Cottage (sleeps 4). Why did you decide to tackle Scotland's NC500 cycle route? If it is the brutal Scottish winter - props to you!- then you’ll need to check you have winter tyres and snow chains. Good quality roads everywhere except the climb up and over to Glen Loth, but even that is fine on a 25mm tyre road bike. To climb Ben Nevis takes around 7 hours up and down so give yourself enough time. You can also visit the Strathnaver Museum which will give you an insight into Scottish history. Our NC500 Experience My friend Brenna (This Battered Suitcase) and I drove the NC500 in early March. I'm also a qualified Ashtanga & Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, Children's Yoga Teacher, and Chakradance Facilitator. The castle resembles a French chateau and the design of the gardens was inspired by Palace of Versailles in Paris – it looks like it came straight out of a Disney movie. Just outside of Inverness, ACE Adventures & Hideaways can organise white water rafting trips and other outdoor adventures. Cocoa Mountain! This is one of the most common questions about the North Coast 500 when it comes to planning the road trip, however, it … When planning your NC500 route or 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'. Perhaps an unusual time of year for a UK road trip… but this was my first trip after a left my job to become a full-time travel blogger. Scotland’s North Coast 500, also known as the route 66 of UK – something we’re yet to do, but has been on our bucket list for years! 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