– Loch Ness Inn in Drumnadrochit (about 25 minutes southwest of Inverness) Home The Trip 2017 Western Europe The Best North Coast 500 Itinerary, Campsites & Hotels in Scotland The North Coast 500 is the best road trip in Scotland. If you plan to arrive after 8:00pm or so, I’d be prepared and pick up sandwiches or something along the way so you aren’t in the situation where you have nothing to eat for the evening. Wishing you a great rest of the year, and hope you can return to the route next year! Late Night Options – If you are arriving into the town late, you have a few options of places to check including, There are no hostels that we know of in Wick, but if you venture a bit further along the route you can stay in, Just northwest of John o’ Groats you can make a short drive to. Jessica. For those driving the NC500, Inverness is a natural place to pick up a rental, but you can also do it in any of the other main cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Aberdeen. Yes, unfortunately, a lot of places are booked out a month or so in advance as it is a popular time and place to travel right now. but they pretty much all offer the basics of water and electrical hookups, toilets, showers, picnic areas, waste disposal points, etc. Mileage: ~ 79 miles / 127 km (107 miles / 172 km if drive on to Durness) You can take a. Booking is recommended for dinner at most places in Ullapool, especially in summer. Glad that you enjoyed your time on the North Coast 500 and found our guides useful. Winter has its pros in that there are fewer visitors and less people on the road. Areas of Scottish Highlands: Sutherland and Caithness. -Day 2 Dog friendly B&B near Wick – Thrumster House We can easily spend a few weeks in the area ourselves and you’ll have plenty to do and see if you enjoy outdoor activities. We do plan on renting a motorhome so I’ve noted down where we can’t go from your guide which I can’t express enough how amazing it is but I just wanted to pick your brain. Here is our suggested 1 week North Coast 500 itinerary. If sharing with friends, the cost of camping would be very little when split amongst you. We recommend that you use our North Coast 500 itinerary as a suggested guide rather than an inflexible itinerary. Ullapool -2 nights Want to keep up to date with us and our latest travel tips? (~ 95 miles / 153 km if do the A896 shortcut). Just note if you plan to make a lot of detours (or do long ones such as out to the islands) you will likely want to add more days to your trip. Starting & Ending Point: Wick to Tongue (or Durness) If you are looking for a stroll in Ullapool, there are nice places to walk around the harbor area and around Loch Broom. I’d also check with your B&B or hotel, as many offer evening meals in Dornoch for guests. At all other places I’ve been able to book my chosen accomodation. One of our favourite road trips in the UK is the North Coast 500 – a driving route that loops around the far north of Scotland, taking in fantastic scenery, gorgeous castles, and loads of attractions. Glad you are finding our North Coast 500 travel tips useful! We would like to do some water activities (kayaking, canoeing, rafting) and maybe a wildlife sightseeing tour to try to see dolphins, whales, etc. To make the most of your trip and time, we recommend picking up the official North Coast 500 map from the Inverness visitor center before you start your trip. You do see Dunrobin Castle, both from the approach and in front of the gates. Parking is available for free at (either a dedicated car park or free on-street parking) almost all lodging options around the route. For anything you want to do that requires a tour (fishing, guided hikes, Argo tour to see the deer), I’d be sure to book ahead once you have your dates set and lodging all booked. If you have an extra day, you could break up the drive by spending the night in Lochcarron and/or enjoy extra time enjoying the attractions in and around Inverness. If you are looking for stunning landscapes, fascinating history, endless horizons, ancient castles, golden beaches and crystal-clear water, all wrapped up in a 500-mile road trip, then the NC500 … Tain also has a golf course and a whisky distillery. Once you click the icon a box will pop up that will be asked to enter your first name and email address. One of the world’s best road trips is none other than the epic 500-mile Scotland road trip known as the North Coast 500. I’d take a look at what is listed under Day 6 and 7 of the itinerary, see what sounds appealing, and then estimate the time each day you think you’d need. Just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your 2020 trip. Reservations recommended for most restaurants in this area, especially if you are looking for a sit down meal. The RSPB actually provides a lot of accessibility information on their website and you may want to contact them for a list of reserves in the Highlands with wheelchair accessible trails. I’d just like to ask for your opinion on where you would sneak in one extra night, if you could, please? Ross-shire and Ross & Cromarty). Best, Jessica, We are planning a trip in July 2020 and this site really helps a lot !!! In terms of where to add those nights? Campgrounds along the route vary a bit in terms of size, amenities, prices, etc. We do keep a file on dog-friendly hotels along the North Coast 500. I’d just be sure to always allow in a bit of extra time each day for flexibility in case you decide to make extra stops or things take longer than planned. There are several places to rent campervans in and around Inverness, including Highland Campervans, Loch Ness Motorhomes, and Rover Rentals. Each year, people descend on this world-famous road trip in the thousands, all hungry to experience Scotland’s raw, natural beauty. Thank you so much for your fab guide to Route 500. You also have a chance to explore some of the secondary routes and explore off the NC500. Wow, your blog provides the best information I’ve ever seen about the North Coast 500! If you decide to stay outside of Ullapool, just note that the main dining options in the area are located in central Ullapool. Our 7 day itinerary lists most things you might want to do, but then you’ll just have to pick and choose the ones of most interest to you each day. If you take a short detour northeast of Contin, If you enjoy birdwatching and nature, you might want to head up to the, You have now completed your NC500 road trip and are now back in the Capital of the Highlands, the city of, As noted in Day 1 there are plenty of things to do in and near Inverness. My friends and I are planning on doing the north coast 500 In a campervan and wondered what your thoughts/ general rules are around wild camping? Me and my friends are waiting to relish the experience soon. But it depends on your interests so I’d look along the itinerary to see where you might want more time. It is recommended that you don’t drive or rent any vehicle that has a total length of more than 18 feet. But there is usually at least one dinner option (usually 2) open in both Tongue and Durness. Note that if you would like to do any activities along the route (e.g., wildlife watching boat tours, fishing, golfing, clay pigeon shooting, guided hikes, surfing lessons, cooking classes, geology walks, etc.) For those planning to do a lot of hiking, cycling, or climbing along the North Coast 500 (or elsewhere in Scotland), we highly recommend using Ordnance Survey maps. So you will want to try to contact and give them plenty of notice (several days to a week) to have a good chance of visiting. Located in Caithness on the NC500, experience Scottish Gin & Vodka, handcrafted with Highland Botanicals. Although the routes seem similar in terms of length, the coastal route takes much longer (at least twice as long) as it is slower, steeper route (not suitable for large vehicles). For the Northern Lights, your best chance to see them is along the far northern coast so if that is something you are really keen to try to spot, I’d maybe focus more of your time along that part of the North Coast 500 route. Wild camping is meant to be for those sleeping in a tent and doing so well away from houses, livestock, businesses, and roads. If you’re arranging motorhome hire in Scotland for the trip, they can probably supply these, but always check first. If you have questions about any specific places or have trouble finding a place to stay in a certain area, let us know and we can try to help. Set on 30 acres, 7 miles away from Inverness city centre, the estate provides a perfect escape for the NC500 visitor. I’ve noted down lots of information but I did want to ask whether you’ve ever done the NC500 in winter? We were in Elgin last year – stopped at the cathedral, town museum, and had a wander around, had a nice visit . 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