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

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That's why you've really got to pay attention at all times, and why it should be very clearby now why driving at high speeds on the North Coast 500 is a fool's errand. Plan the route you wish to take, and remember that the official North Coast 500 map is simply a guideline. Miles of golden sand from Embo Beach to the Loch Fleet Nature Reserve make this a special place for those interested in nature and the great outdoors. Ok, it might not have white sands beaches and fjord-like sea lochs of the west coast but it is beautiful, wild, remote and full of lots of fantastic hidden gems. It has proved wildly successful, due in large part to the natural beauty and tranquility of the true Scottish Highlands and the hospitality found in between its wide open spaces.

The North Coast 500 Guide Book | Waterstones

We want everyone who visits the North Highlands to have the best time possible when driving the North Coast 500, so, in this article, we’ll bring you some top tips on how to make the very most of your trip. By doing this, you’ll be able to get out and about and explore on foot, rather than simply on wheels. Scotland, as with the rest of the UK, drives on the left – but there’s so many more rules of the road that you’ll need to know before you visit.

However, the inexperienced and those not used to driving on the left should approach this route with caution and the correct mindset.

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

Read More Glen Ord Distillery The home of Singleton, on the edge of the Black Isle, Glen Ord is the ideal start or end of your NC500 journey. For those wishing to camp around the NC500, it is home to numerous awe-inspiring and remote campsites – in some campsites, you’ll feel as though you’re wild camping, although you’ll have all the facilities of a fully maintained camp site. You can find the specific limits here, but the best rule of thumb is to just leave the drinking until you're done with your driving for the day (and ensure that you have given your body ample time to process the alcohol before setting off again in the morning). See the RSPB Tollie Red Kites– watch the RSPB volunteers feed beautiful Red Kites from the pretty farmsteading at RSPB Tollie. While spring and summer abound with wildlife-spotting opportunities, during the autumn months you’ll see stags rutting around the Highlands, with the colder weather bringing them down to lower ground.

To maximise your experience along the route, take into account these helpful tips and advice from business owners, visitors to the route and NC500 staff, to really get the most out of your trip. Although we always recommend taking at least 5-7 days to explore the North Coast 500, if you are able to take more you’ll be in a position to really soak up the Highland wilderness and try plenty of different experiences along the way. Your accommodation here is a friendly and welcoming family owned guest house, conveniently placed within easy walking distance of the centre of the small, historic town of Thurso. You must experience the conservatory, it’s the ideal place to sit and enjoy the stunning vistas after a day on the road. Although every roadtripper or traveller will share a similar appreciation of stunning isolated landscapes and breathtakingly wild coastal scenes along the way, each will also be able to craft and curate their own version of the NC500 based on what they love the most.

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

Take a stroll along the river, and cross back and forth across the bouncy bridges for a view of the castle.

Next head further north, following the coast road as it traverses deeply set lochs, and pass more soaring mountains.