Hi Roadrunner. I don't have a list as such and am not going to mention the bad ones I've been to as I don't think that's fair but I can recommend Durness and Applecross campsites. Also torvean and bught in Inverness were petty good too. Main issue, and I think this is bonkers, is that just about all the sites shut from oct to spring. Just think of all that lost revenue..... ok the weather can be harsh but that's we've jackets and heaters. Enjoy your trip
North Coast 500
Hi
Lots of possibilities of wild camping if your happy with a quick wash etc!!
We stopped at:
Dunnet - CAMC site so great facilities and walking distance to Rock Rose Gin Distillery and the local pub
Durness - Sango Sands - Great views and small village for provisions and food etc.
Achmelvich - basic site but great beaches and sunset.
Ardmair - 2 miles from Ullapool - again great sunset looking West - good site - no facilities nearby.
Gairloch - Big Sands - 3 miles out of Gairloch - fab site and beach/shop/café/pub on site.
Applecross - captive audience as only one site and one pub - owners confused by pleasing lots of tourists and trying to keep locals happy.!!
Didn't do it but the Black Isle - NE Inverness has lots of sites and would be great to spend some time there.
Great micro brewery!
Have fun
Lots of possibilities of wild camping if your happy with a quick wash etc!!
We stopped at:
Dunnet - CAMC site so great facilities and walking distance to Rock Rose Gin Distillery and the local pub
Durness - Sango Sands - Great views and small village for provisions and food etc.
Achmelvich - basic site but great beaches and sunset.
Ardmair - 2 miles from Ullapool - again great sunset looking West - good site - no facilities nearby.
Gairloch - Big Sands - 3 miles out of Gairloch - fab site and beach/shop/café/pub on site.
Applecross - captive audience as only one site and one pub - owners confused by pleasing lots of tourists and trying to keep locals happy.!!
Didn't do it but the Black Isle - NE Inverness has lots of sites and would be great to spend some time there.
Great micro brewery!
Have fun
What time of year did you go, prefer to miss the midges and kids on holiday
Ha ha...we tried to avoid both,!
We went last 2 weeks in Sept. midges don’t like sea breeze which was handy as we were never far from the sea!
We did the NC500 in our old T2 camper “Maggie” had a great time, although we didn’t do the Bealach na Ba (the pass of the cattle), glad we didn’t, the steep climbs would not have been good for the old 50hp twinport, I’ve heard stories of these old engines overheating on this road, we picked up a hitch hiker from Germany, and I was telling how Germany make the best cars, when my clutch cable snapped, we laughed about cos I had a spare, 30 mins later we were back on the road......Good times
I think this thread is great, from yourself @Steven Bowie and @Gavandi and others that post the info, the pictures and the good times you’ve had while doing the NC500.
It’s making us want to get ourselves sorted so we can do next year.
It’s making us want to get ourselves sorted so we can do next year.
Great road trip, but be sure and read up and gather as much info as you can about the route, driving on single track roads, using passing places correctly, being curteous, bearing in mind you might have to reverse to allow larger vehicles through, but there’s tons to see and do......... enjoy
It's a Dam Vespa I would not have been seen dead on one of those when I was a Mod. Lambretta GT 200 all they way through. Mind you always wanted to have a go inside Vespa SS 180
Here’s another wee hidden gem for those planning a NC500 trip, when you get to Kinlochewe, there is a wee petrol staion/cafe there, (you can’t miss it) stop and fill up the T6 and pop in for a coffee, they do the best bacon and egg rolls in Scotland there, and ask about the viewpoint, it is only about 2 miles off the route and is commonly used to promote the NC500 although it is not actually on it, and it has been used in quite a few car advertisments over the years, my pic doesn’t really do it justice as it was a bit misty, but still a great view, even better have your coffee and bacon rolls “to go” then drive out and enjoy the view and your food.
I spent 10days doing Syke and the NC500 in Aug, midges are only a problem if you deviate too far from the coast and all disappear if it's windy (which is most of the time) We only checked in to two campsites for the whole trip preferring
Wildcamping. There are great showers in Ulapool and found showers and toilets dotted around to use.
Would definitely say it's a "must do". I will be going back for sure, but this time in my own camper.
.
Wildcamping. There are great showers in Ulapool and found showers and toilets dotted around to use.
Would definitely say it's a "must do". I will be going back for sure, but this time in my own camper.
.
P
Phil_G
Guest
My two lads have just come back from the NC500, they did it in 2 days with a day to travel up and a day travelling back, on bikes.
They say do it anticlockwise as the east coast is less impressive, mostly A roads - or even better do west coast to J o G then retrace your steps back along the west coast again. The west run is ridiculously beautiful, it really made an impact on them.
I would say 'dont break down' whatever you do. They had a battery fail on Roo's Triumph and the nearest dealer was over 150 miles away in Inverness where they started from! (They finished the trip and got home safely on a set of torch batteries - but thats another story.)
Dont bother with the J o G fish & chips, its frozen! Roo says you can spit into the sea from the chippy, but they use frozen fish
Fuel up yourselves and the van at Kinlochewe Service Station, which is a single pump next to a fantastic cafe and lovely outdoor seating, all set in the most fantastic scenery. Sorry the lads cant help with camping, other than to say its a brilliant trip with utterly breathtaking scenery.
Dan, Roo, Dave
Dans, Roos, Daves
(their pal Dan who rode with them is a pro photographer, hence the black & white photos. Apparently they're 'deeper' or something...)
Cheers
Phil
They say do it anticlockwise as the east coast is less impressive, mostly A roads - or even better do west coast to J o G then retrace your steps back along the west coast again. The west run is ridiculously beautiful, it really made an impact on them.
I would say 'dont break down' whatever you do. They had a battery fail on Roo's Triumph and the nearest dealer was over 150 miles away in Inverness where they started from! (They finished the trip and got home safely on a set of torch batteries - but thats another story.)
Dont bother with the J o G fish & chips, its frozen! Roo says you can spit into the sea from the chippy, but they use frozen fish
Fuel up yourselves and the van at Kinlochewe Service Station, which is a single pump next to a fantastic cafe and lovely outdoor seating, all set in the most fantastic scenery. Sorry the lads cant help with camping, other than to say its a brilliant trip with utterly breathtaking scenery.
Dan, Roo, Dave
Dans, Roos, Daves
(their pal Dan who rode with them is a pro photographer, hence the black & white photos. Apparently they're 'deeper' or something...)
Cheers
Phil
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Hi all, I just been reading through this thread, lots of good tips and photos posted.
Iv been on most of the roads on the NC500 rote, but many years ago by car.
I love you twisty roads, and the scenery is just stunning.
I plan to go back there very soon.
I was trying to find a program I watched exploring the NC500 rote, but sadly I don’t think you can watch it on the iPlayer anymore, but you can watch 4 clips about the show...
BBC ALBA - North Coast 500 - Le Anne Lundon - Clips
hopefully you will find a link to watch the full program if interested?
Iv been on most of the roads on the NC500 rote, but many years ago by car.
I love you twisty roads, and the scenery is just stunning.
I plan to go back there very soon.
I was trying to find a program I watched exploring the NC500 rote, but sadly I don’t think you can watch it on the iPlayer anymore, but you can watch 4 clips about the show...
BBC ALBA - North Coast 500 - Le Anne Lundon - Clips
hopefully you will find a link to watch the full program if interested?
I think it was a small channel production - a travel review which was quite controversial.
The landlady at the Applecross Pub was interviewed and she gave the - " we like tourist for the business but the Locals feel pushed out!" Line.
However, we were sitting having an early beer talking to another VW traveller and were asked to vacate the table as other people wanted to eat
and we were only drinking. !!
Complete hypocrisy! They have a captive audience, have a pop up burger van outside and a complete monopoly as little else there.
Great pub but commerce has obviously tainted the need to keep it for the locals.
Agree, anti-clockwise is best. But don't completely diss the East coast - The Black Isle is fabulous as is Dornoch ( Gin Distillery in the town!)
Its a must do but you will always be at the mercy of the climatic conditions.
Enjoy
The landlady at the Applecross Pub was interviewed and she gave the - " we like tourist for the business but the Locals feel pushed out!" Line.
However, we were sitting having an early beer talking to another VW traveller and were asked to vacate the table as other people wanted to eat
and we were only drinking. !!
Complete hypocrisy! They have a captive audience, have a pop up burger van outside and a complete monopoly as little else there.
Great pub but commerce has obviously tainted the need to keep it for the locals.
Agree, anti-clockwise is best. But don't completely diss the East coast - The Black Isle is fabulous as is Dornoch ( Gin Distillery in the town!)
Its a must do but you will always be at the mercy of the climatic conditions.
Enjoy
