North Coast 500
Hi Gillian. We're thinking of doing the NC500 in mid-March next year. Just wanted to get your thoughts on how feasible it would be to do at that time of year? Is there still a lot of snow at that time? We don't have diesel heating in the van so worried it'll be too cold! Thanks in advance.
Apologies realised it autocorrected to Gillian! Sorry Gillon!
A big plus for March would be the lack of tourist traffic and plenty of snow on the mountains making for phenomenal views. On the negative side the days are shorter than further south and obviously the weather may be crap, bad weather more likely in the west. The Bealach na Ba mountain pass to Applecross may be dodgy without 4 wheel drive and snow is quite possible on the summit in March - if so then you can bypass Applecross or simply reach it from the north via the coastal route instead. Temps will be single figures at night, possibly sub zero if clear skies.
Hi and no apologies needed for the name . As the previous post pointed out weather could be a major factor. We have had some amazingly warm March months but we have also had some terribly cold and white March months. Snow can be incredibly localised and while the West coast can be mild the East coast can be bitterly cold.
It's just impossible to say sorry. Most businesses "should" be open by mid march but when Easter falls will have a lot to do with that.
I would recommend the website trafficscotland.org
I will post more fully later but a wee bit busy today as my other half is being induced with number 5
It's just impossible to say sorry. Most businesses "should" be open by mid march but when Easter falls will have a lot to do with that.
I would recommend the website trafficscotland.org
I will post more fully later but a wee bit busy today as my other half is being induced with number 5
Depends what you want to see. If I was doing it I'd go clockwise so from Inverness head towards John O Groats (I'll apologise in advance JOG is a complete disappointment...…….) En route to JOG you have Dalmore Distillery at Alness, Glenmorangie just a bit further north at Tain. On the way to Tain you can take a detour to Portmahomack - nice village and cracking beach. After Tain there is Dornoch, lovely beaches and campsite and Dunrobin Castle, some good mountain bike trails. After Dornoch there is Clynleish Distillery at Brora (another good beach). After this you are pretty much enroute to JOG, bit of scenery but not really much else. I spent a year working in Wick and it doesn't have a lot going for it, some nice beaches at Reiss just north of Wick. JOG your next port of call - few minutes will be plenty lol. If you have the time it is worth a trip across to Orkney - either with the vehicle or just on foot (various ferry options). Orkney a stunning place - loads to do and see and could easy occupy a few days of your time (maes how, ring of brodgar, skarra brae, Churchill barriers. Italian Chapel, Highland Park Distillery) some cracking coastal walks, great for diving and sea kayaking etc.
As you carry on west towards Durness you pass Dounreay, some cracking beaches along this road and very scenic. Bettyhill, Tongue and Durness are along this way - same again good beaches etc. From Durness you have the Smoo Caves and Sango Bay, some nice craft outlets at the Balnakeil Craft Village, campsite here too. On the way south it is pretty spectacular - a definite would be a walk down to sandwood bay - just remember if you have a dog it must be on a lead - land is owned by john muir trust and pretty strict about dogs. On the way down its all a mix of small villages and places to walk, go the beaches etc. At Lochinver you can walk inland and walk up suilven - allow all day though its a fair trek in before you start to head up. You also have the bone caves just before Elphin - not too far off the road and nice walk in. A bit nearer Ullapool you have Stac Pollaidh - nice easy walk.
Ullapool probably next - cracking beaches, nice golf course and large campsite, ceilidh place often has live music on at night and the usual bars and craft shops. Can get the ferry to the Western Isles from here.
Gailoch probably next big town, lovely beach, golf course and large campsite. From here head towards Shieldaig and Torridon - some cracking munros to climb around here. Again few campsites around this area.
Applecross via the Bealach na Ba be another definite, campsite here too and a must do would be seafood in the applecross inn. Some good areas here for sea kayaking.
Depending on your time a visit to Plockton and on over to skye be an option too.
Hope that maybe helps you. Like others have said it is a victim of its own success, not sure if there are still as many Ferrari's and the like doing it but they defo didn't like to pull over on the single track and were an absolute pain in the a**. Worth booking ahead for campsites, although you do see lots of folk just wild parking. It is crazy busy in summer, I reckon May a good time. Anything else ask away.
As you carry on west towards Durness you pass Dounreay, some cracking beaches along this road and very scenic. Bettyhill, Tongue and Durness are along this way - same again good beaches etc. From Durness you have the Smoo Caves and Sango Bay, some nice craft outlets at the Balnakeil Craft Village, campsite here too. On the way south it is pretty spectacular - a definite would be a walk down to sandwood bay - just remember if you have a dog it must be on a lead - land is owned by john muir trust and pretty strict about dogs. On the way down its all a mix of small villages and places to walk, go the beaches etc. At Lochinver you can walk inland and walk up suilven - allow all day though its a fair trek in before you start to head up. You also have the bone caves just before Elphin - not too far off the road and nice walk in. A bit nearer Ullapool you have Stac Pollaidh - nice easy walk.
Ullapool probably next - cracking beaches, nice golf course and large campsite, ceilidh place often has live music on at night and the usual bars and craft shops. Can get the ferry to the Western Isles from here.
Gailoch probably next big town, lovely beach, golf course and large campsite. From here head towards Shieldaig and Torridon - some cracking munros to climb around here. Again few campsites around this area.
Applecross via the Bealach na Ba be another definite, campsite here too and a must do would be seafood in the applecross inn. Some good areas here for sea kayaking.
Depending on your time a visit to Plockton and on over to skye be an option too.
Hope that maybe helps you. Like others have said it is a victim of its own success, not sure if there are still as many Ferrari's and the like doing it but they defo didn't like to pull over on the single track and were an absolute pain in the a**. Worth booking ahead for campsites, although you do see lots of folk just wild parking. It is crazy busy in summer, I reckon May a good time. Anything else ask away.
But from your description surely you mean Anti-Clockwise as from Inverness going to Tain is Anti-Clockwise and up to John ‘O’ Groats etc.
Still a lovely description of where to go in a beautiful part of the world
Why not pay and join through the NC 500 website, give a little back and they provide you with loads of information, maps and itineraries, they will even help you plan and get the most out of your time.
We paid for the Father in law to join as a prezzie and he had a great time driving the NC 500 to what suited him best, met some great people and had a good time.
We were planning to go this March but spare time and work have put paid to it for this year.
Whatever you end up doing I hope you have a great time and look forward to your posts on your trip.
We paid for the Father in law to join as a prezzie and he had a great time driving the NC 500 to what suited him best, met some great people and had a good time.
We were planning to go this March but spare time and work have put paid to it for this year.
Whatever you end up doing I hope you have a great time and look forward to your posts on your trip.
yeah your right sorry - anti clockwise.
I was brought up living in distilleries - my old man worked in them and we used to get moved around every few years, he was just told he was moving on - no choice in them days, powers that be never liked a manager to stay in one place for too long - kept the workers on their toes. In those days a distillery was like a village in its own right, just about everyone who worked there lived in houses provided by the company. If you like distilleries Islay is a really good place to go, spent a good bit of my childhood there, fantastic place
and lots to do and see apart from the distilleries.
Best time of the year to go without question
![20190219_152036[17106].jpg](https://www.t6forum.com/data/attachments/37/37282-8002a1dcbcc32766101edf7f6e60af48.jpg "20190219_152036[17106].jpg")
Thanks @Gavandi I was reading reviews of that book yesterday evening on Amazon.
I shall also be joining the NC500 page as £15 Doesn't seem too bad for a load of info that could help save time and money when out and about. I've got a few hours sat around the dealers when my van gets serviced. I shall be using this time for research.
I shall also be joining the NC500 page as £15 Doesn't seem too bad for a load of info that could help save time and money when out and about. I've got a few hours sat around the dealers when my van gets serviced. I shall be using this time for research.
Hi @Ed Webb
Yeah the book is comprehensive - full of local info and points of interest which are easily missed when trying to get from
A to B each day.
Obviously the weather does dictate what you can and can't do some days.
Campsites are all very good - mixture of CAMC sites plus the rules!! And more casual ones.
Lots of places where off piste camping possible if facilities not needed!!
So much to see that it is difficult to fit everything in - depends on how many days you intend to stay up there.
If you like a Munro to climb then a good one is Stac Pollaidh - fabulous views and geologists dream!! Easy to park on the road
at the foot of mountain.
We had 11 nights all together and tried to keep the day's mileage to an acceptable total.
Some stretches on the single track roads are slow going and so many places to stop to take another pic of a Loch, Mountain or River!
Yeah the book is comprehensive - full of local info and points of interest which are easily missed when trying to get from
A to B each day.
Obviously the weather does dictate what you can and can't do some days.
Campsites are all very good - mixture of CAMC sites plus the rules!! And more casual ones.
Lots of places where off piste camping possible if facilities not needed!!
So much to see that it is difficult to fit everything in - depends on how many days you intend to stay up there.
If you like a Munro to climb then a good one is Stac Pollaidh - fabulous views and geologists dream!! Easy to park on the road
at the foot of mountain.
We had 11 nights all together and tried to keep the day's mileage to an acceptable total.
Some stretches on the single track roads are slow going and so many places to stop to take another pic of a Loch, Mountain or River!
We are planning on 7 days currently. I know it's not much but it's a nice start. I was thinking of starting with the West coast and planning a longer trip another time to tackle the east and redo the West.
