NC500 Pocket Map: Plan your adventure on Scotland’s North Coast 500 route official map

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Attadale Gardens– where, in the late 19th century a plant collector started a garden on the Attadale Estate, importing rhododendrons from all over the world. Visit Attadale Gardens.

I think if there is one general piece of advice that people who live and work along the NC500 route would give tourists is to slow down, stop rushing, and spend more time helping support the region. We’ve probably heard some version of this hundreds of times and totally agree with it. I recommend that your stops are no more than 1-1.5 hours apart unless much of the journey is on a motorway or you know the rules of the road. 2 hours on mountain roads will exhaust even the most patient of drivers. Durness – has two beaches, Sango Sands and Balnakeil Beach, and shops, cafe and a petrol station, you can also visit the Balnakeil Craft Village most known for the hot chocolate atCocoa Mountain – you won’t regret it. Inverness Castle– sitting on the banks of the River Ness, Inverness castle was built in the 1800s and now houses Inverness Sheriff Court. You can visit the castle grounds and the north tower which has a great viewpoint of Inverness. There are also some detours you’ll probably want to avoid, but these are not part of the official route.Our preferred itinerary if NC500 doesnt cut will be (This is again a copybook of your 5 Day itinerary only difference is we will be driving self)

If you were able to walk to the nearest village, the folks at the local store/service station/police/visitor center should be able to help you find a local shuttle or taxi company that could take you to say Inverness or where you needed to go with your bikes. There are a lot of small operations in the Highlands and I think depending on where and when you needed transport, would depend on which might be best. There is also lodging at just about every village. If you are arriving elsewhere in Scotland or the UK, you’ll also find plenty of options around Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, London, etc. Short hikes– There are hiking trails all over the North Coast 500 and you’ll likely find many suitable for your kids. If you have babies or infants that need to be pushed in strollers, look for all-ability paths which are suitable for wheelchairs as they also work for prams. Wishing you a great trip and hope you have a great time at your son’s wedding in Tongue! If you have any questions as you plan your trip, feel free to ask. Then I’d add a week or so for time on the islands. Larger Scottish islands within easy reach of the NC500 are Orkney, Lewis & Harris (the two “islands” are joined together), and the Isle of Skye (also Raasay). You could also consider Shetland (a group of islands very far north so takes a bit of time to get there). I’d allow at least 3 days for any island you choose to have enough time to explore the highlights. So if you have a week, I’d recommend choosing two islands to explore and add to your NC500 itinerary.Just note that the water is always cold, even in the summer so bring a drysuit or wetsuit if you want to spend some time in the water! Many Scottish beaches have limited or no facilities so be sure to bring anything you may need. If you are planning on drinking, even one drink could put you over the legal limit, so plan to stay in after drinking, have a designated driver, or call a taxi.

You already have some great ideas for places to visit with young kids (gardens, beaches, boat tours). There are many that might be a good fit, but here are some more ideas of places you might consider: Melvich Beach– one of the north coast’s most stunning beaches, just a short walk from the road to Melvich Beach. For those wanting a private tour, you can arrange a private NC500 tour from Rabbie’s or other local tour companies.Most Scotland-based tour companies should be able to arrange a guided NC500 private tour to suit your needs although you will pay a lot more than you would if you did a group tour or a self-drive trip.Inverness is probably the most convenient place to start a NC500 tour, but tours can also be arranged to depart and return from Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Inverness. The above would give you about 6 days for the NC500 and you wouldn’t do the southern section. So it will be a bit fast, but you will still have time to see a lot. So planning in advance your stops is a good idea so you don’t waste time planning too much during your trip. The NC500 is not an actual single road or highway like Route 66 or the Pacific Coast Highway, but is a series of existing roads that form a loop around the northern Highlands.Cape Wrath– the north west point of Scotland, Cape Wrath is accessible by the Cape Wrath Ferry or a very long hike over mooreland! Visiting Cape Wrath on the ferry takes around 3 hours. Stage 3 – Sutherland & Assynt-Drive the beautiful coast from Durness to Gairloch and visit Scotland’s best beaches. Buchollie Castle – access is across a walkway with sheer 100m drops on each side – don’t try and visit in bad weather!Built by Sweyn Asliefson the notorious pirate and robber in about 1140 and later remodelled by the Mowat Family until 1661. The North Coast 500 (NC500) was created in 2014 by the North Highland Initiative, which is a non-profit organization that was established by Prince Charles in 2005 in an effort to develop economic growth across the North Highlands. Following its creation, private investment was raised and the route is promoted by a for-profit corporation called North Coast 500 Ltd. The company provides a number of resources for both visitors and local businesses. Drive over the Kylesku Bridge – a famous photo stop on the NC500, the Kylesku Hotel is nearby serving up great seafood.