The ONLY North Coast 500 Itinerary & Route PLANNER You Want (2025 replace)

Planning a street journey to the North Coast 500 in Scotland? Questioning the place to remain or plan your route? This itinerary is the one one it’s good to discover the very best locations to go to and determine how far to drive every day.

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North Coast 500 Itinerary and route planner

Planning any street journey to a spot you’ve not been earlier than will be daunting, however planning a route and itinerary for the North Coast 500 (NC500) in Scotland typically appears extra overwhelming than most.

There’s a lot to see and do and it’s troublesome to understand how lengthy to allocate to every part. Some folks drive the NC500 in 3 or 4 days, whereas others can take a number of weeks!

North Coast 500 7 day Itinerary

I’ve simply returned from the NC500 and did the western route in about 7 days. That is what I’m sharing with you on this put up.

I’ve already executed the east part (which incorporates John o’Groats) in an earlier journey (you’ll be able to see this Scotland street journey right here)

Nevertheless, there are many different locations to go to on or close to the NC500, such because the Isle of Skye or Orkney. I extremely advocate you go to each for those who can- I’ll share extra particulars about them beneath.

I did the route in a motorhome. In case you’d love to do the journey in a motorhome or campervan too, you’ll be able to see the complete route (plus locations to cease) in our North Coast 500 motorhome information.

North Coast 500 Itinerary- How one can plan your street journey

As you’ll be able to see within the map beneath, the North Coast 500 is a round route. In some methods, this makes issues simpler, however in some ways it makes it tougher to plan.

In any case, folks drive at totally different speeds, or wish to have just a few days exploring earlier than shifting on.

Within the steered NC500 7 day itinerary beneath, I’ve cut up the ‘days’ into elements. Every half will be pushed in a day, however you’ll be able to simply spend 2,3 or much more days in every space for those who want to discover.

Additionally, I’m assuming a begin an finish level from close to Edinburgh. Clearly, if it’s a must to drive from the south-coast of England (like me!) you’ll want so as to add just a few days both aspect of your NC500 street journey to get your self up there are again.

Which course do you have to drive the NC500?

You may drive the North Coast 500 both clockwise or anti-clockwise. I did it clockwise and assume that’s an important route, however you do whichever is sensible for you.

North Coast 500 Route Planner Map

Right here’s a map of the NC500 route in its entirety.

In case you’d like an interactive model of the locations I visited on my final journey, you will discover it right here.

Day One- Kelpies to Eilean Donan

I extremely HIGHLY advocate you go to the Kelpies in Falkirk. These horse statues are so spectacular. Ideally, you wish to spend the evening right here as a result of at evening they’re lit up and look superb.

From right here, you’ve obtained a reasonably large day of driving forward of you. If it’s too lengthy, be at liberty to interrupt it up into two days.

There are a few route choices to get from the Kelpies to Eilean Donan. I took the M9 to Stirling, then the A84 to Crianlarich, then the A82/ A85 to Glencoe and Fort William and the A87 to Eilean Donan.

Eilean Donan is an unbelievable fort set in a loch. You may go to inside it- for those who’d like to do that you’ll in all probability want so as to add a day so you might have time.

The place to remain

In case you’re in a motorhome or campervan, it value £15 for an evening within the Kelpies automobile park. You pay the guard on the sales space on the prime automobile park (closest to the Kelpies) however the in a single day parking is simply down the street.

Close to Eilean Donan, I wild camped in my motorhome a couple of 10 minute drive away, at a Keep the Night time scheme at Loch Carron Viewpoint. This was free, however there are additionally campsites across the space you should use for those who want.

Day Two- Bealach na Ba (The Applecross Street)

Bealach na Ba (or the street to Applecross) is commonly considered one of many most scenic drives in Scotland. It’s additionally broadly considered one of the vital harmful!

I made a decision to drive it, alone, in a rain storm and thick fog. As a result of I’m, apparently, insane.

I drove it in a 6.7m motorhome and had little or no hassle. When you’ve got a bigger motorhome or campervan, you would possibly wrestle with a number of the bends and I don’t advocate it in any respect for caravanners.

In case you’re driving the NC500 in a automobile, you’ll be completely effective.

It took me about 90 minutes to rise up to the highest, the place I then stayed for just a few hours while ready for the fog to clear. The route from the highest right down to Applecross is far simpler.

From right here, I drove across the coast from Applecross to Sheildaig, which took about 3 hours for those who embody all of the stops for photographs and for highland cows!

The place to remain

I carried on round to Gairloch, and I used to be exhausted once I obtained there. If I hadn’t already booked the campsite I’d in all probability have stopped close to Sheildaig. There have been an important wanting campsites close to there.

Because it occurred, I stayed at Gairloch Vacation Park and it was a beautiful website, with nice sea views. There’s additionally a beautiful chip store simply down the way in which (they fry all the things in beef dripping, which sounds terrible however is scrumptious!)

Half Three- Scotland’s south West Coast

From Gairloch, you’ll be able to select how far you wish to drive and the way a lot time you wish to spend on the west coast.

For reference, I drove from Gairloch to Ardmair Level simply north of Ullapool in someday. This was about 90 minutes and 60 miles.

I loved wanting round Ullapool and stayed two nights on this website. Ullapool is the final massive city earlier than you head North, so make sure to refill on the grocery store, replenish with gasoline and refill your gasoline tanks in case you have them.

If you wish to preserve going, you’ll be able to push on to Clachtoll Seaside campsite, which is one other hour and an additional 40 miles, so simply doable in someday.

The place to remain

Each campsites I used on this part had been great. Ardmair Level has unbelievable views throughout the bay, however may be very uncovered if the winds are sturdy (which they had been once I visited.)

Clachtoll Seaside is presumably my favorite campsite alongside the NC500 for motorhomes and campers. It has unbelievable services, together with a canine bathe, laundry, a microwave & toaster (yep, I used to be excited!) and essentially the most golden sandy seaside I’ve ever seen.

It’s not low-cost, nevertheless it was price each penny and I’d keep there once more in a heartbeat. I stayed there two nights and will simply have spent a 3rd simply lazying and having fun with the surroundings.

Issues to not miss

Positively go to Clashnessie Falls (it’s muddy, however price it!) and Clashnessie Seaside. There’s additionally an important chip van close to the campsite on sure days- nicely price testing out.

Half 4- Scotland’s north west coast

From Clachtoll, I continued up the A894, previous Scourie and all the way in which to Durness. I took the slower route by way of Drumbeg. It was driveable in a motorhome however some passing spots had been very tight.

Keep in mind for those who do that route, you’ll miss the Wailing Widow Falls until you double again barely. Because it occurred, the climate was AWFUL that day so I made a decision to not hassle, however apparently the falls are nicely price visiting if it’s not blowing a gale!

The street from Scourie to Durness is fairly sufficient however not jaw-dropping (or maybe I simply turned immune!) so it’s not price spending too lengthy on this part.

Having stated that, in case you have time and don’t thoughts driving down small lanes, there are LOADS of pristine white sand seashores to take pleasure in which most individuals don’t go to.

Sandwood Bay is the one you’ll see on postcards all around the place- it appears to be like unbelievable however for those who solely have 7 days to do the North Coast 500, you’ll in all probability must miss it on this event.

The place to Keep

Sango Sands Oasis is one other unbelievable campsite, set proper on the clifftop. Sadly, my expertise there was marred by very unfriendly employees, however I’d in all probability nonetheless keep there once more, because the seashores and views had been unbelievable.

Issues to see and do

They make an enormous deal concerning the ‘greatest sizzling chocolate’ on the Balnakeil craft village, which is a couple of 20 minute stroll from the campsite. To be trustworthy, I discovered it too sickly, and I wasn’t an enormous fan of the craft village both.

BUT- when you’re there you should trip the Golden Eagle zipline at Sango Sands. It’s £15 for a go and it’s a lot enjoyable. I additionally liked visiting Smoo Cave. Sadly, the boat tour wasn’t operating because of the heavy rains, nevertheless it was unbelievable to go to contained in the cave anyway.

Half 5- North or center?

The subsequent a part of the North Coast 500 is a selection. In case you solely have a 7 day itinerary, you’ll want to decide on what you do subsequent.

Personally, for those who’ve by no means visited John o’Groats earlier than, I really feel you need to go there. Sure, it’s touristy, however sure, you want that photograph by the put up.

The street alongside the highest of Scotland is fairly however nothing unbelievable. It’s about 90 miles and can take you round 3 hours.

In case you simply wish to drive it, cease for a fast photograph at John o’Groats after which stick with it to Shin (see beneath), it can take you about 5 hours (190 miles). You’ll additionally go Brora Seaside (which is spectacular) and Dunrobin Fort, which is certainly price a go to in case you have time.

In case you’d love to do these stopoffs, I’d positively advocate not less than two days for this part so you’ll be able to see all of it correctly.

The place to remain on the north coast

In case you’re in a motorhome, cease at Dunnet Bay campsite- it’s great and the seaside there may be additionally unbelievable. Don’t miss the Duncansby Stacks- they make nice photographs.

Additionally, in case you have time, I extremely advocate a day journey to Orkney– it’s an interesting place.

The Different route south

In case you’ve already been to John o’Groats, you’ve seen one of many main highlights on the NC500 route.

In case you’re restricted on time, you’ll be able to ignore the North East nook and reduce down the center, which is a way more dramatic route with unbelievable surroundings.

I drove from Durness to Tongue, after which down previous Loch Loyal, heading for the Falls of Shin.

The Falls of Shin close to Lairg are well-known for the salmon ‘leaping’ as they swim upriver to spawn. I’d been there only some minutes once I noticed one, and I noticed a number of over the following half an hour or so.

The place to remain

The automobile park on the Falls of Shin was incredible, degree and FREE for those who didn’t want facilities. Alternatively, there are locations round Lairg to remain.

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Half Six- Loch Ness or The Cairngorms

The North Coast 500 technically goes Inverness to Inverness, however my opinion is you need to add on a few further stops (and days, for those who can!)

First of those is the Cairngorms. These mountains are dwelling to Aviemore (the UK’s main ski centre) and likewise dwelling to Balmoral.

I stayed in a single day at Balmoral, nevertheless it was shortly after the Queen’s demise so the fort wasn’t open. Nevertheless, the stroll as much as King Albert’s Pyramid (yep, an precise pyramid!) was open and that was a incredible expertise (though it was VERY steep!)

In earlier journeys, we’ve visited Aviemore, taken cable vehicles up the mountain and loved most of the different unbelievable issues to do across the Cairngorms. You could possibly simply spend just a few days to every week right here for those who can.

Loch Ness

Nevertheless, for those who’ve by no means seen Loch Ness and for those who can solely do one or the opposite, the drive down Loch Ness is nicely price it, if solely as a result of it’s so well-known and everybody ought to search for Nessie not less than as soon as of their life.

I’ve by no means been into Inverness Metropolis, however I hear it’s stunning and price a day for those who can spare it.

In case you drove previous Loch Ness, you’ll find yourself in Fort William once more, which technically closes the loop and now you can proudly show your North Coast 500 street journey sticker in your car.

Half Seven- Loch Lomond

In case you nonetheless have time, I extremely advocate visiting Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Nationwide Park.

The entire space is gorgeous, however Loch Lomond needs to be certainly one of my favourites. Each nook of it has unbelievable views.

The place to Keep

I parked up at Firkin Level, the place motorhome parking is allowed. In excessive season (March- finish September) you want a allow (purchased on-line), however I used to be there first week in October and was capable of keep free of charge.

There was a incredible little seaside and likewise an important pedestrian-only walkway which went for about 3 miles and have Mac and I a flat and secure house to run.

I hope you discovered this 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary useful. It’s rather a lot to cowl in 7 days, so ideally in case you have 10-14 you’ll discover it rather more enjoyable and can be capable to see and do extra.

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