NC500 Scotland's Route66

North Coast 500 Scotland tourist route information

Welcome to our guide to Scotland’s North Coast 500 tourist route. This guide will show you the best landmarks to visit, places to eat & stay, campsites, pubs,

The North Coast 500 (NC500) is a scenic driving route that loops around the northernmost part of Scotland. It covers a distance of around 516 miles (830 km) and takes in some of Scotland's most stunning scenery, including rugged coastlines, mountain ranges, and historic castles.

The route starts and ends in the city of Inverness and takes in places such as the Black Isle, Caithness, Sutherland, and Wester Ross. The North Coast 500 tourist route is popular with visitors who want to experience the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of Scotland, as well as its food, drink, and hospitality.

The tourist route typically takes around 5-7 days to complete, depending on how much time you want to spend exploring each area. Along the way, you'll find plenty of accommodation options, ranging from luxury hotels to cozy B&Bs, as well as plenty of places to eat and drink, from traditional Scottish pubs to fine dining restaurants.

The North Coast 500 tourist route is a great way to experience the best of Scotland's wild and rugged landscapes, as well as its warm and welcoming people. Whether you're driving the route yourself or joining a guided tour, it's sure to be an unforgettable journey.

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Scotland's North Coast 500 tourist route set to reopen by mid-July.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice. Not all businesses on the North Coast 500 are operating as advertised due to the current Coronavirus situation. Please see the latest advice on travel and booking.

i love north coast 500

All being well More than two-thirds of businesses around this 516 mile tourist route around the Scottish highland's (The North Coast 500 - NC500) are getting ready to reopen as soon as they are given the all-clear by the Scottish Government. The whole of the Scottish Highland's has welcomed the recent announcement from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, of the provisional date of 15th July when tourism businesses may be able to resume operations.

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The Highland Council has decided to introduce a tariff at EV charge points, starting on 1 June 2021.

nc 500 ev vehicle car hire The new tariff is intended to recover costs associated with the operation and upkeep of the network, transitioning Highland Council to a more sustainable operating model.

The number of EVs on the roads has doubled in the last year, therefore the risk in electricity supply will be upwards of those numbers without a tariff in place. The approach taken is fully endorsed by the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland and is designed to enable the Council to support and maintain the service offered, but also encourage best practice amongst users at charge points, facilitating all journeys.

Details: Parent Category: NC500 Scotland's Route66; Category: North Coast 500 News

The North Coast 500 is a scenic route in the Scottish Highlands that covers over 500 miles of beautiful coastline, rugged mountains, and stunning lochs. The area is known for its diverse wildlife, including many species of birds. Here are some of the birds you might see on the North Coast 500:

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As traffic is beginning to increase on the North Coast 500 following the lifting of the five-mile restriction on travel for leisure and also the reopening of Scotland's tourism industry, things are getting busy again on this amazing coast route. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the route was being dubbed Scotland's Route 66, drawing inspiration from the iconic American highway, and caused a large influx of drivers of all types of vehicles looking to travel the route.

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Our first fanny has arrived at Fanny Bay

The driver of a Porsche had a lucky escapeafter the car was left dangling over a 50ft drop after losing control and crashing into a stone bridge going over the Struy on the Highlands North coast 500 route.

Details: Parent Category: NC500 Scotland's Route66; Category: North Coast 500 Maps

The North Coast 500 is a scenic driving route that covers over 500 miles of Scotland's rugged coastline and stunning landscapes. The standard route typically starts and ends in Inverness, taking visitors on a circular journey around the northern tip of Scotland.

Details: Parent Category: NC500 Scotland's Route66; Category: North Coast 500 Maps

Smoo Cave Map For Day Trips From Inverness

Why not go on a day trip from Inverness To Smoo Cave and use our maps to find these amazing natural caves and waterfalls you won't regret it. located in Durness, Sutherland in the northwest of Scotland. you can get guided tours for small groups are available between April - October.

Details: Parent Category: NC500 Scotland's Route66; Category: North Coast 500 Maps

Inverness to Applecross is a scenic day trip that takes visitors through the Scottish Highlands and along the west coast of Scotland. The journey from Inverness to Applecross covers a distance of approximately 85 miles and takes around 2.5 hours by car.

Details: Parent Category: NC500 Scotland's Route66; Category: North Coast 500 Maps

Driving From Inverness To Ullapool is a nice easy day trip to one of the Scottish Highland's most scenic Towns on Scotland's west coast.

Details: Parent Category: NC500 Scotland's Route66; Category: North Coast 500 Maps

Inverness to Plockton is a scenic day trip that takes visitors through the Scottish Highlands and along the west coast of Scotland. The journey from Inverness to Plockton covers a distance of approximately 75 miles and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours by car.

North Coast 500 Driving Tips

Tips For Driving The Noth Coast 500 Scotlands Route 66

Drive too many hours at once and you will be in danger of missing the sights along the way and only make yourself tired. Try to aim at driving not more than 5 hours a day. always allow for the time you will be stopping to fuel up, eat and just have of coffee. Remember that the North Coast 500 is not a motorway, so you will go slower. It's not a race.

Follow our simple tips to help you along the way as you travel around this amazing coastal route around the Scottish highland's

Motorhomes & campervan Links

NC 500 Motorhomes & campervan Links

Discover things like where you can and can't park up for the night, waste disposal locations, and designated campervan and motorhome parks along the nc500 route.

Hidden Gems On The NC500

Hidden Gems On The NC500 Tourist Route Around The Scottish Highlands

The North Coast 500 route is full of stunning scenery, charming villages, and interesting attractions. While some of these locations are well-known and popular with tourists, there are also many hidden gems along the route that are worth exploring. Here are some of the North Coast 500 hidden gems:

Stoer Lighthouse - This working lighthouse is located on a rocky headland on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands, and offers stunning views of the coastline and the sea.
Sandwood Bay - This remote beach is accessible only by foot, but is well worth the effort. The beach is surrounded by towering sand dunes and dramatic cliffs, and is one of the most unspoiled beaches in Scotland.
Smoo Cave - This sea cave is located near Durness and features a large, impressive entrance chamber that can be explored by boat or on foot.
Achmelvich Beach - This beautiful sandy beach is located on the west coast of Scotland, and features crystal-clear water and stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Applecross Pass - This winding road is one of the most scenic drives in Scotland, and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and coastline.
Falls of Shin - These waterfalls are located near Lairg and are home to a popular salmon leap, where visitors can watch salmon leap up the falls during the summer months.

These are just a few of the hidden gems along the North Coast 500 route. Exploring these lesser-known locations can be a great way to experience the beauty and charm of the Scottish Highlands, and to create lasting memories of your NC500 road trip.

North Coast 500 News

North Coast 500 Local News

North Coast 500 Fanny Bay

North Coast 500 Fanny bay

This is the place on the North Coast 500 you don't want to be at.

North Coast 500 Maps

North Coast 500 Route Maps and information to help you plan your journey if you are visiting the Scottish highland, You don't need to be doing the NC500 to have a great time on scotlands roads.

The North Coast 500 is Scotland's answer to Route 66 and although the suggested route is around 516 miles long, you don't have to complete the route in one go, we have listed several trips which are quite easily completed in a day using The Highland's capital city of Inverness as your base.

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