Having said that, it would be great if you could provide us with some advice, considering the following: 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. If you’ve driven Route 66, don’t expect the vastly varied landscapes, the range of small towns to big cities, quirky roadside attractions, or historic diners of Route 66. It is probably more similar to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way but every route has its own unique personality and charm!

I’ve spent a lot of time visiting, researching and writing this guide book. As a result, if you follow the advice I give, I can guarantee that you’ll have an incredible experience on one of planet earth’s most iconic road trips! Yes, as of 2016, there are now enough electrical charging points around the route for those with fully electric cars to drive the route safely. There are electrical charging points throughout the route, including rapid charge points. For more on whisky, see our comprehensive guide to whisky distilleries in Scotland, which has everything you need to know. We also have a guide to whisky distilleries on the North Coast 500 specifically.Note that many businesses don’t have street numbers in the Scottish Highlands but since the towns are so small, just keep an eye out once you are near and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding them. Once you are in a town, any local person should be able to point you in the right direction if you do get lost. All guides published from January 2021 are printed on paper from responsible sources verified to meet FSC’s strict environmental and social standards The busiest months are going to be the summer from June to August with some crowds in May and September. Festivals, special events (e.g., music concerts, bike races, car rallies), and holidays (e.g., Christmas, Hogmanay) also bring more people to the area. So avoiding these times of year can help but since they are also when there are the most daylight hours, most open attractions and lodging, and perhaps best chance of warm weather, chances are this is also when you plan to drive the route.

Of course, getting a little lost is just part of the journey! Which Direction Should I Drive the North Coast 500? Castles and long hikes are not on our itnerary but we love unplanned stops at secluded beaches, wooded paths along the way. The only planned activity i would like to do is the full day sea kayaking near Ullapool i read about above. 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.I would recommend starting with our 1 week North Coast 500 itinerary which will help you plan your days around the NC500, I’d recommend spending 7 to 10 days on that route but you can certainly spend more. If you do more than 7, you can just add additional nights to some of your stops so you have more time in some areas. This is especially a good idea if traveling with young kids. The NC500 guide book is available worldwide and delivery typically takes 5-10 working days to most countries (for instance USA is 7-10 working days on average). There’s also free UK Delivery which is typically 3-5 working days with the option to upgrade to 1st Class which is 1-2 working days delivery. It is easy to rent a car from Inverness Airport or downtown Inverness. Main rental car companies include Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Arnold Clark, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Focus Vehicle Rental. I’d recommend getting the smallest size vehicle you need and to be sure your rental is fully insured. A GPS unit can also be helpful for navigation. Enterprise are usually our favourite for car hire. The route is just over 500 miles and mainly hugs the northern coast of Scotland, hence the name. It was designed to showcase the natural beauty and local businesses in this part of Scotland which has previously received a relatively low level of tourism. It has become a major tourism success in Scotland with tens of thousands of people having already driven the route. There is also public transportation, depending on where you are. So along the east, there is a train line so you could use that to return to Inverness. There are also local buses mostly run by Stagecoach that connect many of the villages along the route.

We have spent a lot time looking around for suggestions regarding our upcoming, once-in-a-lifetime event (out 40th Anniversary), and when we have come across your wonderful guide, we knew we have reached our goal! 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. 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 have more than 7 nights, I’d suggest adding a night to some of your overnight stops. Makes the trip much more relaxing and allows you to see and do more in that particular area.

Reflections of Scotland

Golfing.Scotland is the home of golf and attracts golfers from around the world who want to play some of Scotland’s best known courses. For golfers, I’d recommend driving the route between Inverness and Dornoch, and also detouring a bit from the NC500 to the Nairn area.