North Coast 500

[StuBeeDoo]

Anyone here travelled the NC500?  Any tips for first-timers?  I've checked out the official website, but was wondering if there's any real-world advice that's missing.
We're hoping to leave home the first weekend in October (as long as the forecast for the week isn't foul), with 4 overnight stops en-route - JoG, Durness-ish, Ullapool-ish, Strathcarron-ish.

TIA, Stuart

[Horizon]

Are you Cycling it?

[StuBeeDoo]

[quote="Horizon"]Are you Cycling it?[/quote]
)  No, we're doing it X3-stylee.

[Nictrix]

Most campsites close at the end of of September so if you were planning on camping you may be out of luck.

[Stevo]

Loads of places to stay. Would recommend the following if you're planning on doing in in 4 days. This is what we did and great fun.

http://www.lochcarronhotel.com/

http://www.badrallach.com/stay/bothy.html

https://independenthostels.co.uk/member ... amphlodge/

http://new.smoocavehotel.co.uk/

[StuBeeDoo]

Thanks for ^^^ that, Stevo. 

Durness-ish is the area I was struggling to find a bed for the night.

Cheers!  :beer2:

[Stevo]

Pleasure mate.
Of course it all depends which way you are doing it. We went clockwise and started from Inverness - Lochcarron over the Bealach na ba into Applecross and headed up to Durness etc. Some folks do it anti clockwise. Either way its a beautiful run.

I've been going up that way for years long before it was made official NC 500. Lots of interesting things to see and do and some great country pubs en route.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Coast-Gu ... 1909036609

The X3 will thrive on these roads.

Enjoy 

[gs223]

Lovely countryside up there. The days there will be getting rather short, as it is a relatively high latitude, so an early start is advisable!

Dornoch well worth a vist, also Eillan Donan castle, Dunrobin castle (if open).

[Sport160]

I've heard it's littered with speed cameras these days? Not that I'm suggesting you'll speed/want to speed, just what my neighbour who's driven it says!

[StuBeeDoo]

[quote="Sport160"]I've heard it's littered with speed cameras these days? Not that I'm suggesting you'll speed/want to speed, just what my neighbour who's driven it says![/quote]
The only cameras I recall were the SPECS average speed ones on the A9 Perth - Inverness.  I was already well aware of them.

I've done a mini review of the trip here, if anyone's interested.

[Stevo]

Apart from the A9 average speed cameras there isn't a single speed camera to be found so not sure which road this neighbour was driving )