Read more. It is believed that at one time they were home to the chief of Clan Mackay, and consists of two floors plus an attic. Driving back into town, continue on the road along the north coast until you see a sign for the visitor centre. These caves are all the site of excavations that have uncovered the bones of ancient predators such as wolves, polar bears and lynxes that used to roam these lands. Caravan and camping sites are abundant along the NC500, drawing camping enthusiasts from all over the world. Follow along on this couple’s round the world trip and get inspired to make every day a wonderful adventure. The drive to Applecross is absolutely beautiful, and you’ll get to travel the mountain pass road to get there. Read about all of the best wild camping spots along the North Coast 500 in our full guide. Named “the pass of the cattle“, the Bealach na Ba was once the only route from Applecross to the rest of the country and was used by farmers to transport livestock to the markets in central Scotland. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This secret paradise is known as Coldbackie Beach and is one of the most spectacular beaches on the NC500. There are great waterfalls on this route and many viewpoints!Â, Don’t forget to get a delicious coffee at the Mountain Coffee Co!Â. Inverness to Dornoch – 45.7 miles – 1 hour 7 mins. As for public transport, the use around the NC500 is understandably difficult due to how remote each location is, however, with the increasing problem of congestion along the route, this is a good option to research if you have time. This is a method growing in popularity, mainly because of how much more spectacular the west coast is compared to the east. If you visit here during the summer, there is a possibility of seeing these migratory salmon in action, leaping metres into the air to ascend the falls. There is a small parking place just a couple of hundred meters away from it, but again, in the summer this would fill up very quickly.Â, Since the road was empty when we visited, we quickly pulled beside the waterfall to admire this powerful fall and took some pictures!Â, It was raining when we visited, but the waterfall was SO strong which was really cool!Â, I love a viewing platform and a bridge, and this spot offered me both! The Castle is a perfect starting point to the route as it is perched on the hill and offers unparalleled views over the capital city of the Highlands. To get here you can either cross the Dornoch Firth Bridge and turn west or simply follow the southern coast of the Dornoch Firth towards Invershin. Really Cool. Day 5: Durness to Achmelvich Bay. Keep pressing on and you will see the tallest part of the castle come into view. We found this to be enough time to see all of the best sights on the NC500, however, we could have easily spent more time at some of the beaches and mountain ranges to really explore them properly. What did you think of the castles? Main Photography Camera – Sony A7 Mirrorless Camera. The day builds up through crashing waterfalls, quaint, lochside towns, and climaxes with one of the most epic drives in the UK. These are mostly in the shape of B&Bs, Airbnbs, converted cottages and other quirky accommodations. The first stop as you head south from Ullapool is at the cascading water of the Falls of Measach, situated about 12-miles from Ullapool town centre. The roads become narrow and single-tracked, the hill become giants and the history of the landscape is absolutely fascinating. Upon reaching the beach, take a moment to appreciate the seclusion around you and stretch your legs along the shore. With years of experience working for backpackers around the globe, the service they provide is perfect for whatever type of trip you have planned. The walk to the suspension bridge is only 10 minutes, then a further 5 to the viewing platform. The walk will take you one hour and the ruin will give you spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and the Kyle of TOngue. Make sure to take a camera! Staying on a Lighthouse Cottage on the Isle of Skye. In fact, we originally called it the "North Highlands Tour", but we have to admit that NC500 is a catchier title. The petrol station here is also much cheaper than anywhere we passed since Inverness, so top up now! But I actually think that was a lot to do with the fact EVERYTHING was closed when we visited, so there was literally nothing to do, other than going to Tesco to buy food. There are of course other methods that are still popular, such as cycling and hiking, however, if you have a short amount of time on the route, neither of these are very suitable. We only had a few hours to explore, but we checked out the castle, wandered around the town, visit the largest second-hand book shop in Scotland (which was awesome! Firstly, which season are you embarking in? It’s no longer in use so it’s a large car park with a couple of picnic tables. The island Scotland Wildlife Trust nature reserve, home to over 100,000 wild seabirds and a greatly significant area in terms of birdlife and marine vegetation. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'highlands2hammocks_co_uk-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])); Download an easy to use, NC500 map and North Coast 500 Itinerary right here. The Ceannabeine story, however, tells of a more lighthearted victory by the villagers when locals rose up again this greed resulting in the riot of 1841. | highlands2hammocks, North Coast 500 Highlights - 19 Best Sights Along the NC500 | highlands2hammocks, Visit the John O'Groats Sign Post - Britain's Most Northerly Point | highlands2hammocks, Wild Camping North Coast 500 - The 10 Best Places to Wild Camp | highlands2hammocks, Complete Guide to the Duncansby Stacks and Lighthouse | highlands2hammocks, Castle Sinclair Girnigoe Ruins, NC500 - WHAT, WHERE AND WHY.. | highlands2hammocks, Complete Guide to the Whaligoe Steps - WHAT, WHERE and WHY.. | highlands2hammocks, 10-Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary - Edinburgh, Glasgow and Isle of Skye | highlands2hammocks, Complete Guide to the Falls of Shin - WHAT, WHERE and WHY.. | highlands2hammocks, Complete Guide to Coldbackie Beach - Scotland's Hidden Gem | highlands2hammocks, Durness – Ceannabeine Beach / Village Trail. The 7 Day “Tourer” challenge is suitable for sportive riders who want to challenge themselves over a 7 day cycling touring adventure around the stunning North Coast 500 route. Read more about this wild camping spot in our full guide to wild camping spots on the NC500. The first stop of the day is at the beautiful Dunrobin Castle. The Ultimate North Coast 500 Itinerary – Route, Accommodation, Travel Tips and more.. How Long Does it Take to Drive the NC500? It is believed to have been built Earl Harald Madadson, the earl of Orkney, with intention of the castle being his chief seat on the mainland. The penultimate day of your North Coast 500 road trip takes you through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Scotland. I'm proud to now be a full-time digital nomad. If you are brave enough to face the cold North Sea, then this is the best spot for a quick dip or even to do some harbour jumping. As long as you pitch up respectfully and leave the site as you found it, there shouldn’t be any issue wild camping on the outskirts of the town. The small town of Ullapool is the main harbour town for the Outer Hebrides, with boats leaving from here to the enchanting islands of Lewis and Harris. Dunrobin Castle is known as one of Scotland’s great northerly castles, dating all the back to the 13th century. Although this is far from the largest castle on the NC500, Castle Varrich is still worth a visit and can easily be reached from the town of Tongue. This way you can admire the beauty of the east coast and have your road trip build to a climactic ending with the stunning west coast. Dunnet Bay beach lies not too far from John O’Groats and offers another unbelievable, mile-long stretch of sand to enjoy and unwind on. There is a huge selection of campsites spread along the length of the North Coast 500 road trip, all of which are perfect for anyone wanting a comfortable sleep with showers, toilets and power. Along the North Coast 500 there are many wonderful places to visit, have a bite to eat, or find something fun to do for the whole family. From the Falls of Measach, there is a right turn just after the car park that will take you along the seaside route through the towns of Poolewe and Gairloch, which are both beautiful places to stop and stretch your legs. Just outside of the small town of Durness lies a cave that has a history dating all the way back to the Vikings. But what’s unique about this little coffee shop is that they sell and stock Bob Marleys son's coffee.Â, It’s a quirky place with a quirky bookshop attached and I highly recommend you visit. Before we head off on our NC500 road trip, a few people had already mentioned Applecross as a place not to be missed, so we did it.Â. If you can’t find a spot on this side of the village, we also saw plenty of campervans pitched up on the stony beach beside the Applecross Heritage Centre, many of which looked like they had been there for a while. SHOPPING TIME : In Dornoch town centre there is a small Co-op for any essentials you need to pick up. Life back in these times was unfair and quite miserable, due to harsh living conditions and extortionate rental costs by the greedy land-owners. YUM! Tongue to Lochinver. Days 1-2: Inverness to Ullapool. Arguably one of the best road trips in the world! We toured with these guys around the up-and-coming Heart 200 road trip in Scotland’s central highlands and could not believe the comfort and customer service we experienced with their vans. The earliest parts of the castle date back to the 15th century, where over the years it has been subject to a huge amount of horrifying history. Let us know in the comments below. I do suggest you take this route as the views are beautiful and you’ll come across lots of beautiful Highland cows along the way! Depending on your interests and trip duration, you should structure your own trip. The closest campsite to the small town of Thurso is the Dunnet Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, located right on the edge of the beautiful Dunnet Bay. After spending a night in our most spectacular camping spot yet, overlooking the beautiful horizon at the Duncansby Lighthouse, we had a quick breakfast and headed up over the hill to see the local marvel, the Duncansby Stacks. This is another beautiful route that will take you through to Ullapool. Locals and travellers rub elbows in this cosy, low-roof pub, with mouthwatering food on offer from the kitchen, cold beers and wine from the bar, and live music from the local band. As we travelled along the North Coast 500, camped in our trusty Vango tent on a mixture of campsites and wild sites. Read the signs as you walk along and you will see the incredible history behind this castle, and understand just how impressive it was in its day. Due to this there are no advance bookings. The next stop is at the Castle of Old Wick, just 15 minutes on from Whaligoe. During the winter months, you will most likely experience snow, however, temperatures usually sit around freezing, so it is not too cold. Head around the cafe and down the hill and you will find the steps. When you are wild camping in Scotland, the most important thing to remember is Leave No Trace. [affiliate links]. You’ll also need a lot of blankets, a heater, and an emergency kit in case of being snowed in. Given the additional size that these vehicles possess, I can only say that you should take extra care while driving the roads around this route, especially on the western coast. I’m assuming you’re here because you already know what the North Coast 500 is, but if not, a quick wee summary: It’s a (roughly) 500 mile route around the North West of Scotland and it’s known to be one of the most B-E-A-UTIFUL road trips in the UK, if not the world. It’s a circular route that starts at Inverness and it can be done clockwise, as we’ve done or you can do it the other way around. For the best place to rest your head after your first, whirlwind day on the North Coast 500, there are plenty of places to choose from in the Dornoch town centre. The view over the bay and the surrounding cliffs was absolutely spectacular, and we had it all to ourselves. On a clear day, it is possible to see all the way to the Isle of Skye and the beautifully haunting outline of the Cullin mountain range. 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