5 Day North Coast 500 Itinerary 2026: Our Tested Day-by-Day Route

We’ve driven Scotland’s North Coast 500 road trip multiple times, in all seasons. We’ve taken trips lasting between five days and three weeks, and we’ve shared a number of planning guides, highlights, and itineraries on our blogs already.

Today we’re going to share our idea of the ideal five day North Coast 500 itinerary, to help you plan your own 5-day Scottish road trip!

We would suggest that five days is a good amount of time in which to drive the North Coast 500. Five days will give you enough time for sightseeing and stops along the way, without feeling too rushed. As a minimum, we’d suggest at least four days to complete the route, and five to give yourself a more relaxed and enjoyable experience.

Of course, you can take longer. We’ve taken multiple trips on the NC500, some over two weeks in length. There’s always more to see, back roads to explore, and far flung beaches to hike to! If you have longer, check out our detailed 1 week NC500 itinerary.

Planning tip: If you’d like a printable version of this itinerary to take on the road, we offer a printer-friendly version of this article that strips out ads and images for easy printing. You can save it as a PDF from your browser for offline use.

This itinerary assumes you’ll be driving the North Coast 500 in a car or motorbike, and staying in hotels or guesthouses along the way, and we have recommended some of our favourite accommodation options along the route for each night.

The North Coast 500 is also a popular route to do as a camping trip, either with a motorhome or a more traditional tent. If you are planning on hiring a motorhome for the trip, then we recommend comparing prices across a range of providers using a service like Motorhome Republic. You can see their UK listings here.

Another good option to consider if you’d like a more robust camper vehicle are the four wheel drive camper trucks from Wild Camper Trucks. See their Scotland options here.

If you decide to camp, we have a 7 day North Coast 500 camping itinerary, as well as a detailed guide to all the North Coast 500 campsites. If you wanted to camp on a five-day trip instead of seven, we’d suggest using this post for the itinerary, and our campsite guide for ideas on where to stay.

We’d recommend reading this post in parallel with our North Coast 500 planning guide, to get all the information you need for your adventure.

Now, let’s get started with this detailed 5-day North Coast 500 itinerary.

5 Day North Coast 500 Itinerary

5 days on the North Coast 500 will give you a good amount of time to see many of the sights along the way. However, as the going is slower in some parts than others, we’ve tried to balance this itinerary so you get fairly similar amounts of driving time each day.

The slower parts of the route, largely due to winding single track roads, are to be found in the north west section around Durness, and the south west section around Torridon. So whilst the distances on some of these days might be less than other days, the slow going nature of the roads means they’ll take longer.

Any detours you take, especially those on the west coast such as to the beautiful beaches of Achmelvich or Achiltibuie will also add time as these are slow roads.

 

What This Itinerary Doesn’t Cover

Five days is enough to see a great deal of the NC500, but it does mean you’ll need to make choices. This itinerary doesn’t include time for the hike out to Sandwood Bay (an 8 mile round trip that needs most of a day), the Cape Wrath ferry and bus excursion (allow 3.5 hours minimum), or a proper exploration of the Achiltibuie and Coigach peninsula.

If any of those are high on your list, we’d recommend adding a day or two to your trip. Our 7 day NC500 camping itinerary gives you more time for these detours.

 

Day 1: Inverness to Wick

Leave Inverness mid-morning after filling up with fuel and picking up road trip snacks. Aim to arrive in Wick by late afternoon.

The North Coast 500 starts and finishes in Inverness, so that is where our itinerary also starts and finishes. This is a very logical place for your adventure to begin, as it is well served by an airport and a fast train line, which links to the rest of Scotland and also England. You can even get an overnight sleeper train from London to Inverness.

Inverness is also fairly easy to reach by car, with a good road running between Edinburgh and Inverness, with a driving time of just over three hours. Inverness makes for a great base for exploring nearby attractions, including Loch Ness.

If you have time, we can recommend spending a day or two here at the start or end of your NC500 road trip. We have a guide to things to do in Inverness, as well as some suggested day trips from Inverness.

Once you have yourself sorted out, and have your vehicle ready with road trip supplies (Inverness is a good place for both filling up on fuel and picking up road trip snacks!), it’s time to head north as we have a lot to see and do today.

The first area to explore is the Black Isle. This is a peninsula of land just north of Inverness which is home to its own brewery, a ruined cathedral and even some beautiful waterfalls. The Black Isle is also one of the best places in the UK to watch dolphins from the shore, which you can do at Chanonry Point if the tides are right.

For more ideas on the Black Isle, see our complete guide to things to do on the Black Isle.

Continuing north from the Black Isle, a short detour off the A9 road will bring you to Dornoch. This is home to a lovely cathedral, as well of one of Scotland’s most well-known golf courses, the Royal Dornoch. There’s also a stone in Dornoch which marks the spot where the last witch was burnt in Scotland, in 1727.

Dornoch is a good place for a coffee or chocolate stop at the wonderful Cocoa Mountain Cafe. Their hot chocolate is something special, and well worth a stop. You’ll get a chance to visit their second location in Balnakeil Craft Village near Durness on Day 3.

From Dornoch it’s another 20 minutes drive north to one of the highlights of the day, the spectacular Dunrobin Castle. This is a beautiful castle that looks like it has fallen straight out of a fairy tale, and we highly encourage you to stop and spend some time visiting.

As well as a guided tour of the castle, you can explore the grounds, watch the falconry displays (see the falconry displays section of the website to see when they are on) and visit the Victorian era museum.

A short drive north of Dunrobin Castle is Carn Liath, or the Grey Cairn. There’s a small parking area just before the Cairn (here on Google Maps), and it’s a 2 minute walk from here to the Cairn via a footpath.

Carn Liath is a broch, an iron age structure that is around 2,000 years old. There are many of these all around Scotland, and this is one of the better preserved and more easily accessible brochs along the North Coast 500, which we think makes it worth stopping at.

From Carn Liath you are on the final hour of driving to your destination for the first night, the town of Wick. You’ll pass through the pretty fishing village of Helmsdale, home to the excellent Timespan Museum. If you have time, it makes a good stop for learning about the history of the area, including the people, landscape and traditional trades.

The last location you’ll pass on the first day of our itinerary is the Whaligoe steps, a series of steps carved out of the cliff face here which lead down to the sheltered Whaligoe Bay. This was once a popular harbour for local fishermen due to its natural protection, but when artificial harbours were built nearby, it fell into disuse.

No doubt the women who had to cart the baskets of fish up these steps weren’t too sad about that!

Finally you’re going to arrive at the town of Wick. This has a few attractions that we suggest you cover on your next day. For now, it’s time to head for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

For dinner in Wick, your hotel may offer evening meals (Mackays Hotel has a good restaurant), or you could try one of the pubs or restaurants in the town centre.

 

Day 2: Wick to Tongue

Allow time to explore Wick’s attractions in the morning before heading north. Aim to reach Tongue by late afternoon.

Your second day on the North Coast 500 will have you actually driving along Scotland’s northern coastline, and visiting the most northerly point in mainland Britain.

First though, there are a few attractions in and around Wick that we recommend visiting. First of these is the fantastic Wick Heritage Museum. This is found in a warren of former houses near what was the herring harbour.

Inside, you’ll find displays on all sorts of things relating to life in and around Wick. Naturally, there’s a strong focus on fishing, and the history of herring fishing in particular. Wick was once known as the herring capital of Europe!

If you prefer to learn about a different traditionally Scottish craft, then you should drop in at the Old Pulteney Distillery. Founded in 1826, this was for a long time the oldest distillery on mainland Scotland. They produce an excellent single malt with a distinctive flavour that comes from the whisky being exposed to the salty air during the maturation process.

We also have a guide to whisky distilleries on the North Coast 500 if you’re interested in visiting more distilleries along the route.

Other highlights of the area include some castle ruins such as the ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, although you might want to be making tracks by now as you’ve still got a fair way to go.

From Wick, you’re going to continue north on the A99 until you get to John O’Groats. From here you get lovely views of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of Scotland. You can also take a picture at the famous John O’Groats sign, famous because John O’Groats is the most northerly town on the UK mainland.

If you wish, you can take a short detour from John O’Groats (around a five-minute drive) up to Duncansby Head lighthouse. The view from the cliff top here is quite wonderful, and at the right time of year you might be lucky enough to spot whales. You can also take a ten-minute walk across the field to the Duncansby sea stacks.

Continuing west along the coast you will come to the next stop on our route for the day, the Castle of Mey. This was owned for a time by the Queen Mother. It’s possible to tour the castle, as well as the grounds, and there is a good cafe on site for tea, coffee and light snacks and meals.

Further along the coast from the Castle of Mey you will come to the town of Dunnet. There’s a lovely beach here, as well as a fantastic gin distillery. If you are a gin lover, it is very much worth stopping at the Dunnet Bay Distillery to take their tour and sample some of their gins (unless you are the driver of course!).

You can take a detour from Dunnet up to Dunnet Head. This is home to an RSPB wildlife reserve, and is also the most northerly point in mainland Britain.

Enjoy the drive along the north coast, and do enjoy the dual lane roads while you have them, as you get further west you are going to find yourself on single track roads! If you’ve never driven on one lane roads, see my guide to driving on single track roads for some tips.

The town of Bettyhill is worth a stop for the Strathnaver museum. This is a lovely little museum which tells the history of the Scottish highlands, including the clan systems and the tragic tale of the Highland clearances. There’s also a Pictish standing stone here.

The next major village you’ll come to is Tongue, where there’s a small shop and a gas station, as well as various accommodation options. This is where we suggest you spend the night. The next town along is Durness if you would prefer to keep going, but we often struggle to find availability in Durness.

In Tongue, if you want to do a nice 40 minute round trip hike with spectacular views, we can recommend the walk up to the ruins of Castle Varrich. It’s only a small two storey castle, but the views really are worth it.

For dinner, the Tongue Hotel has a good restaurant and bar, and the Ben Loyal Hotel also serves evening meals. This part of the route has limited dining options, so if your accommodation doesn’t serve dinner, make sure you have a plan before you arrive.

 

Day 3: Tongue to Ullapool

This is the longest day of driving, so an early start helps. Leave Tongue by 9am if you can to give yourself time for all the stops.

The first stretch of driving from Tongue to Durness today is really pretty. It’s also winding and largely a single-track road, so do take your time. You’ll pass some incredible white sand beaches and lovely views before arriving into the town with our first attraction of the day, Smoo Cave.

As the name suggests, Smoo Cave is a large cave which is a combination freshwater and seawater cave. It has a number of impressive features, most spectacular of which in our opinion is the waterfall inside the cave.

Getting down to the cave is via a series of steps, and it will likely take you around ten minutes from the car park. You can explore the cave mouth area and visit the waterfall via a wooden walkway (be careful as it can be slippery). If you want to explore further, you can do so via a guided cave tour. Tours run from April to October and cost £15 for adults and £5 for under-16s. Note that tours are cash only as there is no phone signal inside the cave. More information is available on the Smoo Cave Tours website.

Other highlights in Durness include the lovely Sango Sands beach and, a short drive to the west, the Balnakeil Craft Village. This was an early warning station in the 1950s, built to detect and warn of nuclear attack during the height of the cold war. However, it was never actually used, and it was instead repurposed, becoming the craft village that you see today.

This has been a long process, but today the village, which is now largely owned by the residents, is home to a number of lovely craft shops and cafes. It’s definitely worth exploring the craft shops, as you may find the perfect souvenir to take home from your trip.

The village is also home to a branch of Cocoa Mountain, where you can pick up another of their legendary hot chocolates if you enjoyed the one in Dornoch on Day 1. Both the Dornoch and Balnakeil locations are open seasonally from around March to November.

If you have extra time and fancy an adventure, you can take the Cape Wrath excursion from Durness. A small passenger ferry crosses the Kyle of Durness, and then a minibus takes you out to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point on the British mainland. It’s a wild and remote spot with a lighthouse and spectacular views. Allow at least 3.5 hours for the whole trip including the ferry, bus ride, and time at the cape. Just be aware that this will eat into your driving time for the rest of the day, so you may need to skip some of the later stops.

It’s time now to turn south, and drive down the west coast of the North Coast 500. As a landscape photographer, I will admit that the west stretch of the route down through the county of Sutherland is one my favourite photography locations on the North Coast 500.

There are lovely views to be had on this stretch of the drive, with one of the more iconic North Coast 500 photos being Kylsesku bridge. There’s a parking area here just before the bridge with nice views of the surrounding landscape.

A short way after the bridge, on the left-hand side of the road as you drive south, is the Rock Stop Cafe and Exhibition Centre. This is an excellent place to come and learn about the geology of the area, which was in fact instrumental in shaping our understanding of geological processes in general.

After the Rock Stop Cafe and a bit more driving you will come to where the A894 road meets the A837. If you turn right you can head down to Lochinver, home to an excellent pie shop and the Highland Stoneware centre, which is worth visiting if you are keen on pottery.

The trip to Lochinver will be at least a 30 minute detour though, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, just after you turn left (east) onto the A837 you will come to the ruins of Ardvreck Castle and Calda House on the shores of Loch Assynt.

Dating from the 16th century, these castle ruins are free to visit, and there’s parking on site, with information panels detailing what you are seeing. The castle was originally built by Clan MacLeod in 1590, although it was captured by Clan MacKenzie in 1672.

They were responsible for constructing Calda House, a more formal manor house, in 1726, but this burnt down in 1737 and was never restored.

From Ardvreck Castle, continue south on the A835. If you’re interested in geology, a stop at Knockan Crag National Natural reserve is a good option.

But there is also a trail here that takes you up onto the ridge above the car park, where you can get even better views. Along the trail, there are a series of art installations and informational exhibits about what you are seeing and how it formed.

You are nearly at the end of your third day on the North Coast 500, with your final destination of the day being Ullapool, which is the largest town you’ll be visiting on the west coast. This is a good place to refuel and get any additional supplies you might need. It also has the largest choice of hotels and B&Bs in the region, as well as some good restaurants to choose from.

If you’re after seafood and don’t mind al fresco dining, we can highly recommend the excellent Seafood Shack. Do check before you visit as it operates seasonally (typically April to October). Other good dinner options in Ullapool include The Arch Inn and the Ceilidh Place. We’d recommend booking a table in advance during the summer months as Ullapool is popular and places fill up fast.

If you’d prefer to be a bit further out of Ullapool for the night, and want to see some more spectacular beaches and scenery, you could consider the half hour detour to the village of Achiltibuie. The drive out here is truly incredible. Please note that the hotel we usually stay at here, the Summer Isles Hotel is currently closed for a major renovation and is expected to reopen in 2027. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay out this way in the meantime, the Acheninver Hostel is nearby, though do be aware this is a hostel so a different experience to a hotel.

 

 

Day 4: Ullapool to Torridon

A shorter driving day, which leaves more time for stops. Leave Ullapool after breakfast and aim to reach Torridon by mid-to-late afternoon.

From Ullapool you head south a short way on the A835 before turning right onto the A832 and heading out to the coast. The first attraction you’ll come to is the Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve.

This is the home of a mile long box canyon, which you can see from a Victorian suspension bridge that crosses the gorge. This is reached via a short (if steep) walk, and there are also walking trails along both sides of the gorge.

Continue from Corrieshalloch on the A832 out around the coast. If you want to visit a beautiful and fairly deserted white sand beach, a detour to Mellon Udrigle beach is a great option, after which you’ll come to the village of Aultbea where there is a nice memorial to the wartime convoys. You’ll find this in a small park just north of the village.

Further on from Aultbea you will come to the Inverewe Garden and Estate. Managed by the National Trust for Scotland, this is lovely garden to explore which, thanks to a unique microclimate, is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species.

Most impressive perhaps are the huge California redwoods, but you might also be lucky enough to see red squirrels, red deer, otters, seals, and golden eagles.

If you have an interest in WW2 relics, a detour up to the Cove Light Anti-Aircraft battery from Poolewe is a good option. This is around 20 minutes drive each way. The coastal battery was built in 1941 to provide anti-air defences to the coastline here. Whilst it was manned throughout the war, it never saw action.

It was a fairly large installation though, and there’s still a lot left to see, although do take care as it is an old and unmaintained structure.

The A832 now loops back inland, and you will start to drive along the shore of lovely Loch Maree. This offers some lovely photo opportunities, especially as the loch has Slioch mountain providing an impressive backdrop.

There’s also a short walk to a waterfall here called Victoria falls. It’s a short walk to the viewing platform to see the falls, which are pretty, if not quite as impressive as their African counterpart!

After loch Maree you will get to the village of Kinlochewe, where you’ll turn on the A896. This is another one of those drives that winds between mountains and lochs, and offers numerous excellent photography opportunities. Just be considerate of other drivers and only stop in parking areas, not passing places.

Finally, you arrive in Torridon, where we suggest you spend the night. You can also carry on to Lochcarron or Applecross, where there are further lodging options.

For dinner, The Torridon hotel has an excellent restaurant (book in advance). The Stables next door has a more casual pub-style menu. In Kinlochewe, the Kinlochewe Hotel has a bar and restaurant that also serves evening meals.

 

 

Day 5: Torridon to Inverness

Your final day. The Bealach Na Ba and Applecross loop will take most of the morning, so leave after an early breakfast if you want time for stops on the way back to Inverness.

Today you’ll be finishing the North Coast 500 and returning to Inverness. Of course, if you have more time and want to continue exploring, you could also head to the Isle of Skye at this point. If that sounds good, see our tips for visiting the Isle of Skye to help you plan.

Assuming you stayed in Torridon, the first thing we recommend you do is drive around the Applecross peninsula. This will take you on some seriously winding roads which will also offer you views across to the Isle of Skye.

The road is also well known as being home to the Bealach Na Ba, an alpine style road which is one of the highest roads in the UK. The view from the top of the pass is legendary, as are the curves and gradient on the way down! Just take your time and enjoy the views.

Note that this road is generally considered unsuitable for larger motorhomes and if you are towing a caravan. It can also close due to poor weather, especially in winter. So instead, you would want to take the A896 that goes between Shieldaig in the north and Ardarroch in the south, and thus skips the Applecross peninsula.

From the bottom of the Bealach Na Ba you will pass through the village of Lochcarron. If you want to see deer, a tour with Colin Murdoch of Reraig Forest is a must. Colin is a deer stalker who manages a herd of these beautiful animals, and you’ll get about as close as is possible. The tour lasts around 90 minutes, and is well worth it. Just make sure to book well in advance if this is of interest.

Also near Lochcarron is the ruined Strome Castle, and Lochcarron Weavers. If you are interested in learning about how tartan is made, or want to pick up some tartan of your own, Lochcarron Weavers is the place to come!

From Lochcarron you will head back up to Achnasheen. You could take a detour to the left here to visit the Glen Docherty viewpoint, which is another great photo opportunity. Otherwise, continue east on the A832 back towards Inverness. If you have time on your way back, you could also stop at Rogie Falls.

If you visit at the right time of year, this is a good spot to see salmon leaping as they journey up to their spawning grounds. Otherwise, it’s a lovely place to enjoy the waterfalls.

Another stop as you near Inverness is the Dingwall Museum, which has a lot of information and displays about the local area.

Finally, you’ll find yourself back in Inverness, where your North Coast 500 road trip adventure comes to an end! We hope you had a wonderful trip.

For more options see our guide to our favourite B&B’s along the NC500, as well as our overall guide to NC500 accommodation.

We also have a general guide to where to book holiday cottages in the UK which will give you more options for accommodation along the route.

 

Map of North Coast 500 Itinerary

To help with your route planning we’ve put together a map of this 5 day North Coast 500 itinerary. You can also see this on Google Maps here.

If you’re looking for a physical map to take with you, the Collins NC500 Pocket Map is a good option.

These can be purchased online in advance of your trip from Amazon. They are also sometimes available on eBay. They are also usually available at stores and tourist information offices around the route, including the Inverness iCentre.

There used to be an official printed map produced by the NC500 themselves which was freely available in tourism offices. However, this has now been discontinued in favour of a digital app.

 

North Coast 500 Itinerary Overview

Here’s a quick overview of the itinerary for reference.

• Day 1: Inverness to Wick (~130 miles, ~3 hours driving)
• Day 2: Wick to Tongue (~90 miles, ~2.5 hours driving)
• Day 3: Tongue to Ullapool (~100 miles, ~3 hours driving)
• Day 4: Ullapool to Torridon (~85 miles, ~2 hours driving)
• Day 5: Torridon to Inverness (~115 miles, ~3 hours driving)

 

Tips for Driving the North Coast 500

We have written a detailed planning guide for the North Coast 500, which we recommend reading as it contains a great deal of useful information.

However, we also wanted to include some essential tips in this post to help you plan your trip.

 

Booking Accommodation on the North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 has become very popular in the last few years, even being labelled Scotland’s Route 66.

Whilst this is great news for the local economies in this otherwise fairly remote part of the UK, it has also meant that it can be tricky to find accommodation. This is particularly the case if travelling during the busier months from May through to September.

As such, we highly advise booking your accommodation in advance if you are travelling in the busier months. There are not a huge number of options, especially in the more remote sections of the route, and just turning up in a town without reservations might result in you having to drive significant distances to find the next available room.

For some options see our guide to our favourite B&B’s along the NC500, as well as our overall guide to NC500 accommodation. These tend to be some of the more popular places along the route, so booking well in advance is required.

If you are struggling to find accommodation along the North Coast 500, then we suggest trying some alternative websites. Take a look at our guide to where to book holiday cottages in the UK which will give you lots of options for accommodation.

 

Car and Motorhome Hire for the North Coast 500

This being a road trip, you’re obviously going to need some kind of vehicle. Most people choose to either drive a car or a motorhome on the NC500. If you don’t have your own vehicle, we recommend the following for hire:

• For motorhomes, we recommend comparing prices across a range of providers using a service like Motorhome Republic. You can see their UK listings here.
• If you’d like a more robust camper vehicle, check out the four wheel drive camper trucks from Wild Camper Trucks. See their Scotland options here.
• For car hire, we recommend comparing prices and booking through Discover Cars, which searches across all the major rental providers to find you the best deal. You’ll find rental options at Inverness Airport and in the city centre.

 

Midges and Ticks on the North Coast 500

One of the most common questions we get about the NC500 is about midges. We’ve done the route at all times of year, including during the height of the midge season, and we’ve never really had major problems with them.

Midges are most active from late May through to September, and they’re worst on still, warm, overcast days. If you’re staying in hotels or guesthouses rather than camping, they shouldn’t bother you too much. They’re very slow, so you can outpace them by walking at a normal pace.

We’d recommend bringing and using a midge-specific repellent. The best one we’ve found is Smidge, which you can pick up from most outdoor shops and pharmacies in Scotland.

One other thing to be aware of are ticks, especially if you are doing any hiking through long grass or bracken. Just make sure to check yourself over after a hike, and consider bringing a tick removal tool.

 

Electric Vehicle Charging on the North Coast 500

If you’re driving an electric vehicle, you’ll find charging points in Inverness, Dornoch, Wick, Thurso, and Ullapool. Outside of these towns, charging options become limited, so planning ahead is important.

The more remote sections of the route (particularly the northwest between Durness and Ullapool, and the southwest around Torridon) have very few charging points. We’d recommend starting each day with a full charge and checking apps like Zap-Map or ChargePlace Scotland for the latest information on charger locations and availability along the route.

The situation is improving each year as more businesses install chargers, but for now, an EV on the NC500 requires more planning than a petrol or diesel vehicle.

 

WiFi / Cell coverage on the North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 is in one of the most remote and beautiful parts of the UK, which has a low population density. As such, cell coverage can be spotty.

The majority of hotels and guesthouses we’ve stayed in have had WiFi, but don’t expect this to be super fast. It will likely be fine for social media and checking e-mails, but might not suit streaming video or downloading large files.

In addition, some of the older properties on the route, especially the castle hotels, have very thick walls. As such, WiFi might not be available everywhere.

 

Road Conditions on the North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 has a variety of road types, which vary between normal two lane roads, and single track roads. The roads are, for the most part, in pretty good condition, although some stretches will have pot holes.

If you’ve never driven on single track roads before, we urge you to read our guide to driving on single track roads. This will explain how to properly use passing places, single track road etiquette (who goes first?), and other useful tips.

Please only use the passing places for passing. Don’t pull off onto the verges of the road as this causes long term erosion and damage. They are also not for parking in. Only use designated parking areas for stopping.

If you are driving in winter, do be aware that conditions can become icy, and the roads can become snow covered. There are gritters, but this is a long stretch of remote road. When we drive the route in winter, we carry snow chains for our car just in case. We’ve not had to use them as yet, but we think it’s better to be safe than sorry!

 

Eating Along the North Coast 500

You will notice a theme about these tips, as they largely revolve around the remoteness of this area! There are not huge numbers of restaurants along the route, so you will definitely want to plan where you are going to be eating that day, especially for dinner.

Many of the hotels along the route do offer evening meals and breakfasts, and some of the towns also have restaurants. However, do please check opening times, as many restaurants are not open year round. Reservations are often a good idea in the busier months.

If you are staying in a smaller guesthouse or B&B, it is likely that they will not offer an evening meal. If this is the case, make sure you eat before you arrive, or have a plan for a nearby location for a meal, as some spots can be fairly remote. You don’t want to arrive somewhere hungry and realise you have to drive another 40 minutes to find some food!

 

Responsible Travel on the North Coast 500

The rise in popularity of the North Coast 500 has not been without its issues, as the increase in the visitor numbers has put pressure on the local infrastructure.

This includes things like public toilets and waste disposal, as well as the roads.

This is a wonderful part of the world and we’d love for it to stay that way. If everyone does their bit, including things like being careful with litter, disposing of chemical toilets at official disposal points and driving carefully, it will hopefully remain wonderful for many generations to come.

 

Further Reading for the North Coast 500

Hopefully this post has given you lots of ideas for planning your own 5 day North Coast 500 itinerary.

As mentioned, we’ve driven the route many times, in all seasons and weathers. We’ve put together a number of articles to help you plan your own adventure. We also have some third party resources to recommend.

• We have a detailed planning guide for the North Coast 500, as well as a detailed list of reasons to drive the NC500
• For accommodation, we have a guide to where to stay on the North Coast 500, which covers everything from luxury castle hotels to smaller guesthouses. We also have a list of our favourite B&Bs on the North Coast 500.
• If you’re looking for a longer trip or tips for camping along the route, we have a 7 day North Coast 500 camping itinerary
• If you are planning on camping or glamping, we have a comprehensive list of all the campsites and glampsites on the North Coast 500
• If you enjoy whisky, we have a guide to all the whisky distilleries on the North Coast 500
• I’ve put together some of my favourite photography spots on the NC500 to help make sure you see everything you want to see.
• This being a driving route, we also have some tips in the area. We have a guide to single track roads, as well tips for driving in the UK in general.
• If you want to extend the route, you could do so from Inverness with the North East 250 driving route – see our 3 day NE250 itinerary for ideas. You could also visit the Isle of Skye or the Isle of Raasay. Alternatively, why not base yourself in Inverness and do some day trips from Inverness?
• For budget planning, see our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK
• The official website for the North Coast 500, which has maps, itineraries and advice to help you plan your route.
• If you’re driving the North Coast 500 as part of a longer visit to the UK, check out some of our other guides to both Scotland, and England. These include detailed tips on things to do in Edinburgh, things to do in Glasgow, and things to do on Islay.
• Looking for more road trip inspiration? Check out our guide to the world’s best road trips for more ideas!
• If you would like a guide book for your trip, check out the Rough Guide to the North Coast 500, as well as Rick Steves Scotland book

And that’s it! We hope you’ve found this guide useful, and are now feeling ready to tackle the North Coast 500! As always, if you have any questions or feedback about this post, do let us know in the comments below. Happy driving!

Frequently Asked Questions about the North Coast 500

Is 5 days enough for the North Coast 500?

Yes, five days is enough to see a great deal of the NC500 and enjoy the experience without feeling too rushed. We’d say it’s the minimum amount of time for a comfortable trip. You can drive it faster, but you’ll miss a lot of the stops that make the route special.

If you have more time, a week is even better, and we’ve personally taken trips of two weeks or more on the route. But five days, as laid out in this itinerary, will give you a good balance of driving and sightseeing.

Which direction should I drive the NC500?

Our itinerary runs counter-clockwise (east to north to west), which is the same direction most people drive. There’s no right or wrong answer, but we prefer this direction because you get the faster A9 road out of the way early, and the most dramatic scenery of the west coast comes towards the end of the trip.

Some people prefer clockwise to have the dramatic scenery first. Either works well. The roads are the same in both directions!

Do I need a 4WD for the North Coast 500?

No. All the roads on the NC500 are sealed and a normal car is perfectly fine. We’ve driven the entire route in winter in a small hatchback with no problems. In fact, a smaller car is often easier because the single-track roads and passing places are narrow, and parking areas can be tight.

The only exception might be if you’re visiting in very severe winter weather with ice and snow, where winter tyres or chains could be useful. But for most visitors, a standard rental car is all you need.

Are midges a problem on the North Coast 500?

Midges are present from roughly late May through to September, and they’re worst on still, warm, overcast days. In our experience, they’re much more of a problem if you’re camping and sitting outdoors. If you’re staying in hotels and B&Bs, they shouldn’t trouble you too much.

They’re very slow, so you can outpace them by walking at a normal speed. Bring a midge-specific repellent (we recommend Smidge), and you should be fine. Don’t let midges put you off visiting!

Can I drive the Bealach Na Ba in a motorhome?

The road sign at the start of the Bealach Na Ba advises against “very large vehicles or caravans after first mile.” It’s an advisory rather than a legal restriction, but the hairpin bends are tight 180-degree turns with steep drops, and longer vehicles have gotten stuck trying to get around them.

If you’re in a larger motorhome (over about 7 metres), we’d recommend taking the alternative route via the A896 between Shieldaig and Lochcarron instead. If you’re in a smaller campervan and are confident in your driving, it can be done, but take it very slowly.

Do I need to book NC500 accommodation in advance?

We would strongly recommend booking in advance, especially if you’re travelling between May and September. The NC500 has become very popular, and some of the smaller B&Bs and hotels along the more remote sections of the route can book out months ahead.

We’ve heard stories of people having to drive an hour out of their way or even sleep in their car because they hadn’t pre-booked. Save yourself the stress and book ahead.

Is there EV charging along the North Coast 500?

There are EV charging points in the larger towns along the route, including Inverness, Dornoch, Wick, Thurso, and Ullapool. Outside of these towns, charging options become limited, particularly in the remote northwest between Durness and Ullapool.

If you’re driving an EV, plan your charging stops carefully, start each day with a full charge, and check apps like Zap-Map or ChargePlace Scotland for the latest charger locations. The situation is improving each year, but it still requires more planning than a petrol or diesel vehicle.