The only North Coast 500 guide you'll need to get started - from the UK travel bloggers who know it best!
This post was fully updated September 2021
Since its launch in 2014, the North Coast 500 has been named many things - Scotland's answer to Route 66, the only way to discover the Highlands and one of the best road trips in the world.
And, we're happy to tell you, that it more than lives up to the hype.
We spent eight nights driving the route in 'Jock the Jeep' and we absolutely loved every minute and every mile. The rugged Highland scenery was as beautiful as one would imagine, the driving challenge along single-track country roads and hairpin bends unforgettable, the local seafood, whisky and gin were divine, the hospitality second to none and some of the sights along the way were worthy of any traveller's UK bucket-list. From sweeping coastline and picture postcard beaches, haunted ruins and stunning castles, to puffin, deer and dolphin-spotting and the hand of thousands of years of history upon your shoulder at every turn.
If you want to experience Scotland at its best, then the North Coast 500 simply has to be on your list.
We've created this 'Beginner’s North Coast 500 Guide' to help fellow travellers know the basics and start to prepare for their own unforgettable road trip in the Scottish Highlands. You'll find key information here as well as links to our more detailed articles on route planning, highlights to visit, and accommodation, as well as important practical advice to know before you set off on a drive like no other.
The NC500 really is as amazing as everyone says.
What is the North Coast 500?
The roads which form this route have always been there. However, the 'North Coast 500' is the new name given to a specific itinerary by the non-profit North Highland Initiative in order to create wider awareness of this remote part of Scotland as a tourist destination and to make it a little easier for people to plan their time up here.
The route is 516 miles in total, and also referred to as the NC500 - the blue line in the map below is what you’ll be following.
Where does the NC500 start?
It starts and ends in Inverness, a small river city and the capital of the Scottish Highlands. Technically, the road trip begins from Inverness Castle, but you don’t have to set off from there.
From Inverness, travellers have the option to start the North Coast 500 by heading west towards the Applecross peninsula (B) before taking on the long winding roads of the gorgeous west coast, or they can travel north-east through the coastal landscapes of the Black Isle towards Wick and John O'Groats (E).
For us, the most picturesque parts of the route were on the western and northern sections (C to E) - but it's up to you whether you would like to save that for the end of the journey or savour it at the start.
What is the best way to do the North Coast 500?
Take your pick from an old banger, luxury sports car, electric car, campervan, bicycle or motorcycle - as long as you have your own set of wheels, you can tackle the North Coast 500 (although one chap has done the entire thing on foot!)
When making your choice of transport, there are a few things to bear in mind.
If you're a cyclist, you need to be aware that completing this route is no easy feat and should not be attempted without a high level of fitness. Those with larger vehicles such as motorhomes or caravans should know that there are some very narrow sections of road - such as the Bealach na Bà and the B869 from Lochinver to Kylesku - which you are advised against taking.
Inexperienced drivers will find it quite a challenge in certain sections, but you will get used to driving single-track winding country roads if you follow the local etiquette. Lastly, if you’re not from the UK, you should know that we drive on the left here and there are a few rules of the road to know in advance.
Prefer not to drive? Take a look at this 3-day Small Group North Coast 500 Tour.
A good level of driving experience is essential alongside an awareness and appreciation of how to conduct yourself on countryside roads - after all you are sharing the roads with "people whose lives and livelihoods depend on the roads in and around the NC500 as well as your fellow travellers, so make sure you know how to drive responsibly, safely and respectfully."
This is not a racetrack.
If you're travelling from further afield or don't have your own vehicle, then car rental is available in Inverness and all over Scotland via Rentalcars.com
Another website we used to look + book with local and international companies is Auto Europe.
We recommend checking out both to get the best prices and availability for your own North Coast 500 road trip.
Read More // 9 Car Rental Tips for Travellers
How Long Does it Take to Drive the North Coast 500?
We would say an action-packed five days should be your absolute minimum, but seven to ten days will be ideal.
We spent eight nights on the route, but could easily have spent two weeks, whilst cyclist James McCallum completed it in just 28 hours! Theoretically, you could whizz around it in two days, but that really would be silly.
The official itineraries suggest five days and this will give you just enough time to sample some of the main sights and highlights, however it will probably leave you feeling you could have seen more along the route and perhaps a little rushed.
Our main tip? Don't underestimate just how much there is to see and do in this part of Scotland in addition to simply drinking in the beautiful landscapes.
Where Should You Stay on the North Coast 500?
Applecross or Aultbea. John O’Groats or Dornoch. Gairloch or Kylesku. A castle or a cabin. The coast or the hills.
Taking the time to sit down and plan your own itinerary along the defined 516-mile route before you set off is vital. It means you'll get more out of your time in the Scottish Highlands, but it will allow you to get in early and book your accommodation in advance.
And booking your hotel, B&B, hostel, or cabin as early as possible is absolutely essential for this road trip.
The NC500 has become more and more popular since it has been christened officially as the NC500 and demand, particularly in the summer months, is increasing each year. Lots of rooms for July are already booked out in January!
From personal experience, we know that choosing the right hotel, hostel, B&B, Airbnb, glampsite, or self-catering cottage - and picking the right villages and towns to stop in each night - involves a lot of work, wasted time and research, so we decided to help you out. Based on our own experiences and research, we carefully created and curated a North Coast 500 Accommodation guide to make everything a lot clearer and easier for you!
(if you're a camper, then you'll be happy to know there are loads of campsites and responsible wild camping is legal. However, in the last two years there has been an unfortunate dramatic rise in irresponsible and reckless campervanners and campers - please do not be one of those people and read up on responsible travel before you go).
What is there to do on the North Coast 500?
From visiting distilleries, dining out on exquisite seafood and hiking to wildlife spotting, sea kayaking or hanging out on hidden beaches and discovering ruins - there really is a surprisingly diverse array of attractions and activities along the NC500. And this is in addition to the breathtaking scenery which you can enjoy for free every step of the way!
If you're driving the route in five to seven days, then you won't be able to see or stop at absolutely everything, so taking the time to ensure you at least see what you love is the best approach. For example, if you're a huge whisky fan, then taking some tours at these NC500 distilleries and breweries is an excellent start point for planning your journey.
Our main advice is to ensure you spend a decent amount of time researching activities and sights along the route and make a relatively fixed itinerary, which leaves a little time for spontaneity along the way.
How Much Does it Cost to do the NC500?
This road trip can be done in an old banger or a Bentley, by a budget backpacker or a billionaire.
Depending on your travel style, it’s possible to cater the North Coast 500 to your budget, your tastes, and your preferences. There’s luxury accommodation or dorm beds in hostels, fine-dining with local seafood or chips from a backroad burger van, a dram at some of Scotland’s finest whisky bars or a bottle of Irn-Bru sitting on a bench.
However, to help you plan, it’s important to know that your baseline North Coast 500 travel costs will be your car or camper van rental, your accommodation, a few meals out and activities, plus fuel. On the accommodation, in the summer high season, a couple looking to stay in a few memorable (but not luxury) places alongside a couple standard B&B or hotels, should plan for £80-100 / night.
The route itself is free to drive and access, and not subject to any tourist tax or levy (at the moment).
Useful Resources & Further Reading on the north coast 500
If you scroll down, you'll find more of our personal guides for making the most of the North Coast 500. However, we would strongly recommend that everybody reads our cornerstone article to help you prepare and drive the route, updated with specific travel information for the 2020 summer: 23 Things To Know Before Driving The North Coast 500.
. . .
The resources below also provide a nice mix of inspiration and planning tips.
Official NC500 website | Visit Scotland | The Telegraph | The Guardian | Undiscovered Scotland
. . .
Want to show your support or say thanks for our free guides? Book your accommodation or car rental via one of our links - it costs you nothing extra, but gives us a small commission, helping to keep Along Dusty Roads, well, on the road! And, if you like what we do here, then we’d love if you could follow us on Instagram - find us on @alongdustyroads.
