North Coast 500 The Road Trip of a Lifetime – NC500 Guide Book by Robbie Roams

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Strome Castle– stop on Loch Carron to discover one of the National Trust for Scotland’s little gems. Berriedale Brae viewpoint (A9 north of Helmsdale) – The Berriedale Brae is an incredibly steep hairpin bend. This is one of the most challenging sections of the North Coast 500. There is a viewpoint if you want to stop. 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. Have a lovely trip when you do get to go, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions,

Some that you might want to consider visiting along or near the route (all open to the public, although some have seasonal hours) are Cawdor Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Castle SinclairGirnigoeruins, and the Castle of Mey which all lay along the eastern part of the route between Inverness and the small village of Mey.Inverness Mobile Tyre Fitting are a local, family run company who supply, fit and repair tyres 24/7 using their mobile service, covering all of the North Coast 500, Highland, Strathspey and Moray-shire region. Be prepared before you head out on your journey and add their number to your phone – 07785295534! 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. For car hire, there are a range of providers and it’s always worth shopping around to see what prices are on offer. The main car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Europcar, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, but there are of course many options out there. 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.

Looking for the ultimate in NC500 tours? This four day group NC500 tour can be completely tailored to your needs. 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. We also have a guide to whisky distilleries on the North Coast 500 if you’re interested in visiting more distilleries along the route.

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.