NC 500 - the tourist route around the north of Scotland (1 Viewer)

[normanandsue]

If you are thinking of doing a trip around the north of Scotland this map/ link may well be of help to you

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...Q&ll=58.02998111154572,-4.460436500000014&z=8

 

[Stretto Boy]

Thanks. We did about three-quarters of the route last year (the north, west and south) and it's fabulous!

 

[DavidG58]

Useful link, always worries me when such route options never include toilet dumps or water top ups

Really hope they find a suitable place to drop the loo

A tip we learnt, is that most CalMac terminals have a dump option

We also tend to use a site every third or fourth night, full recharge, wifi, water top up, full size showers etc

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[MillieMoocher]

We also tend to use a site every third or fourth night, full recharge, wifi, water top up, full size showers etc

That's a great tip, won't be doing NC 500 until next year or year after (off elsewhere) and seems to give the best flexibility of wilding (well as much as can "wild" in anything other than a tent!) and services to top up. Also helps the local economy a bit too.

 

[Masman]

Thanks for link. Another one for my bucket list.

 

[normanandsue]

Thought might be good for xomeone

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[Jac Sprat]

Anyone planning doing this in august?

 

[Baileysbus]

Anyone planning doing this in august?

Certainly thinking about it .... maybe July. We're more flexible cos we are quite near and can just go with the weather forecast. I was lucky enough to spend most of my career working in that area so know it really well

 

[Billggski]

It's the midge forecast you need to watch.........

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[CWH]

It's the midge forecast you need to watch.........

https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/

 

[Ber090]

Worth looking at " Where to Stay " thread on here from last week. Scotland in July or August would now be a big NO for us because of the 500,

 

[The general]

What year did the 500 become well known ? I remember coming up here in 2010 traffic way less . I am up here now and the traffic is deffo on the increase including our euro friends and it's not even holiday period the campsite at gairloch looked horrendous( if you want a bit of peace ) packed out !

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[CWH]

What year did the 500 become well known ?

It was only devised in March 2015

 

[The general]

It was only devised in March 2015

Thax for info ,so just over 2 years , I don't know if it's a good thing or what ? Ok brings extra cash to the community but it won't take long for it to get too popular , single track roads can only take certain amount of traffic , and the driver got to know HOW to drive them ???

 

[CWH]

Thax for info ,so just over 2 years , I don't know if it's a good thing or what ? Ok brings extra cash to the community but it won't take long for it to get too popular , single track roads can only take certain amount of traffic , and the driver got to know HOW to drive them ???

Victim of its own success I fear...

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[tulketh]

Hi everybody,
Just got back from 9 days on the 500 spent 3 nights on site to empty and fill up. Went up the East coast and down the West, traffic and midges weren't that bad. Amazing scenery all round great wild camping spots, a lot of motorhomes from the netherlands and germany very friendly people. lots of single tracked road but plenty of pacing places and if you have got the bottle do the Bealach na Ba pass to Applecross. Best done ante clockwise but watch out for the hair-pins !! The pub at Applecross does great food but will be busy.
We did 2 days on Skye but it was a bit of a let down for us. Dunnet Bay campsite was our first stop on site the location was brilliant but not very big so booking might be best. Small site at Scourie kindly let us empty our cassette and the breakfast was excellent.

 

[Dave K]

What year did the 500 become well known ? I remember coming up here in 2010 traffic way less . I am up here now and the traffic is deffo on the increase including our euro friends and it's not even holiday period the campsite at gairloch looked horrendous( if you want a bit of peace ) packed out !

The first time we went to Skye I was a bit disappointed, went again this year and loved it, don't know why, maybe it was the weather I don't know!

 

[The general]

The first time we went to Skye I was a bit disappointed, went again this year and loved it, don't know why, maybe it was the weather I don't know!

Can you remember what disappointed you first time , because that's the best time to be impressed with the scenery etc ? I would have thought ,granted if really bad weather it does take the gloss off of things , especially if you are with the better half ?? Stuck in the van ? Me I am just by myself so bad weather just park up ,radio ? Cup of tea . Always remember first visit to ' pass of the cattle ' I couldn't get the door open because of the wind but since then been up there several times ( in lovely weather ) well worth the drive , and this year Applecross inn got a new car park !!! Ex .

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[The general]

Victim of its own success I fear...

EXACTLY, but I must admit I was shocked to see that zip wire being constructed at Durness

 

[Dave K]

Can you remember what disappointed you first time , because that's the best time to be impressed with the scenery etc ? I would have thought ,granted if really bad weather it does take the gloss off of things , especially if you are with the better half ?? Stuck in the van ? Me I am just by myself so bad weather just park up ,radio ? Cup of tea . Always remember first visit to ' pass of the cattle ' I couldn't get the door open because of the wind but since then been up there several times ( in lovely weather ) well worth the drive , and this year Applecross inn got a new car park !!! Ex .

I don't remember if I'm being honest, it could be because we did a quick tour around because we hadn't really intended going there but we thought as we were heading up the west coast we would call in, this time we saw it with snow as well so the scenery did look stunning