NC500 (1 Viewer)

[Mike800966]

Starting to plan to do this in September so I wondered what paper sources of info turned out to be the most useful?
Was thinking of a good map and perhaps a Rough Guide- Im sure there must be one as well as the obvious computer resources.
It just dawned on me , if the wfi/phone signal is very variable ( Vodafone) is it worth downloading S4S so that it works off line?
Thanks in advance
MIke & Ann

 

[CWH]

I suggested this to my BiL when he came up, he said he found it very useful

Destination NC500 Guide Book (2nd Edition) - highlands2hammocks

Presenting the most in-depth, relatable, and picturesque guidebook to the North Coast 500 on the market, this is Destination NC500.

highlands2hammocks.co.uk

Though tbh we travelled the coast road long before the 500 was thought of and didn't have any resourcesother than the CCC & CAMC books, and had a brilliant 4 months* doing it.
*that wasn't because we got lost, it was because we had time to explore

 

[WillH]

The OS do a good road map of Scotland, worth getting one.

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[Mike800966]

Thanks, its very interesting that neither of you mention any of the more modern publications- guess I wont just throw Amazon at it!
Thanks
mike & Ann

 

[buntyb]

EE worked very well for us last year. No real signal issues

 

[enark]

There is a great cafe called the midge bite, just on the southern edge of the NC500, on route from Inverness to Kinlochewe. They sell a great guide book…. i would tell you it’s name, but gave it my son for when he does the route on his bike..

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[CWH]

Thanks, its very interesting that neither of you mention any of the more modern publications- guess I wont just throw Amazon at it!
Thanks
mike & Ann

It's the only one I know anything about, and that's second-hand knowledge - I've never actually seen the book - BiL said it had faults but still thought it was good enough to buy us a copy of the companion Destination Skye, even though we live in Skye. There are mistakes, assumptions, and the sort of things that non-residents think are cool and different but are well-known locally. I guess I think they're trying to be bloggers-in-print. But it has some good stuff too. As a local, it's difficult to judge a visitors' guide.
Personally, I don't follow "routes", just roads. I mostly just hit the road and explore. Like WillH I carry maps; I also have a list of known waste disposal points. And BritStops/ CCC/ CAMC books "just in case". You might also want a list of diesel & lpg points - they're few and far between as you get further north. The 500 is just the coast road; the coast road has masses of interesting places nearby if you venture off the "route".
We're with EE and even at the house we're off-line probably 10% of the time, even the phone doesn't work along the track down to the road, but then we're off the main drag.

 

[NorthernSoul]

North Coast Journey by Brigid Benson. Lots of information on places to visit and things to see both on the NC500 route and on detours off it. Covers the route clockwise.

 

[royandsharont]

I found the phone signals of Three Mobile terrible almost everywhere in the Highlands. I took a large scale HGV map book for the detail and looked at location of campsites in the prep stages.

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[CWH]

Don't risk it .....

 

[Offagaingr8]

I have this one £15.99 from robbieroams.com

 

[Grianan]

There is a great cafe called the midge bite, just on the southern edge of the NC500, on route from Inverness to Kinlochewe. They sell a great guide book…. i would tell you it’s name, but gave it my son for when he does the route on his bike..

The Midge Bite is at Achnasheen. Not sure if we’ll pop in today as was planning Jo’s cafe in Torridon (Torridon Stores &. Cafe) but if I do we’ll take a look.

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[Bobbydaisy]

VF coverage is good in the main towns and villages & on the B roads , don’t expect blanket coverage as no operator could afford to provide coverage to wilderness, most campsites have coverage as they provide revenue. Use a map or preloaded maps or satnav, real time consistent mobile updates will not work.

 

[Cassidyuk]

I have just returned from doing the NC500 and found that EE reception worked in most places.
I would highly recommend the North Coast 500 guide book by Charles Tait he covers anything on the route

 

[CAB96]

EE are operating (still building??) the Emergency Services 4G network.

For this reason I got EE/RWG sims for Outer Hebrides and Orkney trips.

Most places I got a Voda signal (my regular Lebara phone data) but where I didn't there was usually an EE signal.

Assuming it will be similar through the Highlands.

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[Smudger55]

We like Mike900866 thinking of NC500 in September. I've just bought North Coast 500 book, seems my type of book. Suggestion management might plan the route but already hit a stumbling block. She would like to go West to East, I East to West. I may have keep tight lipped for a while.

Think we're going to allow 3 weeks, take our time as we have 1300 miles round trip to get to start, there and back as we live in Devon.

We're away from this weekend so hope to start serious planning after that............ Or should I say management, bless her will.

 

[Charlie57]

I'm hoping to 'have a go' next Spring, this year (I get my van hopefully next month) plan a couple of days locally then a couple of Warners shows to meet 'you lot' then let rip next year, channel crossing end Summer 2024 or early 2025.

Thats the plan anyway

 

[GrannieAnnie]

We are thinking of doing it late November. Are we crazy? Is it too dangerous at that time of year?

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[Charlie57]

I would have thought in November there would be lots of wind & rain at best at worst.....

 

[stevewagner]

We are thinking of doing it late November. Are we crazy? Is it too dangerous at that time of year?

We have been in November and February and it was delightful.

 

[CWH]

DavidG58 any comments?

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[DavidG58]

DavidG58 any comments?

Durness it is, decision made

Pondered options for Europe, but have decided the top of Scotland it will be [again] partly based on this...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

We are thinking of doing it late November. Are we crazy? Is it too dangerous at that time of year?

Been there in most seasons , we were there November last year, not at all bad and no midges

Have a look at my thread from a few years ago, it can’t get much worse

 

[Smudger55]

We set off on Friday for our NC500 trip. Most sites booked, going via Falkirk Kelpies and Wheel and returning via Isle of Skye and Glencoe.

 

[Viennese]

North Coast Journey by Brigid Benson. Lots of information on places to visit and things to see both on the NC500 route and on detours off it. Covers the route clockwise.

Most people do it clockwise so we chose to do it the other way as I wanted to save the best (west coast) till last. We saw the difference as most vans were going the other way!

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[Tinker2]

We like Mike900866 thinking of NC500 in September. I've just bought North Coast 500 book, seems my type of book. Suggestion management might plan the route but already hit a stumbling block. She would like to go West to East, I East to West. I may have keep tight lipped for a while.

Think we're going to allow 3 weeks, take our time as we have 1300 miles round trip to get to start, there and back as we live in Devon.

We're away from this weekend so hope to start serious planning after that............ Or should I say management, bless her will.

We will just follow you.

 

[runrig]

We are already on the east side at a place called Kingussie spent last night and this coming night on an MCC MOTORHOME SERVICE POINT AND AIRE cost £10 per night payable into an honesty box with an easy walk into a small town with an array of shops butcher, coop, chemist and a fantastic charity shop. Moving on tomorrow to Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, bring on the dolphins.

 

[scotjimland]

may prove handy.. not my map so cannot vouch for data..

NC500 April 2017 – Google My Maps

Key CU - Urban Car Park (Yellow P) CR - Rural Car Park (Blue P) LU - Urban Laybye (Yellow pin) LR - Rural Laybye (Blue Lorry) OR - Other rural Parking (Aqua pin) OU - Other Urban Parking (Yellow pin) ST - Street Parking (Yellow pin PH - Public House (Red H)

www.google.com

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[CWH]

Kingussie

If it's your sort of thing, I'd recommend a visit to this place, about 2.5 miles west from Croila Croft, right on the A86

Welcome to Britain's first open air museum - Highland Folk Museum

Previous Next Welcome to the Highland Folk Museum Welcome to the Highland Folk Museum, where you can step back in time and experience life in the Highlands from 1700s to the 1950s. We have over 35 historical buildings onsite for you to explore and discover how people in the Highlands lived...

www.highlifehighland.com

 

[steve69]

She would like to go West to East, I East to West. I may have keep tight lipped for a while.

I have heard it said many times that East to West is the way to go for the best views.

P.S. There is no "official" route for the N500. Just work your way around the coast as it suits you.

 

[Puddleduck]

If it's your sort of thing, I'd recommend a visit to this place, about 2.5 miles west from Croila Croft, right on the A86

Welcome to Britain's first open air museum - Highland Folk Museum

Previous Next Welcome to the Highland Folk Museum Welcome to the Highland Folk Museum, where you can step back in time and experience life in the Highlands from 1700s to the 1950s. We have over 35 historical buildings onsite for you to explore and discover how people in the Highlands lived...

www.highlifehighland.com

I would dispute the claim it is the first open air museum - I can think of several others!

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