Is NC500 ok in a 7.4m Motorhome?

[SteveandSueJ]

Hi, i can only find a couple of threads here (likely my poor search technique), and looking for more info. Apart from the Applecross pass which we will avoid, looking at the route from East to West and having watched a few Utube videos, didn't see many longer motorhomes. So just before we blunder our way up North, as a reasonably confident driver, will our 7.4M Rapido be ok for the route? Just looking for a little reassurance before we finalise our plans. Any parts of the route or areas we should avoid as well as Applecross? Much appreciated.

 

[Otter Spotter]

You should be OK but the difficulty you may have is on the single track roads of which there are many, when you driving along and need to pull into a passing place to let oncoming cars past or let someone overtake you, your van will occupy the whole passing place so be aware of vehicles in front and behind especially those numpties who think because you are big they will sneak in behind you they then block the road because they can’t get into the P/P. This leads to frustration.
Don’t forget that you are on holiday but many of the cars (farmers pickups, white vans etc.) are working so let them past don’t hog the road.
You are right to miss out the Applecross road the hairpins can be very tight and if you meet anything coming in the opposite direction you don’t have much wiggle room.
Take a look at Chris Sloanes videos

 

[Tigger390]

I did the NC500 at the end of May, beginning of June in my 7.4m Burstner and had no issues, including Applecross. I came in on the road from the A896 near Shieldag, which comes down over the Applecross Bridge and left 2 days later via the Applecross Pass. The roads were relatively quiet at that time but by no means impassable to a 7.4m motorhome. There are some tight turns but all of which I got round in one go. There are passing places for you and others to use. I am (was) an experienced HGV driver but these roads are easily negotiated by a confident, patient driver.

The one road I did not do was the Drumbeg Loop as it is well documented not to do it if you are over 6m .

If you would like me to send you the routes we used so you get an idea of where we went in a 7.4m van, PM me an email address. All of the routes I had no issues getting through by using passing places to let vehicles ahead and behind to pass.

My best advice is if you see someone ahead or behind and you see a good passing place, you pull over so you are in control of the situation, let them pass you. Better than the other vehicle leaving you a tiny gap and you have to put your nearside in a bush or risk dropping into a ditch.

Will add though that there isn't a lot at Applecross really, other than the very expensive Applecross Inn, but is supposedly the end of the NC500.

 

[Guigsy]

I've done it a few times. I didn't find Applecross to be the hardest bit. As long as your tail doesn't drag too much, so you won't ground out on the hairpin, it's fun and not overly challenging.

However, there's another loop that's marked "unsuitable for coaches" and the NC500 signs show for caravans and motorhomes, there's an alternative route to continue on the main road. It's tough because it's very winding and rolling single track and it's unusual in that's largely in forest. So you can't see ahead to coordinate passing. You tiptoe around a blind bend, and you come face to face with a line of vehicles, and have to reverse back. Meanwhile, the car behind you that was keeping its distance, stops right behind you because it also couldn't see. Traffic jams a plenty. Worse than the rest of the NC500. I've done that bit it in a PVC, but I wouldn't do that section in my 2.3m wide coachbuild.

I think the section is just south of Unapool? Drumbeg loop???

 

[Gellyneck]

We've done a lot of it in segments in a 7.6m AT. As the guys said above no real issues if you drive appropriately to the conditions and single track road etiquette.

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[SteveandSueJ]

Fantastic guys, really appreciate the replies... confidence is rising...!!!

 

[Mr Mrs T]

We did it in October '23 in our 8m moho, we loved it - no problems at all. Go and enjoy!

 

[Littlewheels]

Many moons ago l towed a Minster Caravan up and over the Applecross route on the back of a Morris Marina kids in the back asking to go back , it’s a bit tight at times but we made it safely.

 

[Cockers]

We did it in our 7.6m Motorhome a couple of years ago in September apple cross pass wasn’t an issue, actually no of was. Just look ahead on the single track roads, I’m amazed how many people only seem to look 20 feet in front of them.

 

[Guigsy]

We did it in our 7.6m Motorhome a couple of years ago in September apple cross pass wasn’t an issue, actually no of was. Just look ahead on the single track roads, I’m amazed how many people only seem to look 20 feet in front of them.

I agree. As long as traffic isn't too heavy, most of the NC500 is pretty low stress. There's lots of single track, but it's mostly in pretty open ground with regular and well marked passing spots. So you can see well ahead and plan. If you're patient and look ahead, it's easy. Most of the time, when you see a vehicle coming the other way, you can time it so you arrive in a passing spot at roughly the same time, so you rarely need to even stop.

I did it in late September. Except for the Drumbeg loop, I didn't need to reverse back once. And then it was because there was roadworks causing bunching up and an idiot in an RV coming the other way that was too big to fit in the passing points. He was going against the stream (recommended is anticlockwise) and he had about 30 vehicles stuck behind him. And the poor forward visibility on that section and more broken roads made it worse. It is beautiful on that peninsula, but in my opinion, its the most stressful part unless it's very quiet.

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[bigtwin]

Depends exactly what you mean by the NC500 but we have traveled up the West side and across the North coast in our 8.4m tag axle without any problems (other than encountering a frequently-visiting holidaymaker to the area who seemed unable to use common sense when we met at a passing place).

Ian

 

[SteveandSueJ]

I see from a utube video that using Google maps offline is a good idea. However, are there any low bridge areas (we are 2.8m tall) to be aware of? My garmin camper usually protects me from those.... I suspect not but just occurred to me to ask....

 

[NRM]

I see from a utube video that using Google maps offline is a good idea. However, are there any low bridge areas (we are 2.8m tall) to be aware of? My garmin camper usually protects me from those.... I suspect not but just occurred to me to ask....

I did the NC500 in April a couple of years ago and at 2.94m high do not recall any bridges being a problem.
Enjoy the route

 

[Whippet93]

I did it 8 years ago in my first camper and recall driving along Loch Eribol, seeing a coach on the other side. 10 minutes later met it at a passing place. Not sure if coaches do the full route though
But as I always tell my better half, fire engines, ambulances and bin lorries must get about, and now, no doubt Amazon vans

 

[Jake Royd]

Hi, i can only find a couple of threads here (likely my poor search technique), and looking for more info. Apart from the Applecross pass which we will avoid, looking at the route from East to West and having watched a few Utube videos, didn't see many longer motorhomes. So just before we blunder our way up North, as a reasonably confident driver, will our 7.4M Rapido be ok for the route? Just looking for a little reassurance before we finalise our plans. Any parts of the route or areas we should avoid as well as Applecross? Much appreciated.

Yes but don't do it in peak months.
We have a 6.9m van and we're fine in May.
Didn't do Applecross though.

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