NC500 info required (1 Viewer)

[AMK]

it's time to pick the funsters brains again.

I'm going to start planning my NC 500 tour for June now Xmas is almost over and would like to gather as much info on the below.

Best way around, east west or west east etc.

Places to avoid motorhome is 7.6 with a good size overhang.

Places you must see.

Wild camping spots.

Small cl type sites.

Good pubs with grub.

Fuel stations.

Avoiding the midges.

We will also have two very energetic spaniels, so dog walking is a must.

Anything else you can think of basically.


Best wishes Alan & Michelle

 

[WynandJean]

I'll be keeping a keen eye on this thread

Wyn

 

[daveandsan]

I’ll start with saying East, West, to my mind you get the better views on the way home. Ducks down for flack.

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[Wanders from Glos]

We too will be interested in this thread as we will also be doing it in June, preceeded by a few days in Edinburgh.

 

[ambulancekidd]

I posted this some time ago, but perhaps it'll help you on your trip.

I know its hard to believe (especially as its snowing here in Scotland. April 16th) but, its nearly the Midge season. So many people ask how to deal with them that I thought I'd try to help avoid the biting little critters.

1/ Right to start with, Midge's usually make their appearance in mid May. They appear on most evening's in Scotland & northern England. The Lake district also has more than its fair share. The population peaks from July to September, they can carry on biting until October or even November but the first decent nip of winter frost finally puts an end to their season.

2/ Midge's are at their worst on a damp but warm evenings, this also applies on damp or drizzly warm summers days. On a dry but sunny day, they'll start biting at about 8-9 pm until 7am ish in mid summer.

3/ Avon skin so soft helps to deter them but, only up to a certain point. Jungle formula insect repentant is probably the best defence. Eating garlic food is another option, as is pinning a sprig of bog-myrtle to your clothes. Repellents won't stop Midge's swarming around you & this can be almost as unpleasant as the bites..

4/ Some people appear to be a lot more attractive to midge's than others! If you are the person that they want to bite, then they'll have you regardless of insect replants. Lactic acid is present in human sweat & is irresistible to Midge's. Some people (me included) react very badly to the bite of Midge's. An anti-histamine is a handy addition to the medicine chest but, prevention is better than cure.
When they've identified a feeding site...YOU, Midge's emit pheromones to call others Midge's. Male Midge's are quite a bit bigger than the females which are smaller than a pinhead. Midge's are so numerous that they can form clouds that are impossible to see through! The good news is that it's only the pregnant females, on the hunt for protein, who bite. They prefer the blood of cattle to humans, but Midge's will not differentiate between holidaymakers & cattle, any port in a storm.

5/ When its dark Midge's are attracted to bright lights & the carbon dioxide on your breath. If you must go out after dark then its best to distract them. The midge isn't most clever of insects but, your laying a big red carpet out by leaving your awning light on. I find that switching on an interior bright light on the same side of your motorhome well away from the door but, putting your awning light off as well as all visible (from the door) lights inside your motorhome draws them away from the door.

6/ Insect nets do not work in keeping midge's out, especially if you have lights on in your Motorhome. Even with the windows open a tiny bit the midge's will get in. Sleep with the windows shut or you will be bitten.

7/ Shaded valley's can hold cool damp air & be a haven for Midge's. Large tree's with lots of foliage also act as Midge paradise. So if you give your dog a bedtime walk in wooded area's your pretty well guaranteed to be bitten.

8/ Ordinary fly spray sprayed lightly onto your curtains can act as a powerful deterrent to Midge's. Now if you've brought or attracted the critters inside your motorhome, put just one bright light on & all other lights off, this will attract them to one area making them easier to deal with. Fly spray will kill them quickly but, if you prefer a non chemical solution, a wet cloth is best dabbed onto the area that you've brought the Midge's to.

9/ Some camp sites use Midge catching machines which burn Calor gas & these are amazingly effective. Citronella candles can help if your wild camping. There are some Midge eating machines that are available. at £629 for a unit for commercial use and £429 for the domestic-sized cylinder, the Midgeater - to be placed outdoors at the beginning of the midge season - is an expensive way of counteracting the menace. I "borrowed" this advice from elsewhere. There's a host of other anti-midge paraphernalia available, too, including anti-midge hat nets, midge body suits and midge netting designed to cover the entrance to tents.

10/ There is a dedicated website which gives a 5 day Midge "weather forecast" just click on this link

I might add advice to this posting as & when I remember, my brain sin't what it used to be. I really hope that this advice & information helps Funsters that are planning a northern visit. A lot of this advice also applies to Mosquitoes but the mossy nets on your motorhome should work as Mosquitoes are a lot larger than midge's.

Please feel free to add information to this posting, all assistance should be gratefully received.

 

[bigtwin]

Just avoid the Pass o’Cattle (to/from Applecross) and use the coastal route. You’ll be fine on all of the other roads.

Others might advocate that you should go for it but there are so many variables that can influence the level of success/stress.

There are loads of threads on the NC500: pop that into the search box and it’ll keep you busy for a while!

Ian

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[Northernraider]

I did it in October in an 8.5 metre tag axle
I've done it many many times from both sides the west is definately the nicest but there's also lots more to explore on that side especially if your just using the 500 as a guide and want to drift off it here and there to see better parts of the country.
I went east to west in October and did 1870 miles in total starting from Fife up east coast to Aberdeen then along to Inverness and then followed the coast up all the way to dunnet head but then I cut back down for a while and went off the beaten track to climb Ben hope etc.
I also managed the pass of the cattle ( bealach na ba) with no problems and my van sits low with a considerable overhang.
I then cut over on to Skye for a few days

I took 18 days doing it on that occasion

 

[The Wino]

I'll be keeping a keen eye on this thread

Wyn

Me too aiming at May ourselves

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

We did it a couple of years ago clockwise / west to east in June, if we were to do so again it would be anti clockwise / east to west. We also did the Applecross pass which was quite entertaining. I think the only serious midge action we had was at Loch Lomond on the way home, they were very keen and I bravely ran away...

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[Mark and Mindy]

We did part of it in May last year going west to east, but in our Mustang on its inaugural trip before taking it to the Pyrenees (we don't have a van yet), Applecross pass first thing in the morning, the TSB van was ahead of us, and various other vehicles behind us including a motorhome - got stuck for about 45 mins due to part of the road being missing and the work crew were repairing it, we all inched our way across the gap driving on over large road signs - each vehicle was carefully positioned to make sure that we didn't slip off one side or the other!

Didn't stop at the free car park as it was totally rammed, but carried on to the Applecross Walled Garden restaurant for lunch and it was one of the best meals we had.

No midges at all for us, the weather was glorious and we really enjoyed the whole trip.

I did a write-up for the trip on the Mustang forum - https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54319

I'd definitely like to go again when we get our van, but we'll go east to west next time.

 

[Northernraider]

We did part of it in May last year going west to east, but in our Mustang on its inaugural trip before taking it to the Pyrenees (we don't have a van yet), Applecross pass first thing in the morning, the TSB van was ahead of us, and various other vehicles behind us including a motorhome - got stuck for about 45 mins due to part of the road being missing and the work crew were repairing it, we all inched our way across the gap driving on over large road signs - each vehicle was carefully positioned to make sure that we didn't slip off one side or the other!

Didn't stop at the free car park as it was totally rammed, but carried on to the Applecross Walled Garden restaurant for lunch and it was one of the best meals we had.

No midges at all for us, the weather was glorious and we really enjoyed the whole trip.

I did a write-up for the trip on the Mustang forum - https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54319

I'd definitely like to go again when we get our van, but we'll go east to west next time.

It's a shame you got stuck .....would have been an awesome drive if youd had a clear run in the mustang

I did it in an mx5 softop one year it was great drifting round most of the bends

 

[Theonlysue]

There's a good fb site called nc500.

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

Hi there , we did the NC500 in September last year for 3 weeks . We did a little thread on MHF for those interested.
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/north-coast-500-with-whisky-detour.138281/
Starting at the official starting place Inverness castle and went anti-clockwise. Doing a whisky detour , to the islands , as you do . We had a great time .

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

We have done it a couple of times with a 7.7mtr MH. I personally prefer to go anti-clockwise for a few reasons.
Most do it clockwise so the road is less crowded and less chance of having those that cannot understand single track roads have many passing places that accommodate one vehicle and not two or three.
The views are progressively more impressive as you get to the West side.
The Applecross pass from the village across the mountains is much easier than inbound as the tight hairpins are downhill with amazing views. That said the first two miles out of the village have some of the smallest passing places so you have to look well ahead and wait for any cars coming down.
Lots of places to wildcamp and plenty of dog walking on beaches.
Top up fuel whenever you get close to half a tank and you should have no worries.

 

[Northernraider]

One thing is for sure you won't struggle to find wildspots....i didn't use one campsite

That said doing it in summer will be different

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[Tom A]

Following with interest.

 

[Charlie]

I'll be keeping a keen eye on this thread

Wyn

Me too with interest.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Our plan is to have a few days in Edinburgh, before making our way up to Inverness for the anti-clockwise route.

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[Northernraider]

Our plan is to have a few days in Edinburgh, before making our way up to Inverness for the anti-clockwise route.

You should head to Stirling from Edinburgh then head up through trossschs and then follow a82 through glencoe to fort William then from fort William to Inverness and start the nc500