North coast 500

[HarryBet]

Hi Everyone

Thinking of doing the 500 in early May for the first time, because we are more likely to stay on campsites with facilities rather than wild camping, my questions are has anyone travelled the route that time of year, is it busy and would we need to pre book any of the recognised route campsites.
We didnt really want to pre book anything and then be stuck with a schedule, wanted some flexibility on stay duration as not fussed if its a 2 week or 4 week tour, I know a lot of people will say wild camp then but thats not the answer my other half is a bit paranoid about security.

Thanks

 

[Gellyneck]

We've done a number of sites on the NC500 route in late April 2017 and March \ April 2018 and some were fairly busy. Only C&MC site at Dunnet Bay had "full" signs up for a couple of nights.
I would THINK you'll be OK going on spec.
Having said that not sure what it will be like this year but were thinking up there again in September and will probably pre-book as then is usually slightly busier.

 

[Stag man]

If you go for the longer (4week) option then you are getting a tad close to the midge season.
Its impossible to predict how soon the beasties come out but, speaking as a Southern Softie, I am usually heading south by the 1st week in June

 

[Gellyneck]

If you go for the longer (4week) option then you are getting a tad close to the midge season.
Its impossible to predict how soon the beasties come out but, speaking as a Southern Softie, I am usually heading south by the 1st week in June

Mild spring and I've seen them out and about in early April!

 

[TheAleMan]

Hi Everyone

Thinking of doing the 500 in early May for the first time, because we are more likely to stay on campsites with facilities rather than wild camping, my questions are has anyone travelled the route that time of year, is it busy and would we need to pre book any of the recognised route campsites.
We didnt really want to pre book anything and then be stuck with a schedule, wanted some flexibility on stay duration as not fussed if its a 2 week or 4 week tour, I know a lot of people will say wild camp then but thats not the answer my other half is a bit paranoid about security.

Thanks

I think in our covid times we now live in, I would book up campsites well in advance if I were you, it can and probably will be very busy. Early May is our favourite time to visit the Highlands, and we generally find that midges at that time of year are not to much of a pita.

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[Stag man]

Mild spring and I've seen them out and about in early April!

Nasty…
Thats why I take a sacrificial human with me (SWMBO), clearly much more to their liking so I get left alone.
Referring to the original post, not sure if you know but the recommended direction of travel is anti-clock

 

[Gellyneck]

Nasty…
Thats why I take a sacrificial human with me (SWMBO), clearly much more to their liking so I get left alone.

That's cause she's much sweeter than you!

 

[Nirvanauk]

We were up there in September and unless we had pre booked sites then they were all full up!

 

[DMC65]

Midges up north are nothing. You don't want to try further south and along the west coast if the northern midges bother you. They are ferocious around places like Loch lomond to the point it's a challenge to sit outside for 2 minutes at certain times of the year

 

[Stag man]

HarryBet I understand your concerns about wild camping/security but you have a bit of a clash between Booking security and Booking flexibility.
This is driven by the rise in Staycations over the past couple of years and the fact that the NC500 is to an extent a victim of its own success.
A lot of your choices will be driven by availability (or lack of)

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[Rosemary1]

Mild spring and I've seen them out and about in early April!

I think they started around Easter here last year too and really came into their own June. Doesn’t help we have a lot of trees in our garden!

 

[Potty]

Our preferred route is clock wise. That way you are driving next to the coast and your view isn’t being obscured by vehicles coming the other way.
Security isn’t really a problem there when wild camping and many of the smaller sites aren’t staffed 24/7 anyway.

As you do not seem to have time constraints, why not book your first site and then book ahead as you move on. Don’t try to travel too far in a day - there is so much to stop and look at.