North Coast 500 The Road Trip of a Lifetime – NC500 Guide Book by Robbie Roams

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These old country roads roads link remote communities, are access points for workers and medical care, and were not designed for the scale of traffic which arrives come Scottish summertime. It's therefore incredibly important to prepare and know the following in advance:

500 Planning your NC500 Adventure - North Coast 500

One half of this blog, a proud Scotsman, knew very little of what lay north of Inverness given that 'travel' to him had always meant venturing to countries far from his homeland; but our own North Coast 500 trip changed all that, and developed a deep appreciation in both of us for what lay on our own doorsteps. We did a couple of whiskey flights and even ended up buying a limited edition bottle of a peaty whiskey that we really liked. Now before I get into the itinerary, first things first — let’s talk about transportation. As mentioned, we opted to do the North Coast 500 with a campervan. You can also opt to do a regular car rentalthen stay in Airbnb’s along the way. It is the jump-off point to Orkney Island during the summertime. However, because we went during autumn, the conditions weren’t as favorable so we opted to give any ferry crossings a miss. Sometimes two vehicles will meet in the middle of the road just through bad timing. In that scenario, the expectation is that the person closest to the nearest 'passing place' on their side of the road should reverse into it, but only if it is safe and sensible for them to do so.The views from the hike are incredible as it really takes you along the coastline. During summer months, wildlife sightings can be seen along the way, with some people chancing upon seals and dolphins as you gaze down the cliffs. How many days does it take to drive the North Coast 500?' is a very different question to 'How many days should you spend on the North Coast 500?' Driving for extended periods of time takes a lot of concentration and can make us tired, a state that could lead to an accident. Rotating with one or more drivers will ensure your concentration level remains high and you stay alert. Take regular breaks

The North Coast 500 - Love, from Scotland The complete guide to The North Coast 500 - Love, from Scotland

There are stunning deserted sandy beaches with Caribbean blue waters (seriously), artisan gin and whisky distilleries, delicious fresh seafood, picturesque lochs, historic golf courses and beautiful castles, proper Scottish hospitality, wonderful walking routes, a diverse array of wildlife and enough outdoor activities to tire out even the most active of adventurers. I suspect that the '500' is marketed for late spring to the end of summer and that's when most people will travel. Autumn and winter not so much although I have been in the Highlands working during the winter and spotted Motorhomes so there are a few hardy souls. Inverness-Shire: Home of the route’s largest city – Inverness – this region is where your adventure begins and ends. With a mixture of ancient castles, highland scenery and near the infamous Loch Ness – there is so much to see!For a smooth and safe drive, it is important to evenly distribute the weight of your items across the car. During our drive up the West Coast, the scenery was unreal and just really out of this world. But the closer we got to the north, we started seeing the sights that the United Kingdom is known for. Cutting down on plastic waste. Use a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated with excellent free Scottish Highland tap water along the route - we both use this insulated water bottleon road trips as it keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and is great value. The official North Coast 500 route suggestions point to five day itineraries for motorists; in our opinion, that should be treated as a minimum. The Aero itself was super easy to drive, never limiting us from some of the challenging steep roads that the NC500 has.

The Rough Guide to the North Coast 500 (Compact Travel Guide)

Aside from your usual travel outfits, essentials to bring with you, even in Scottish summertime, are: Because of this, in recent years brown tourist signs have been placed along the route to help drivers know they are on the right road. Inverness Airport serves limited domestic and international routes, but has direct flights from London, Amsterdam, and Belfast. However, it's also possible to fly into Aberdeen and drive the 2.5 hours to Inverness, or take the scenic train between the two northern cities. If you are travelling in Scotland for a long period of time, then you could also arrive in Glasgow or Edinburgh and spend time there before driving or taking the train north. The dreaded midges are at their worst from May to September, but there is also an excellent online free midge forecast mapavailable for the region.The route begins and ends in the northernmost city in Scotland: Inverness. Technically it starts at the Castle in the centre, but you don't reallyhave to start there. However, if you have the time, throwing in a few more miles going OFF the official North Coast 500 route will never be a wasted endeavour. Despite covering many of the small and winding roads along the coast, there are many beautiful parts of the Highlands which will be skipped over by the majority. Yet, for those that seize upon the opportunity to explore and discover just where that signpost to the curiously named village, harbour or bay leads, you may just find your own Scottish hidden gem. If you live in the UK, then you can of course opt to drive your own car or camper van up to Inverness as part of an extended road trip, or take the train to Inverness and rent your car there. As the North Coast 500 increases in popularity each year, and with more considering it in 2020 than in previous years due to foreign travel travel restrictions or concerns, it's become even more important to reserve your accommodation in advance. If travelling outside of the summer season, note that some restaurants may be closed or operate on shorter opening times.

North Coast 500 Road Trip Planning Guide Comprehensive North Coast 500 Road Trip Planning Guide

Many in the media call it 'Scotland's Route 66', but for us you should throw that comparison out the window; this is a road trip withoutcomparison. We've been fortunate enough to road trip together through southern Italy, Morocco, the Faroe Islands, Sweden, the Dolomites and a few other places in the last few years, and we can tell you that this route is very, veryspecial and can stand on its own two feet. Most accommodation was clean if dated, some was old and dirty and these were among the most expensive; take note Ferry Boat Inn, Ullapool ! This brings me to the point of stating I had an EV. Although I had actually no problem charging on the '500' I found the costs exorbitant. Evanton was 82p per KW and Lochinver was 75p with a 45 minute time limit, no return in 30 minutes. This was for 50KW EVSE which actually supplied power at 36kw which may have been a function of the car due to the battery being over 30% but still very expensive. I totally understand the time limit but the cost was eye-watering. It is four times the cost of charging in Fife and more than double charging in Dundee, Angus or Perthshire. I can understand why no-one was charging except me as for most these costs can only be absorbed by tourists and business people. Unlike the American Route 66 – the NC500 is not a single road or highway – but a series of roads the hug the coastline.However, the inexperienced and those not used to driving on the left should approach this route with caution and the correct mindset. In terms of conditions, we can report that there aren't any dusty roads along the NC500 route, but you will encounter quite a few potholes! First of all, if you just happened to stumble across this article and have no idea what the North Coast 500 is, you’re in for a treat.