As I have no idea of distances and drive times, I am struggling to work out stops and book campsites for campervans and arrange places to eat. Once you have yourself sorted out, and have your vehicle ready with road trip supplies (Inverness is a good place for both filling up on fuel and picking up road trip snacks! While the North Coast 500 is an experience in itself, you’ll also find plenty of adventures to be had along the way. Ardvreck Castle– Sitting on the banks of Loch Assynt sits the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, once the 15th-century stronghold of Clan MacLeod, longtime owners of the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Lewis and Harris. You’ll pass some incredible white sand beaches and lovely views before arriving into the town with our first attraction of the day – Smoo Cave.

If you have time, we can recommend spending a day or two here at the start or end of your NC500 road trip. Ceannabeinne – visit a highland clearance site on a short walk with beautiful sea views and a great beach. While spring and summer abound with wildlife-spotting opportunities, during the autumn months you’ll see stags rutting around the Highlands, with the colder weather bringing them down to lower ground.Book into a luxury cabin near Golpies on the east coast of the North Coast 500 at the Birdwatcher’s Cabin*. Visit the Castle of Mey– previously the home of the Queen Mother in Scotland, you can now tour this royal palace and garden.

You’ll also find that one of the joys of travelling in the North Highlands is the ever-present option to turn off a main road and find a gem that can still qualify for the title of ‘undiscovered’. Assuming you stayed in Torridon, the first thing we recommend you do is drive around the Applecross peninsula. Sandwood Bay Beach–It might be an eight-mile walk to Sandwood Bayand back, but boy is the hike worth the trek. If you prefer to learn about a different traditionally Scottish craft, then you should drop in at the Old Pulteney Distillery. This itinerary assumes you’ll be driving the North Coast 500 in a car or motorbike, and staying in hotels or guesthouses along the way, and we have recommended some of our favourite accommodation options along the route for each night.

The days will be slightly shorter, and I can’t comment on whether this is too ambitious without knowing how long you are planning to travel for. Remember to pick up your own official NC500 map from our businesses members around the route (via our interactive map) or become a member. Venture off the path less travelled, explore Highland villages, coastal towns and the rugged countryside of the North Highlands. Read more: my guide to the best places to stay on the North Coast 500 Do I need to pre-book NC500 accommodation before I set off? Oh and word of warning; the further north you go, the stronger the accent gets and the later into the night you drink with the locals, the harder it is to interpret!

Remember that people live and work along the NC500 route, so be a courteous driver and don’t hold them up. This is a lovely little museum which tells the history of the Scottish highlands, including the clan systems and the tragic tale of the Highland clearances. Note that this road is generally considered unsuitable for larger motorhomes and if you are towing a caravan. Travellers to Scotland should be prepared for what locals often describe as ‘four seasons in one day’. Finding the Universe contains affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission.Torridon Youth Hostel– well-rated hostel offering both dormitory accommodation and private rooms with shared facilities. Home to over 45,000 people, there are plenty of things to waylay you in Inverness before you start your journey around the North Coast 500! If you have an interest in WW2 relics, a detour up to the Cove Light Anti-Aircraft battery from Poolewe is a good option. Leaving the north coast of Scotland behind you reach Assynt and Coigach, one of my favourite parts of Scotland, and the most dramatic part of the North Coast 500 and the Scotland Route 66.