(content by Sam N.)
How Many Days
This is not a route that you will want to drive through quickly. First of all, driving fast would be very unsafe, but more importantly you would miss the spectacular views and wonderful views that make this trip worthwhile. We suggest you allow for at least 5 days to drive through the route round trip. Of course, if you were to make the trip in more days you would be able to see much more.
If you don’t have this much time, we highly recommend you focus your trip on a section of the route that you will be able to fully enjoy. You could also explore a section more completely if you were to choose a single point along the route and base your day trip forays from this point.
If you are flexible and have the time to spend on the trip through the North Coast 500, I recommend you spend a full week to 10 days. This is a good amount of time to spend on the trip and you will not have to feel rushed. If you have two weeks to spend here, you will be able to take the many hikes and explore some of the lesser-known areas. You will be able to spend more time in towns and regions on your way as well.
Figure Out What You Want to See
The North Coast 500 offers plenty for the adventurous soul to see and do. The best plan will be to plan an itinerary that will focus on the many things you really want to see and do. It will simply not be possible to do everything you want to do, so I would suggest narrowing it down to the most important interests you and your companions have.
Some of the most important highlights of your trip could include visiting the beaches, observing the wildlife, museums, distilleries and castles. Some of the activities that visitors to the region have found most rewarding include fishing, hiking, golfing , whale watching, whisky tastings, kayaking and looking for the best scene to make for stunning photography.
These interests will allow you to choose the most exciting itinerary and help you decide the best time and activities for your planned trip to the North Coast 500. For example, some of the attractions and museums will only be available at certain times of the year. Whale watching can only be done when the whales are here, which is during the Spring and summer months.
You may even want to consider becoming part of the North Coast 500 club. Included in your annual membership will be several themed itineraries, monthly newsletters, discount cards, maps as well as other freebies that depend on your membership level.
Choose your Lodging in Advance
As we have mentioned before, the most important thing you will need to consider in advance, especially if there are specific places you would like to visit, will be booking your accommodations. There are many popular B&B’s and hotels in the region that can be booked as far as 3 to 6 months in advance, especially during the summer season and throughout the holidays. You will find that prices also rise if you are booking at the last minute and we have seen some prices triple for last day booking. Find the best North Coast 500 hotel deals.
Pack Well for your Trip
As you may imagine, you will need to pack properly for your trip to the North Coast 500 and this will be similar to any other trip you will be making to Scotland. This means be prepared for all types of weather conditions and be prepared for wind and rain and all modes of transport.
Layering is a good idea so pack sweaters, undershirts and maybe a light waterproof jacket as well as water proof shoes. If you will be visiting between May and September, you will want to bring along insect repellent to ward off the merciless attacks of mosquitoes and midge.
In preparation for the North coast 500 drive, I’d recommend downloading the North Coast 500 app as well as a digital copy of the roadmaps or the NC500 map. You may also want to pick up a paper copy at Inverness. Many adventurers to this region have also found the Rough Guides North Coast 500 guidebook and official clothing items to be especially beneficial and can be found in online stores. Finally, a reliable GPS navigation tool is another especially helpful item to have on hand.
