Scotland (Highlands)
North Coast 500
The loop around northern Scotland from Inverness: Applecross, Torridon, Ullapool, the beaches of Durness and John o' Groats.
- Approximate distance
- ≈ 516 mi
- Stops
- 11
- Suggested nights
- 11
- Best season
- May, June, July, August, September
May to September. Midges from June to August; long days in June.
Warnings for large vehicles
- Bealach na Bà (to Applecross): grades around 20% and hairpins, not advised for large vehicles or caravans. Go via Shieldaig instead.
- Drive on the left. Long single-track stretches with passing places: pull in to let others by.
These routes were written from memory: double-check distances, seasons, rules and closures with official sources before you go.
Stops
- Inverness Departure
- Applecross 1 night
- Torridon 1 night
- Gairloch 1 night
- Ullapool 2 nights
- Lochinver 1 night
- Durness 2 nights
- Thurso 1 night
- John o' Groats 1 night
- Dornoch 1 night
- Inverness Arrival
Simplified line: straight lines between stops. The planner works out the real road.
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