Scotland’s NC500 Road Trip

Exploring in the Highlands? Try Scotland’s North Coast 500 road trip! The must-do NC500 is nicknamed Scotland’s Route 66 and is regularly acclaimed as one of the top coastal routes in the world. Its 516 miles meander on a circular route from and back to Inverness, among some of the most spectacular scenery in the country… perfect for a campervan trip.Here we cover 10 unmissable stops on Scotland’s North Coast 500, plus the best campsites at each one. Let’s get started!

Tour Summary

Bealach na Bà

Not for the faint hearted or drivers who are nervous behind the wheel, this winding mountainous road on the Applecross Peninsula is the steepest road in Britain, between the Scottish mainland mountain masses and the Isle of Skye. It’s a tough drive but a glorious ascent, finishing up over 2,000 ft above sea level and magnificent views. (NB: only attempt this in a small campervan [16-18ft]; if your vehicle is bigger than that, arrange a day tour to the top of the pass instead).The pass is 17 miles long. Start the drive at Lochcarron, driving along to Kishorn. Three miles from Kishorn is a sign directing drivers to Applecross via the Bealach. A car park is at the top of the pass, or you could go on foot for a few hundred meters past the car park then take the track to the left.Drive on to Applecross village afterwards for a bite to eat: either seafood at the Applecross Inn, or a snack or evening meal at the cafe and bar at Applecross Campsite, which has grass pitches from £24 a night (postcode: IV54 8ND).

Dornoch Beach

An award-winning beach and beautiful wildlife haven on the Dornoch Firth, with miles of golden sand stretching from Dornoch Point to the mouth of Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. Get to the beach by driving north from Inverness, on the first leg of the NC500 towards the little seaside town of Wick; you can stay there overnight too, at Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park adjacent to the sands (from £20 per night; postcode IV25 3LX). Dornoch Beach is Blue Flag accredited and has convenient amenities for families including a car park, toilets and a play park. It’s a mile’s walk from Dornoch town, where the Royal Golf Hotel and Dornoch Castle Hotel both offer meals and snacks to non-guests. Or stay on the beach to visit The Highland Larder, which offers hot drinks, cakes, toasties and a full seafood menu..

Strathy Bay

Another award-winning beach, Strathy Bay is known for its stunning views over the Pentland Firth, and its colourful wildflowers blooming in May and June. It’s on the tip of the northern coast just west of John o’Groats, between Thurso and Durness; turn off the main A836 to Strathy and follow the single track road to the car park, past the cemetery. The nearest town is Armadale. It’s well worth spending the full day at the bay if you have time: there are caves to explore, waves to surf in, and whales and dolphins to spot from Strathy Point and its lighthouse. You can stay the night for free at Strathy Bay’s overnight motorhome stop, run by the Highlands Council (coordinates 58° 33' 48" N, 3° 59' 56" W; postcode KW14 7SB). The stop has toilets and running water. On the bay, the Strathy East part has toilets, a car park, and an information centre. Walk from the car park to the beach back past the cemetery and over the little hill. Food is available at the Strathy Inn, just over a mile from Strathy East.

Smoo Cave

Heading west from Strathy Bay to Durness, this sea and freshwater cave is a spectacular stop for its huge outer chamber and inner cave with waterfall. Guided tours are available from 1 April seven days a week until the end of October, where you can travel to the inner chamber by boat. Advance bookings aren’t possible, as conditions inside the cave can change daily (heavy rain can mean flooding), but visitors can call 01971 511492 after 9.30am to check whether tours are running that day.
If you’re travelling out of season, or don’t want an official tour, the cave is open every day of the year, accessible via the walkway into the waterfall chamber. Get to the cave from Durness, parking at the Smoo Cave car park right by the NC500, and walking the 10 minutes to the waterfall.
Durness has plenty of options for food, including the Whale Tale café and the Smoo Cave Hotel. Park up on the clifftop overnight for amazing views at Sango Sands Oasis Camping and Caravan Site, nominated as one of the top 10 campsites in the UK by the Times newspaper (from £9.50 per adult; postcode IV27 4PZ).

Dunrobin Castle

This stately home is on the east of the NC500 route, north of Inverness and Dornoch, overlooking the Dornoch Firth. Known for its fairytale appearance and extensive, ornate gardens, it’s the most northerly of Scotland's “great houses” and the largest in the northern Highlands, with 189 rooms (postcode KW10 6SF)
Self-guided tours are allowed through some of the castle; the ticket price includes entry to the castle, its museum, the Versailles-inspired gardens and the daily falconry display by the castle’s resident falconer. The castle also has a gift shop, selling Scottish crafts and woollens, and a tea room serving soup, sandwiches, cakes, pastries and local ice cream.
The closest village is Golspie, half a mile away. As the castle is on the popular Dornoch Firth, you’ll find plenty of places nearby to stay, such as Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park above. Or drive on to Wick for a night at Wick Caravan and Camping Site, 10 minutes’ walk from the centre of Wick (from £26pn; postcodeKW1 5SP).

Chanonry Point

Also going north from Inverness (detour here on the way to Dornoch or Wick), Chanonry Point is the lookout point on Chanonry Ness, the finger of land jutting into the Moray Firth between Fortrose and Rosemarkie on the Black Isle. This is wild and remote Scotland at its best… plus regarded as the best place for dolphin-spotting on the Moray Firth. Spy them from the Point or take a boat tour to see them up close. Licensed boat trips run from Cromarty, Avoch and Inverness. Get to Chanonry Point by heading to Fortrose, turning right just after the police station to pass Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Course and arrive at the small car park beside the lighthouse. Note that it can get really busy here; you might prefer to walk to the Point from Fortrose. If you’re staying overnight, Rosemarkie Camping and Caravanning Club Site overlooks Moray Firth and is only a short walk to the lighthouse (from £8.10 per person; postcode IV10 8SE).

Corrieshalloch Gorge

One for adventurous travellers! On the other side of the NC500 from Inverness, Corrieshalloch Gorge is a mile-long box canyon with a suspension bridge and the plummeting Falls of Measach. It’s part of a nature reserve with woodland walks and plenty of wildlife to spot. The closest campsite is Ardmair Point Caravan & Camping Park (from £11 per night; postcode IV26 2TN), or you could head back to Ullapool for the night. Access the gorge 12.5 miles south of Ullapool, near the junction of the A832 and A835 close to Braemore. The site is managed by the National Trust of Scotland, and is open every day of the year with free admission. Please note that the gorge is unmanned and that only six people are allowed on the suspension bridge at any one time. Check out the best campervan sites in Ullapool.

John o’ Groats

One of the most famous landmarks in Britain, the John o’ Groats “Journey’s End” signpost features in travel photographs all over the world. To get there, drive to John o’Groats village then along the road in the direction of the ferry terminal to reach a large car park. From here, walk to the signpost past the visitor centre on the left. Food and drink options around the village and signpost include the Crafts Centre and the Knitwear Co, plus local produce at the Puffin Croft Farm Shop. In summer, a ferry operates between John o' Groats and Burwick on South Ronaldsay in Orkney. The village is also on the John o' Groats Trail, a long-distance walking trail from Inverness. Stay nearby at John o'Groats Caravan and Camping Site on the seafront (postcode KW1 4YR), where prices start from £25, or use the overnight motorhome stop by the toilets and tourist information centre (same postcode) from £10 per night. Check out some more of the best John o'Groats camping grounds.

Whaligoe Steps

ust south of Wick, the Whaligoe Steps is a manmade stairway of 365 steps sloping 250ft down a steep cliff face to the Whaligoe harbour. They were cut into the cliff in the 18th century so that local women could fetch the herring catch from the fishing boats arriving in the natural harbour formed between two cliffs.
To get to the steps, drive six or seven miles south of Wick and look for the “Cairn of Get” sign at Occumster. Turn left at the phone box and follow the road to the car park. From there, take the driveway from the edge of the car park and follow it around a stone house. Walk towards the wall to get to the steps.
For overnight stays, we recommend driving back to Wick for a night at Wick Caravan and Camping Site, or driving on to John o’Groats and using the motorhome stop or John O'Groats Caravan and Camping Site, as above.

Ullapool

Although only a small village, little Ullapool is the biggest settlement after Inverness along the North Coast 500, on the west part of the route about 45 miles northwest of Inverness. Aim to spend at least a day here: wander down to the port, take a walk around Loch Broom or Little Loch Broom, or use Ullapool as a base for detours around the Coigach peninsula and the mountains of Beinn Ghobhlach and Beinn nam Ban. Ullapool is also a starting point for boat cruises, as well as ferries to Stornoway.
Ullapool has plenty of facilities, including restaurants, shops, cafés, pubs, bike hire and an award-winning butcher’s. There’s also a leisure centre with pool, a bank, petrol stations and a pharmacy. Stay at Broomfield Holiday Park on the shores of Loch Broom overlooking the Summer Isles if you’re travelling as part of a group (from £21; postcode IV26 2UT), or nearby at Garve’s Badrallach Campsite, Bothy & Holiday Cottage (from £15, postcode IV23 2QP), a short walk from the shores of Little Loch Broom.