Great British Road Trips
Drive our beautiful country
North Coast 500
This popular tourist route through the Scottish Highlands offers incredible scenery, great coastal landscapes and stunning views. It’s often described as Scotland’s answer to Route 66, running 516 miles from Inverness, through pretty towns and villages like
Applecross on the west coast. Make a diversion to the Isle of Skye if the mood takes you!
Cross the country and explore the rugged coastline as you travel north towards Ullapool. Ferries depart to Stornoway, the main town on the fascinating island of Lewis and Harris, so why not book a day trip and go exploring? The narrow coastal road then continues north to Durness, from where you can join an excursion to Cape Wrath, go on a boat trip into Smoo Cave, visit Balnakeil Craft Village, or walk over the sand dunes to Faraid Head, a former military base. Durness has many stunning beaches, and they’re often deserted even in the height of summer!
Continue on the northernmost coastal road, passing beautiful scenery and the late Queen Mother’s home, The Castle of Mey.
You’ll eventually reach Caithness and John O’Groats, where you can book a trip to Orkney if you wish. The Orkney Islands Maxi Day Tour is a full day coach trip, taking you to the Stone Age village of Skara Brae and past Scapa Flow, a former British naval base. You’ll see Stromness, Kirkwall, the Churchill Barriers, the mystic Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and the beautiful Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war in the 1940s.
Back on the mainland, take the road heading south along the east coast. On your way back to Inverness, do pause to explore the historic port of Wick and beautiful Dunrobin Castle, as well as enjoying the delights of Dornoch. WWW.NORTHCOAST500.COM