The route to the top

Scotland’s answer to Route 66 has again been named one of the world ’s best road trips.

Travel mag Wanderlust said the North Coast 500 was a scenic gem.

It f inished 11th on the guide’s selection of the best 16 one-week road trips in the world.

The magazine said: “This 500-mile road is a wild leap from Inverness into the nor t hern reaches of Scotland via coastal roads, artisan distilleries, windswept castles and lonely lochs.

“Summer is best for wildlife-spotting, while the darker skies of SeptemberApril are good for the northern lights.”

North Highland Iniaitive launched the 500-mile-plus road loop in May 2015.