500 miles of pure escapism

Welcome to your essential guide to the ultimate road trip Scotland has to offer, the North Coast 500 (or NC500), which showcases its not-to-be-missed highlights. An unforgettable adventure awaits you, when will you begin your journey?

There are few things in life more pleasurable than jumping in your car with family, friends or on your own and heading for the open roads of Scotland.

ESCAPISM

This feeling of pure escapism and freedom is something Scots can achieve any time of the year as we have around 35,000 miles of roads just waiting to be driven.

ATTRACTIONS

To celebrate this, we bring you an essential guide to the ultimate Scottish road trip, the North Coast 500. Inside this guide to the 516-mile route, which is growing in popularity, you will discover attractions to enjoy along, and around, the route including landmarks to see, destinations to visit and places to stay, as well as some of the best beaches to take in as you venture round this northern loop.

TOURING

What is great about this journey is that it can be enjoyed in part, or in its entirety, but the choice is yours. They say NC500 is best enjoyed over five to seven days, but for those who want to take in as much as possible in a quicker time, completing the route is possible in as little as three days. You could spend a long weekend touring the NC500 this spring, or take a week to soak up the sights on this scenic Scottish treasure.

CAUTION

If travelling in winter, extra caution should be taken in this part of the country because of its winding, unmarked roads and its unpredictable weather. Before you set off, read your drivers’ safety information on page 8, which pre-warns you about potential hazards you may encounter on the world-famous route.

TOURISM

When touring, remember to shop local, eat local and spend local, as Highland businesses thrive on tourism and offer a warm welcome to all who travel this much-loved route. This iconic coastal drive may only have been established five years ago, but it has fast become the must-do route in the UK, if not in Europe.

What is great about this journey is that it can be enjoyed in part, or in its entirety... the choice is yours