I’ve just returned from one of my dream trips, the NC500 in Scotland. Long-time readers will know I am a huge fan of a road trip, and exploring the Scottish Highlands of the NC500 (North Coast 500) has been the top of my list for a long time! So after a lot of research, I thought I’d put all that hard work to good use and share my NC500 itinerary with you guys! I usually share my day-by-day adventures on Instagram and TikTok these days, but some things just need more in-depth explanations, and what’s better than that than a blog! So, before I get into the 8-day NC500 itinerary, let’s first answer a couple of questions I got a lot of on this trip:
When is the best time to do the NC500?
Now, it is Scotland, so the very best time to visit is slim, but I honestly think we got it nailed down! The weather in winter is brutal, especially on the winding roads of the NC500, and it shouldn’t be attempted unless you are a confident driver and in the correct vehicle. Summer has the most reliable weather, but it can get very busy, and it’s also peak midge season! These little pests really do take over! We took a 2-week trip (the first 8 days being the NC500 before adventuring into other parts of Scotland) starting in late April, and it was the perfect timing! The weather was mostly dry and clear, the roads and campsites were relatively quiet, no midges and more room for spontaneity! I’d honestly recommend this time of year to everyone, while you still have to plan for all weathers, the quieter campsites and roads meant we could plan on the go (something you definitely can’t do in the Summer) and even had some really warm sunny days and very little rain!
How long should we take to do the NC500?
If you looked at that as a straightforward drive, it doesn’t seem like a long trip at all. But there’s so much nature, history, landscapes and more to discover, and the roads are challenging at times, so times will be at least double what you’ll find on Google Maps, especially in busy periods. The very minimum I would recommend would be 5 days; we did it in 8, which felt like the perfect amount of time for us. It allowed us to not be rushed and see so much! You could spend longer, but if you truly wanted to see every single thing and every museum, you’d be here months! 8 days is a great amount of time to really get in depth with the Scottish highlands without feeling rushed.
Which way around should you do the NC500?
Ah, the clockwise vs anticlockwise debate! I spent a long time stressing about this, but in truth, anticlockwise is the only answer. The only argument for clockwise tends to be a better view for the passengers as they will be facing the coast this way around, but as the certified passenger princess for this trip, trust me when I say this was no issue. You can see the sights perfectly, and there are plenty of viewing points throughout to pull in to for better views.
So with those few questions answered, let’s get stuck into the 8-Day NC500 Itinerary! With this Nc500 itinerary, we will focus on nature and history first and foremost with plenty of wildlife, walks (nothing too challenging), castles, waterfalls and a few museums thrown in! There are some optional hikes, but all are possible for all abilities, and I’ll let you know when there’s an option to pick between an easy walk and a more challenging one. So, without further ado are the details:
Day 1
You’ll be starting the day, undoubtedly, at the capital of the highlands, Inverness. Inverness is a small city compared to many others in the UK, but by highland standards, it’s a buzzing metropolis! Spend some time here getting supplies if you are camping or taking a campervan, and explore the area. Make sure you don’t miss Inverness Castle and possibly the Inverness Botanical Gardens as well as grabbing some food from the great variety of cuisines that are on offer here. You may also want to venture to Fort George and The Highlander’s Museum while you are so close by. Not that I am trying to get you to stray you away from the NC500 so early, but Inverness is also just north of Loch Ness if you want to venture out around the famous spot. If you are looking for somewhere to stay before you start your adventure, make sure you compare holiday rentals in Inverness on cozycozy to find your perfect stay to begin your trip!
When you are done with Inverness, head to Clootie Well, an ancient well where it is said that if you dip a natural cloth into its waters and leave it tied to a tree, any illnesses you have will leave as the cloth disintegrates. It’s a fascinating and colourful stop.
Next, head to Fairy Floss Falls for your first of what is sure to be many Scottish waterfalls! It’s a nice, short and easy route to these falls, so it’s a great one to get started on.
Finally, head to Chanonry Point, which is the place on the NC500 you are most likely to see dolphins. Head out just after low tide for your biggest chance of catching them, we were lucky and not only saw loads but closer than I ever experienced, a truly magical experience!
Day 2
Whether you are a whisky fan or not, visiting a whisky distillery is an essential part of any NC500 itinerary. I recommend booking a tour at the Glen Morangie Distillery. The process of creating whisky is really interesting, and as someone who isn’t a whisky person, I still really enjoyed it. If you’re driving, you can ask for driver drams to take the whisky from the tasting session at the end away with you (remember that Scotland has a very low drink drive limit). As far as Scottish whisky goes, Glen Morangie is also fairly mellow, so a great introduction for newbies like myself.
Next, head to Dornock Nature Reserve. There are plenty of places to stop around this area and take in the nature, and possibly do some hiking. We saw seals here, and there were some fantastic beaches that we almost had to ourselves.
Next, head to Dunrobin Castle for a look around this fascinating historic castle and grounds, parts of which seem untouched inside and have fires glowing year-round!
Then head to West Helmsdale to see the Emigrants Memorial and check out the award-winning Timespan Museum if you have the time.
Finally, head to see the remains of the Badbea Clearance Village, just a short walk from the car park. These are a must-see to understand the history of the highlands.
Day 3
Head to the Grey Cairns of Camster in Lybster for something unlike anything you will see anywhere else. These two Neolithic tombs are two of the oldest stone monuments in Scotland. Head inside as long as you don’t get claustrophobic, you have to crouch down pretty low to get in! Even if you don’t head inside, it’s still worth walking around these fascinating pieces of history.
Next, be sure to head to the famous Whaligoe Steps, the peaceful cove at the bottom is worth the thought of having to take all the steps back up!
Then it’s time for the ruins of the Castle of Old Wick and the nearby Trinkie, a natural outdoor swimming pool which is well worth a short stop.
After that, it’s time to stop at Castle Sinclair Girnigoe for some of the most impressive castle ruins you’ll see on this NC500 itinerary, a must-visit! The amount it is preserved and how it is balanced on the edge of the coast is stunning!
Drive to the car park of Duncansby next and head over for some excellent views of the truly impressive Duncansby Stacks, an amazing group of natural stacks sticking out of the sea!
From there, yes, it’s a tourist trap, but you can’t come here and not visit John O’Groats! Make sure you get the obligatory pic with the signpost, it’s also a great place to stop for a coffee or bite to eat.
While John O’Grotes claims to be the most Northernly point in the UK (this is why it’s famous after all), that claim in reality actually belongs to nearby Dunnet Head. Head here (pun intended) and check out the lighthouse to end the day.
Day 4
Start the day with an easy hike up to Castle Varrich, these castle ruins have a metal staircase with a viewing platform at the top, so it’s a great place to look out over the water and the Toungue Causeway Bridge.
Stop at the Loch Eriboll Viewpoint for amazing views over the small island and its lime kilns.
Next, head to the stunning Ceannabeinne Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland. This cove beach is surrounded by mountains, has a zipline if the weather is good, and you can even use it to set off on the Ceannabeinne Township Trail.
Now it’s time to visit one of the most famous stops on any NC500 itinerary, Smoo Cave. Do the small circular hike down and into the cave, once back up, you can see the waterfall that runs into it from the top.
Make a short stop at the John Lennon Memorial Garden as it’s nearby. I’ll be honest, it’s worth going out of your way for, but worth a short stop as it’s so close.
If you have time, head to the small Durness Deep Time museum to learn all about the area’s geology. Make sure you check out the unique shops in this cute and quirky Durness Craft Village, where it is situated. Cocoa Mountain BALNAKEIL is also here and is a must-visit for a chocolate stop (it even has really great vegan options).
Watch the sunset from the stunning Balnakeil Beach, passing the ruins of Balnakeil Church.
Day 5
Start the day checking out the stunning Oldshoremore Beach in the morning before driving to one of the best-known icons of the NC500, Kylesku Bridge. There are boat trips to a number of waterfalls from here, too.
Take the small hike to stunning Allt chrNaidh waterfall, this is going to be a very waterfall-heavy day, then take a short stop at the Drumbeg Viewpoint.
For the last trip of the day, head to another waterfall, Clashnessie Falls. This is one of the easiest to access, a nice, mostly flat walk.
Day 6
Start the day with some more castle ruins at Ardvreck Castle.
Then head to another famous NC500 location, the Bone Caves. These fascinating cave structures set in the middle of a hill offer some great views and are fun to explore. Give yourself plenty of time for the round-trip hike and to explore the area.
Do a small hike around the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve. It’s fairly steep at times, but short at just a mile. The views are excellent, and the history and just how important and unique this area is are really well presented.
Make a quick stop at the Coigach Peninsula to check out the wildlife if you have time.
End the day at the stunning Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve, another must-visit on the trip for excellent views of the gorge from its legendary foot bridge. It’s a National Trust property, so you have to pay to park unless you are a member.
Day 7
Start the day at Gruinard Beach, then why not head to the Arctic Convoy Museum nearby, a fascinating small museum.
From here, spend some time at Inverewe Gardens, which is another National Trust spot, so make sure you bring your membership if you have one. Both the house and gardens make this a stop that’s worth a couple of hours to explore.
Make a short stop at the beautiful Victoria Falls, this one is only a 5-minute walk from the car park, which is a bonus. From there, head to the Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre and choose one of the many hikes around this stunning area. There are some short and easy, and some all day and challenging, so choose wisely!
Finally, check out the Glen Docherty Viewpoint as you rest your legs!
Day 8
You’ll struggle to believe it’s already the last day of your trip! Start the day on a high with the gorgeous views at the Bealach na Gaoithe Viewpoint before heading to the Applecross peninsula. This gorgeous village offers some great opportunities for short walks and amazing views of the sea (I highly recommend grabbing breakfast here and watching the waves!). While you are here, consider checking out the Applecross Heritage Centre, this tiny museum covers local history and it’s worth a visit.
Drive possibly the most famous stretch of road on any NC500 itinerary, the Bealach na Bà mountain pass. This winding road is stunning, so take your time with it and make sure you stop at a viewpoint at the top before you head down to really soak it in.
If you have time, head to Attadale Gardens before making the trip back to Inverness to finish your trip.
So that’s my full 8-day NC500 itinerary! It worked so well for us, and I hope it does for you too! If you think I’ve missed anything, let me know in the comments. I’d love an excuse for a second trip!
This post contains sponsored links; all words and opinions are my own
