Scotland’s ULTIMATE North Coast 500 Travel Blog Itinerary
North Coast 500 I set out on the ultimate Scotland roadtrip with my husband and two dogs to enjoy the freedom of the long open road in July of 2020. The NC500 starts in Inverness and circles all the way to the most northerly coastal point in John O’Groats. The total distance is 516 miles in total, which is where the name comes from. The Highland scenery was as beautiful as one would imagine. The driving challenge along the single-track country roads and hairpin beds were quite the adventure (I drove the entire way since Phillip had a broken ankle and couldn’t drive in a cast). From the picturesque beaches and lakeside town to the stunning castles and hillsides, there is so much history to take in at every turn of the journey. If you want to experience Scotland at its best, then the North Coast 500 has got to be on your list! From Inverness, travelers have the option to head west towards the Applecross peninsula before taking the long winding roads up north, or you can travel north-east through the coastal landscapes of the Black Isle towards Wick and John O’Groats. We decided to travel anti-clockwise after reading about how the driving would be more downhill in the trickier parts of the route going this direction. We completed the trip in two weeks, with a few detours off path including the Isle of Skye. At least 5-7 days is needed, but the more time you have, the more time you’ll have to enjoy the beauty of all your stunning surroundings. Campervan There is no better method of transportation for this roadtrip than a campervan. With a campervan, you don’t have to worry about booking hotels in advance and having to get to a certain spot by a certain time. Campervans allow you to travel at your own pace and pull over when you’re ready to sleep. I rented from Capricorn Campers in Norwich, which was the closest location to my house that I found. I chose to rent closer to home so that we could go back home and load it up with all our necessities, as well as the dogs, before heading to Scotland. We hired the Star Campervan, which seats and sleeps 2-4 people. It came equipped with an elevating roof, gas, solar panels, electric hook up cable, mini fridge, 2 burners, oven, fresh and waste water containers, sink, and a mini-grill. The back seats reclined to a bed to sleep in at night and the top had a bed, although it was too tight to sleep adults comfortably. The main feature it did not come with was a toilet and shower, but we were comfortable enough to get cozy with nature. However, we decided that when we build our own campervan, these are things that we will want to include. The owners of Capricorn Campers were extremely friendly and communicated with us really well. We definitely recommend checking them out if you are planning to rend a campervan in England or Scotland. Wild Camping I’m sure you’re wondering where we went to the bathroom and took our showers. Let’s just say we got really close with nature and used a lot of baby wipes to freshen up with. We had the option to book campsites with these amenities, but honestly we preferred wild camping to get a real sense of nature. If you don’t mind sacrificing the usual day-to-day comforts and conveniences and want to explore more areas of Scotland, then wild camping is for you. We felt that it was a great way to discover remote parts of the stunning landscapes and get really close to nature. Wild camping is legal in Scotland and basically just follows a “leave-no-trace” rule. Here are some things to consider when wild camping: Tips Overview Day One – Leeds Before setting off on our journey, we picked up our campervan from Capricorn Campers in Norwich. We headed back home to load it up with our luggage, bed linens, kitchen supplies, and of course our dogs. We then drove toward Scotland. The drive time from our house in Thetford to the start of the NC500 in Inverness is 9 hours and 15 minutes, so we knew we were definitely going to break it up and stop somewhere on the way. Leeds Our first stop was in Leeds, which is the largest city in the county of West Yorkshire in England. It was a nice area to get out and stretch our legs and have some dinner. We ate at a pizza restaurant by Leeds Town Hall. After visiting Leeds, we drove a bit further and then found a place to sleep for the night. The welcome centers are extremely expensive to park at overnight, so we just drove on a backroad near the Scotland border and parked at a layby on a farm road. Day Two – Glasgow & Stirling Glasgow We took one more day to get to Inverness, stopping at Glasgow and Stirling on the way. Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland’s western Lowlands. It’s famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city’s 18th-20th century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it’s a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, and National Theatre of Scotland. Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis Glasgow Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and is the oldest building in Glasgow. Get a stellar view by going behind the Glasgow Cathedral and walking up to the Glasgow Necropolis, a Victorian cemetery where 50,000 individuals have been buried. Stirling Another city worth visiting on the way to Inverness is Stirling, which is 26 miles north-east of Glasgow. Stirling Castle At the heart of the old town, medieval Stirling Castle sits on volcanic rock. You get to the castle by walking up Stirling town’s cobbled main street with spectacular views over the Stirlingshire countryside. Close to the