North Coast 500 itinerary:
North Coast 500 Motorhome Trip Itinerary & Highlights
Ask anyone, if you have time for only one road trip in Scotland, it will have to be the North Coast 500 (NC500).
As the undisputed ultimate 500+ mile road trip that encompasses everything from the foggy majestic beauty of the highlands to the endless glistening coastlines and more, it’s an experience you will not want to miss out on.
In this detailed 7- 9-day North Coast 500 road trip itinerary, we cover the basic details on the route you can take, an overview of the highlights along the way, and more.
How Long Does a Round Trip Take?
For the uninitiated, the North Coast 500 is a circular route that starts and ends in the city of Inverness, going all around the coastline in between.
While the route is only 516 miles long, there are plenty of attractions (and detours) you might want to explore along the way.
And because of that, we would recommend giving yourself at least a week to cover the main highlights and attractions on the route at a leisurely pace with your motorhome. While it is possible to complete it in a few short days, you risk missing out on a ton of exciting things the route has to offer, and you won’t be able to take in most of the sites if you’re main focus is just completing the route in a few days.
Is The NC500 Route Suitable for Motorhome Hires?
Yes! With so many scenic campsites and motorhome parking facilities available along the route, it is the perfect route to explore with a motorhome! The key thing to remember when evaluating if you’ll be able to drive the route in a motorhome, is that lorries are driving the route all day long supplying the remote communites you’ll be visiting, if lorries can manouver along the roads you should be fine in a motorhome. Yes there’s some roads to avoid in a larger vehicle but the main route is fine for all our motorhomes.
No more rushing to make it to a nearby town for your hotel reservation and being able to sleep and wake up to glorious sights in nature are some of the highlights of travelling the NC500 with a motorhome.
But there is one small caveat, make sure you have an experienced and confident driver who is comfortable with navigating the smaller remote single track roads that make up parts of the route.
Suggested NC500 Road Trip Itinerary For 7 – 9 Days
Day 1
Just arrived in Glasgow? Start your exciting road trip journey by picking up your pre-booked luxury motorhome from Freedom Motorhomes base near Glasgow airport, or any location (on your request subject to availability and delivery supplements)!
Then journey for a short 3-hour drive to the High Range campsite in Aviemore, where you can settle down for the night. Need to fuel up? There’s an Italian restaurant on-site for convenience and many others in the vicinity to choose from.
Want to make the most of the day? There are plenty of family-friendly activities you can consider, from white water rafting to traipsing through a forest adventure park.
Day 2
After a night of rest and getting used to the motorhome, your NC500 journey officially begins as you head towards Inverness (the “unofficial” starting point of the world-famous Scottish route).
Make a pit stop at Inverness Castle, an ancient fortress that has stood the test of time and is now a stunning viewpoint for panoramic views of the city.
Next up at the Black Isle, if you’re passing roughly 1 hour after low tide we would recommend stopping at Chanonry Point to see the Moray dolphins, indulging in a drink or two at the Black Isle Brewery (For those not driving), to taking a hike to the Fairy Glen waterfalls.
End the day at Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park situated next to the award-winning golden beaches of Dornoch and fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the waves.
Day 3
Rise and shine! Start the day early with a morning stroll or possible even a jog, down the beautiful shores of the Dornoch Firth and spend a few hours relaxing on the peaceful stretch.
Next up, aim to grab an early lunch at the nearby Dunrobin Castle tea room, followed by a tour or explore the castle grounds, watch a falconry display, and more.
Journey on to John O’Groats where you want to make a stop for that Instagram shot at the world-famous John O’Groats sign, and then park up at the Duncansby Head Lighthouse to take a walk across the field for view of the amazing Duncansby Stacks and coastline.
Before the light wanes, head on to Dunnet Bay Caravan Club nearby to rest up for the night.
Day 4
After leaving Dunnet Bay, stop for a refreshing morning walk along the quiet stretch at Farr Beach near Betty Hill. Those keen on a morning swim but not quite brave enough for the North Atlantic waters, you can head to the neighbouring North Coast Leisure Pool to stretch your muscles in the pool.
In the afternoon, explore the coastal village of Tongue. Some notable attractions include the dramatic ruins of Castle Varrich, the Moine House and The Flows, Coldbackie Beach, Strathy Beach, and the Weaver’s café & gift shop.
In the afternoon, head along to Sango Sands Oasis in Durness where you get to camp atop a cliff! Be sure to pre-book and arrive by 3pm.
Day 5
Wake up to a stunning view of the sea and get pumped up for a day of outdoorsy exploration!
As there’s so much to do in the area, you can plan to stay here for a second night.
Explore one of Britain’s largest caves, Smoo Cave for a thrilling experience you will never forget. Need another rush of adrenaline? Hop on the Golden Eagle Zipline to experience amazing oceans views from 100 ft off the ground.
Keen on something more relaxing? Head over to Clo Mor cliffs at Cape Wrath for some relaxing wildlife watching or take a leisurely coastal or inland walk in the vicinity.
As well as enjoying the amazing local beaches.
Day 6
Enjoy your drive across the Kylesku bridge, worth pulling to the side afterward for a photo opportunity.
A few miles along the road, make sure to stop at the Loch na Gainmhich Waterfall Car Park and take a trek to admire the incredible wailing widow falls.
Make a pit stop for lunch in Ullapool and then head on to Gairloch, where we would recommend stopping at Sands Caravan and Camping site.
Day 7
Head on round to Applecross (along the coastal route, avoiding the steep and curvy roads of the Bealach Na Ba if you’re in a larger motorhome) and then on to Plockton.
After a long drive in the morning, reward yourself with a visit to Eilean Donan Castle.
Finish up at Loch Ness Shores Camping & Caravanning Club Site on the banks of Loch Ness.
Day 8
There's not much point driving back to Inverness just to say you've driven every section of road on the NC500, as you’ll then be covering the same ground either doubling back on yourself or heading back through Aviemore and Cairngorms.
Instead, we would recommend heading on to Fort William, and stopping at Glen Nevis Campsite or a little further to Inver Coe campsite for the last day to take in the sights in the area.
This way, you'll be only a short 2-hour drive away from the Freedom Motorhomes base in Glasgow the following morning in time for dropping off the motorhome.
Have less time? Skip a night out at Durness to make it a 7-night itinerary. Want to take the trip at a more leisurely pace? Add another night at Gairloch to explore the area, and/or a night just further round the coast at Shieldaig.
Looking for A Luxury Motorhome Hire for Your NC500 Road Trip?
Offering a wide selection of new motorhome and campervans hires, you can be assured that you’ll find your home away from home at Freedom Motorhomes.
Simply head over to the website to check out our availability and book your motorhome hire today!