Critique/Tips for my NC500 Route - 6 nights - Supercar

[dng992]

Will be going in McLaren. Aim is to make multiple stops and take in the sights. Spirited drives in a few parts but that won't be the focus

Drafted up a route map here
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Pm_VVz...

General itinerary with main attractions for the day listed below. Ofc may stop at anything that seems interesting. Driving times assuming no stop but I have kept it quite 'reasonable?' mileage per day given my tour intention :

Day 1: Drive up London to Edinburgh (where best to stay around here - probably no point being in the city for just an evening and a morning?) - 640km/7 hours

Day 2: Edinburgh to Iverness - 224 3h40
Old military road Glenshee

Day 3: Iverness to Bettyhill - 327/4h40
Dunrobin castle
Whaligoe Steps
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
Duncansy Stacks / Bay of Sannick – White beaches in Scotland/ John o’ Groats sign

Day 4: Bettyhill to Ullapool - 174 3h
Smoo cave
Durness beach

Kylesku Bridge

Loch na Gainmhich - wailing widow falls

Day 5: Ullapool to Ardaneaskan - 190 2h50
Coastal roads and explore Ardaneaskan early

Day 6: Ardaneaskan to Fort Augustus - 200 3h45
Plockton

Eilean Donan - The iconic most photographed castle in Scotland

Lochness

Day 7: Fort Augustus to Glasgow (drop off passenger) - 258 4h20

Glen etive - skyfall location road

Any tips/advice welcomed - will be first time on NC500 and do not expect to be able to make this trip anytime soon - so trying to maximise my plan

1) Skipped Drumberg loop - due to car - also from what I heard a slow section. Can't see it all
2) Day 1 is getting from London to ~Edinburgh area
3) How much is there to see on the roads from Ullapool to Ardaneaskan(where Im staying the night as booked already) - I have tried to give more time to Day 5 doing that route for leisurely stops, but that means my Day 6 is now looping back a bit on itself to cover the Applecross pass (From Fearnmore and doing that loop) - advice on planning here?
4) Day 6 - Included Loch ness stop - just because
5) Day 7 - Included Glencoe/Glen Etive area - skyfall e.t.c
6) Where to stay on first night up from London - Edinburgh? where to stay on last night near Glasgow?

Edited by dng992 on Saturday 18th May 14:21

[paddy1970]

Have you got the car lift option car or not?

[dng992]

paddy1970 said:

Have you got the car lift option car or not?

Yes - car lift. Also a 570s generally pretty good clearance. But ofc I would aim to avoid the roads where its clearly going to be a big issue. Any that come to mind or from my route?

[DB4DM]

I wouldn't drive a Mclaren in Edinburgh, the city appears anti-car and the road surfaces are appalling with deep potholes

[Matt..]

If you can stop somewhere in Assynt I’d suggest a quick walk up a hill like Stac Pollaidh. I don’t recall what the road is like to it though.

[ConnectionError]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[lizardbrain]

The dramatic stuff is all in the NW

[Yahonza]

Braid Hills hotel in Edinburgh, avoids the city centre and is just off the A702. Plus you can go back onto the bypass to get to the M90 to get to the A9 at Perth. There are potholes everywhere up here but Embra and the Lothians have some of the worst - best keep out of the city centre.

[oneandone]

When we did it last year we stayed at the Hilton by the Edinburgh airport. Easy to get to and plenty of parking.
The bus stops outside the hotel if you want to go in to town.

Edited by oneandone on Sunday 19th May 09:06

[gdr]

Glen Etive road was a miserable goat track last couple of times I was down, and that was in a VW Up GTI. Narrow, bumpy and potholed. I only use it to access the mountains which is worth it if you are into hillwalking. I don't get the Skyfall thing (or indeed the many Outlander locations that bring the selfie crowds) I'm afraid. I still love the A82 through Glen Coe, gets very busy so be on it early.

[Steve_H80]

Newcastle to Edinburgh you do not want the A1 (unless you're missing the London traffic experience), aim for the A697, it's quicker, quieter and more bends.
Where the A697 meets the A68 south of Edinburgh there is the Carfraemill Hotel that is quiet good and would avoid going into the city centre.

[2 GKC]

Lunch at Kylesku Hotel overlooking the loch

[Rough101]

Glen Etive on the Fleming estate will mean you have to take to the dirt to let others pass, it’s a slow single track affair.

[jasonrobertson86]

Stay in Striling/Perth/Crief hydro/gleneagles(if feeling flush) for parking then go over to Pitlochry, up to braemar so you are getting both ski centres to Inverness instead of the borefest A90 (or do these roads on the way back). You cannot avoid them!

[littleredrooster]

As a broad-brush comment on your route, I would suggest that some of your journey times are very optimistic!

The roads you are describing are often (usually...) narrow, bumpy, single-track affairs that require frequent stops to let convoys of motorhomes/school buses/logging wagons come through. If you can get an average speed of 40mph, you are doing very well indeed!

We've been holidaying in NW Scotland since the 1970s, long before the NC500 was invented, and the infrastructure has changed very little but the traffic has multiplied by a factor of about 100. Imagine driving the Bealach na Baa and not seeing a single vehicle coming the other way...we did!

[sherman]

Whats your budget for staying in/around Edinburgh?

I would stay somewhere on the outskirts.
President Biden stayed at the Dalmahoy last time he was in the country for COP26 for instance.
https://www.dalmahoyhotelandcountryclub.co.uk/?gad...

Edinburgh airport is a 24/7 operation. The planes can land at any time so will still be noisy if your a light sleeper.

If you get to Edinburgh between 3pm-6pm it will be a carpark and will take you about an hourcto get that last few miles to your hotel.
A late breakfast snd leaving after 9.30am will make your progress north much easier too.

When up in Durness its rude not to go for some hot chocolate.
https://www.cocoamountain.co.uk/

[thepritch]

I don’t know much about the NW, but know the NE inside out. If you’re planning on doing sightseeing and you had time, I’d add in on your day leaving Edinburgh :

Come up to Glenshee and through as planned. But keep going past turn off and stop at Ballater for a coffee. It’s a lovely lovely village. Then take the single track road to Loch Muick, as the view from just beyond the visitor centre is just so beautiful (20min walk). It feels pretty wild there with nice views up to Lochnagar. My favorite place in ‘East’ Scotland.

Go back to Ballater and retrace a couple of miles, and connect to your Tomintoul road from eastern junction to Bridge of Gairn and carry on as you were.

Edited by thepritch on Sunday 19th May 13:20

[coppice]

OP - PM me with a contact email and I will send you my 'Not the NC 500 ' Guide based on decades of trips to the NW of Scotland and about that place as well as the roads .

[Olivergt]

Some good info there.

I'll be up there next week. Planning to stay Fort William and Inverness areas, won't be doing the fill nc 500, but hoping to do the Ullapool? kylesku? Roads as well though.

Will be 2 cars, a 20 year E46 and a 23 year old Micra. We won't be setting any records!!

[5 In a Row]

If you're going for lunch at Kylesku make sure you book.