North Coast 500 Hotels
Discussion
My thread when we did it in the TVR back in September, states the places we stayed
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I spent a night at this place on my trip - http://www.dundonnellhotel.com/aboutus.php
Good food and good value (if basic and dated) rooms in a remote location at the head of a loch
This was the view from the car park looking up towards the loch:
Scotland April 2016 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Good food and good value (if basic and dated) rooms in a remote location at the head of a loch
This was the view from the car park looking up towards the loch:
Scotland April 2016 by giveitfish, on Flickr
david000 said:
Cheers all. I confess that I was starting to be put off the idea with the stories of huge convoys of cars and the hassle finding accommodation !
It's only occasionally that we get big convoys. (Mostly from Pistonheads!) Sept isn't too busy. Torridon Inn is a popular stop. http://torridon.comI've been on north-western parts of the NC500 recently and not seen any large convoys.
Maybe 2 or 3 cars that looked like they could be together, but nothing more than that.
As for hotels, several were mentioned previously in another thread, probably the Highlands one.
But some the usual suspects are, Torridon, Kylesku, Inver Lodge. Others I'd suggest would be MacKay's in Durness and MacKays in Wick, Tongue Hotel, Royal Marine in Brora.
Maybe 2 or 3 cars that looked like they could be together, but nothing more than that.
As for hotels, several were mentioned previously in another thread, probably the Highlands one.
But some the usual suspects are, Torridon, Kylesku, Inver Lodge. Others I'd suggest would be MacKay's in Durness and MacKays in Wick, Tongue Hotel, Royal Marine in Brora.
Thanks all for your help on this. For others, we did our trip week last, starting in Fort William (Clan Mcduff, eating at the Ben Nevis Inn) before heading North for The Torridon where we stayed in one of the Torridon-Inn rooms.
Next up was the Scourie Hotel, before heading to up and across to Tongue where we turned South for the Cairngorms area where we stopped at the Boat hotel in the Boat of Garten. The following day we took the old Military road past the Letch and Glenshee ski centers before Berwick opon Tweed where we stayed at Marshall Meadows.
Other than Fort William, we ate where we stayed.
Roads wise, The run up from Fort William was excellent and the Applecross pass and cast road well worth it. With hind sight I'd probably not bother with the Lochinver loop the following day, and would try and get further North instead maybe staying in the Duress area.
We decided to cut South at Tounge but that's a lot of single track and again with hind sight I'd probably carry on the advertised NC route before cutting on better roads.
The drive from Cairgorms past the ski resorts was superb with some lovely driving roads. Less so the A1 past Edinburgh.
A couple of pics. More on Flickr if anyone is interested.
Torridon-Beinn-Alligin
Stob-nan-Cabar
The Lecht
Next up was the Scourie Hotel, before heading to up and across to Tongue where we turned South for the Cairngorms area where we stopped at the Boat hotel in the Boat of Garten. The following day we took the old Military road past the Letch and Glenshee ski centers before Berwick opon Tweed where we stayed at Marshall Meadows.
Other than Fort William, we ate where we stayed.
Roads wise, The run up from Fort William was excellent and the Applecross pass and cast road well worth it. With hind sight I'd probably not bother with the Lochinver loop the following day, and would try and get further North instead maybe staying in the Duress area.
We decided to cut South at Tounge but that's a lot of single track and again with hind sight I'd probably carry on the advertised NC route before cutting on better roads.
The drive from Cairgorms past the ski resorts was superb with some lovely driving roads. Less so the A1 past Edinburgh.
A couple of pics. More on Flickr if anyone is interested.
Torridon-Beinn-Alligin
Stob-nan-Cabar
The Lecht
Looks great!
david000 said:
We decided to cut South at Tounge but that's a lot of single track and again with hind sight I'd probably carry on the advertised NC route before cutting on better roads.
Was it busy then? That single track is fab when it's empty, I really enjoyed it when I was there. The route from Tongue to John O'Groats and then south is nothing to write home about imho so I don't think you missed anything.^^This^^
The A836 Tongue -> Achnasheen -> Lairg certainly wasn't busy when I did it a fortnight ago today. There was nothing in sight in front of me or behind. In the entire 35 miles of single track I encountered just 3 oncoming. The NC500 is a marketing tool for tourism and the eastern side is nothing special imo. The A836 east of Melvich is a tad boring and JoG itself is dire: cluttered with families in SUVs and coach parties. Duncansby Head is worth a detour for the lighthouse and the view of the cliffs and sea stacks but that's about it. T|he A9 south of Latheron is OK if you get a clear run, but if not it can be quite frustrating. A number of blind crests and hidden dips and the sightlines are nowhere near as good as many other roads in the far north.
If you want a longer alternative try this route to Lairg (I can recommend the Pier cafe for lunch or tea). The A897 is also single track but has been very quiet each time I have used it. The tourists stay on the A836 to Thurso/JoG then the A99 to Wick. The B9176 over the Struie is a proper driver's road. Exiting onto the busy A9 can be fun and games. The traffic also backs up at the A862 Ardullie roundabout and then you get a camel train across the Cromarty bridge. I prefer to go via Dingwall and join the A9 at the start of the d/c at the Tore roundabout.
The A836 Tongue -> Achnasheen -> Lairg certainly wasn't busy when I did it a fortnight ago today. There was nothing in sight in front of me or behind. In the entire 35 miles of single track I encountered just 3 oncoming. The NC500 is a marketing tool for tourism and the eastern side is nothing special imo. The A836 east of Melvich is a tad boring and JoG itself is dire: cluttered with families in SUVs and coach parties. Duncansby Head is worth a detour for the lighthouse and the view of the cliffs and sea stacks but that's about it. T|he A9 south of Latheron is OK if you get a clear run, but if not it can be quite frustrating. A number of blind crests and hidden dips and the sightlines are nowhere near as good as many other roads in the far north.
If you want a longer alternative try this route to Lairg (I can recommend the Pier cafe for lunch or tea). The A897 is also single track but has been very quiet each time I have used it. The tourists stay on the A836 to Thurso/JoG then the A99 to Wick. The B9176 over the Struie is a proper driver's road. Exiting onto the busy A9 can be fun and games. The traffic also backs up at the A862 Ardullie roundabout and then you get a camel train across the Cromarty bridge. I prefer to go via Dingwall and join the A9 at the start of the d/c at the Tore roundabout.
giveitfish said:
Was it busy then? That single track is fab when it's empty, I really enjoyed it when I was there. The route from Tongue to John O'Groats and then south is nothing to write home about imho so I don't think you missed anything.
Not busy at all. We did it on the Friday 16th and hardly saw anyone at all. To be fair, of the single track we did it was pretty good but I'd have liked to have covered the ground a little faster. I did suspect as much about John O'Groats which is why we did the option. Maybe it was the best bet. My Wife was a bit board of Single Track by then
Red Devil said:
If you want a longer alternative try this route to Lairg (I can recommend the Pier cafe for lunch or tea).
Cheers, I'll give it a go next time david000 said:
Not busy at all. We did it on the Friday 16th and hardly saw anyone at all. To be fair, of the single track we did it was pretty good but I'd have liked to have covered the ground a little faster.
I did suspect as much about John O'Groats which is why we did the option. Maybe it was the best bet. My Wife was a bit board of Single Track by then
Ahhh, makes sense. I think single-track is best when alone in the car. I finished that section out of breath, sweating a bit and with a 1000-mile stare so I might have been trying a bit too hard lol. I don't think I ever did any great speeds but there is an awful lot of accelerate-brake-turn-repeat going on. I did suspect as much about John O'Groats which is why we did the option. Maybe it was the best bet. My Wife was a bit board of Single Track by then
I can second the recommendation for the The Pier too.
david000 said:
Not busy at all. We did it on the Friday 16th and hardly saw anyone at all. To be fair, of the single track we did it was pretty good but I'd have liked to have covered the ground a little faster.
How much faster?It's by far the quickest single track road up that way. In dry conditions you can get a proper wriggle on south of Altnaharra if you're minded to - https://goo.gl/maps/V1QFuKfX8du -
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