NC500 (north coast road)
Discussion
GetCarter said:
I know many locals here see speed as the issue, but I don't. (Apart from in the villages - where people REALLY need to drive at 30mph).
My problem (and I don't really have a problem... it's just an annoyance) is with:
Drivers that dive at <25mph in a NSL single track road and ignore passing places.
Drivers that drive on the wrong side of a two lane road. (I followed one yesterday, flashing to try and prevent his imminent death).
Drivers that weave all over the road pointing at hills and sheep and flowers and are completely unaware of the 4 cars behind them.
Drivers that think they are being kind by stopping on blind corners to let you pass.
Drivers that, once I have stopped on a single track road, and flashed them to come, then stop 10 seconds later and flash me.
Drivers that don't thank you when you have stopped to let pass. (That is my wife's particular annoyance - she points out that it's usually women).
Drivers that run over Lambs, Pine Martens, Red Squirrels, otters etc.. as they are utterly rubbish at using their eyes (so many deaths this year, and so sad). Pisses off the farmers no end.
Drivers that don't know how to reverse (most). That is a big problem up here, as you need to reverse a lot.
Drivers that park/camp in passing places.
Not a rant I know, but an observation, none the less.
Would agree with everything Steve has mentioned. Personally having driven the NC500 countless times the major difference this year is the volume of traffic so by default there is a higher incidence of 'numpties'. My other observation is that guys and gals with the more exotic vehicles are less likely to be the speed merchants My problem (and I don't really have a problem... it's just an annoyance) is with:
Drivers that dive at <25mph in a NSL single track road and ignore passing places.
Drivers that drive on the wrong side of a two lane road. (I followed one yesterday, flashing to try and prevent his imminent death).
Drivers that weave all over the road pointing at hills and sheep and flowers and are completely unaware of the 4 cars behind them.
Drivers that think they are being kind by stopping on blind corners to let you pass.
Drivers that, once I have stopped on a single track road, and flashed them to come, then stop 10 seconds later and flash me.
Drivers that don't thank you when you have stopped to let pass. (That is my wife's particular annoyance - she points out that it's usually women).
Drivers that run over Lambs, Pine Martens, Red Squirrels, otters etc.. as they are utterly rubbish at using their eyes (so many deaths this year, and so sad). Pisses off the farmers no end.
Drivers that don't know how to reverse (most). That is a big problem up here, as you need to reverse a lot.
Drivers that park/camp in passing places.
Not a rant I know, but an observation, none the less.
s2t said:
Photographing an event on the Bealach one day I would say the quickest vehicle up it was the Tesco van
Either that or a local in a pickup. Whilst I can appreciate the commercial side of the NC500 with the additional revenue it brings, from a selfish perspective part of the attraction of these roads/area is the remote location with quiet roads. The NC500 is ruining this for many who have enjoyed this part of the world for many years. cat220 said:
Either that or a local in a pickup. Whilst I can appreciate the commercial side of the NC500 with the additional revenue it brings, from a selfish perspective part of the attraction of these roads/area is the remote location with quiet roads. The NC500 is ruining this for many who have enjoyed this part of the world for many years.
Luckily we have 6 months of quiet. 
GetCarter said:
cat220 said:
Either that or a local in a pickup. Whilst I can appreciate the commercial side of the NC500 with the additional revenue it brings, from a selfish perspective part of the attraction of these roads/area is the remote location with quiet roads. The NC500 is ruining this for many who have enjoyed this part of the world for many years.
Luckily we have 6 months of quiet. cat220 said:
Either that or a local in a pickup. Whilst I can appreciate the commercial side of the NC500 with the additional revenue it brings, from a selfish perspective part of the attraction of these roads/area is the remote location with quiet roads. The NC500 is ruining this for many who have enjoyed this part of the world for many years.
So you want the highlands kept preserved as they are? The thing the whole NW needs is more tourism and more money coming into the economy. It's been the victim if it's own remoteness and wildness for decades much to the detriment of people trying to make a livelihood up here. The endgame for many young folks born and brought up in Wester Ross and Sutherland is to leave because they is nothing in the way of decent employment to allow them to keep a foothold here. More visitors and more money means more opportunity and less economic cleansing. towser said:
cat220 said:
Either that or a local in a pickup. Whilst I can appreciate the commercial side of the NC500 with the additional revenue it brings, from a selfish perspective part of the attraction of these roads/area is the remote location with quiet roads. The NC500 is ruining this for many who have enjoyed this part of the world for many years.
So you want the highlands kept preserved as they are? The thing the whole NW needs is more tourism and more money coming into the economy. It's been the victim if it's own remoteness and wildness for decades much to the detriment of people trying to make a livelihood up here. The endgame for many young folks born and brought up in Wester Ross and Sutherland is to leave because they is nothing in the way of decent employment to allow them to keep a foothold here. More visitors and more money means more opportunity and less economic cleansing. s2t said:
Mad Jock said:
I have said this before, but please, please do NOT attempt to set some kind of record that some spotty yoof in a Scooby will try and beat. With one or two exceptions, the road is very, very lightly policed, and I, among others, would like it to remain so.
Well said, this cannot be emphasised enough, I have seen some posts of people saying they have done the route in xx hours, that is not the point of it. For me when with the EVO journalists and guest drivers during ECOTY 2015 the common comment was they would like to return individually to spend several days just enjoying the scenery and the roads. 
Mad Jock said:
Basically, what we warned you all about is coming to pass. The sad thing is that this is happening far sooner than I anticipated. Be warned, the jungle telegraph works very well up there, and a quick phone call will produce a slow tractor and trailer on a single track road in no time at all. I'm not suggesting any kind of Wicker Man scenario yet, but a Wicker Audi might just appeal to some.
Do they have to come from Wick.....lolcat220 said:
towser said:
cat220 said:
Either that or a local in a pickup. Whilst I can appreciate the commercial side of the NC500 with the additional revenue it brings, from a selfish perspective part of the attraction of these roads/area is the remote location with quiet roads. The NC500 is ruining this for many who have enjoyed this part of the world for many years.
So you want the highlands kept preserved as they are? The thing the whole NW needs is more tourism and more money coming into the economy. It's been the victim if it's own remoteness and wildness for decades much to the detriment of people trying to make a livelihood up here. The endgame for many young folks born and brought up in Wester Ross and Sutherland is to leave because they is nothing in the way of decent employment to allow them to keep a foothold here. More visitors and more money means more opportunity and less economic cleansing. towser said:
I was born and brought up in NW Sutherland and had to leave as the only "opportunities" available to me at the time were Dounreay or a job with the council or the forestry. I've since been able to manipulate my life to a point where I can spend most weekends back home - but it's been a long struggle and one I resent. Even now I have family well past their 30s living in caravans because, as you say, the second home market if squeezing them out of having a proper home. I still maintain that if there are more visitors to the NW then there are more chances for young people and Sutherland natives to either take a punt at starting their own business to satisfy a growing tourist market or more employment in general to help people make ends meet and maybe compete in the property market. Preserving it in aspic for the sake of occasional visitors is very wrong.
We've had young folk setting up outdoor activities company & yacht charter in the past year in Shieldaig. They would have gone bust within months 20 years ago, but both are doing pretty well. Cheap flights to Inverness, better roads east to west, the internet and Harry Potter have all contributed. And the NC500 of course - though most doing that don't stop long enough to take to the sea in a canoe. Having said that most kids round here end up on fish farms. The most dead end of jobs.
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 28th May 12:28
towser said:
cat220 said:
towser said:
cat220 said:
Either that or a local in a pickup. Whilst I can appreciate the commercial side of the NC500 with the additional revenue it brings, from a selfish perspective part of the attraction of these roads/area is the remote location with quiet roads. The NC500 is ruining this for many who have enjoyed this part of the world for many years.
So you want the highlands kept preserved as they are? The thing the whole NW needs is more tourism and more money coming into the economy. It's been the victim if it's own remoteness and wildness for decades much to the detriment of people trying to make a livelihood up here. The endgame for many young folks born and brought up in Wester Ross and Sutherland is to leave because they is nothing in the way of decent employment to allow them to keep a foothold here. More visitors and more money means more opportunity and less economic cleansing. As GetCarter mentions, flights back into Inverness should be a big help in getting people to the area.
towser said:
I was born and brought up in NW Sutherland and had to leave as the only "opportunities" available to me at the time were Dounreay or a job with the council or the forestry. I've since been able to manipulate my life to a point where I can spend most weekends back home - but it's been a long struggle and one I resent. Even now I have family well past their 30s living in caravans because, as you say, the second home market if squeezing them out of having a proper home. I still maintain that if there are more visitors to the NW then there are more chances for young people and Sutherland natives to either take a punt at starting their own business to satisfy a growing tourist market or more employment in general to help people make ends meet and maybe compete in the property market. Preserving it in aspic for the sake of occasional visitors is very wrong.
From what I have seen land and property prices in Caithness and Sutherland are still very reasonable s2t said:
From what I have seen land and property prices in Caithness and Sutherland are still very reasonable
Depends on your income and where you're located. The village I was brought up in has a small handful of properties that are lying empty that could be bought for reasonable £s if the owners were willing to put them up for sale...they need need major renovation work though. The houses that do come up for sale average £120k and tend to go to second home owners or the buy to let market. Average house price in Moray was approx £140k back in 2014. I'd argue there's more and better paid employment in Moray than Sutherland.
towser said:
Depends on your income and where you're located. The village I was brought up in has a small handful of properties that are lying empty that could be bought for reasonable £s if the owners were willing to put them up for sale...they need need major renovation work though. The houses that do come up for sale average £120k and tend to go to second home owners or the buy to let market.
Average house price in Moray was approx £140k back in 2014. I'd argue there's more and better paid employment in Moray than Sutherland.
I wasn't referring to Moray, my roots are in Caithness and noticed at the weekend you can buy a 3 bedroom house in Thurso for c£60k...to me that is not excessive. Likewise plots of land out John O Groats way start from £20k. That was what I was basing my comments on. I do not know where you are referring to. There may be 'more' employment available in Moray but likewise more people chasing the jobs, granted there will be probably be greater variety. Anyway it is my perception rightly or wrongly those that live in remote areas do so for reasons beyond the £ in the pocket ie they look at the whole lifestyle picture too. Those that move away are seduced by greater earning potentialAverage house price in Moray was approx £140k back in 2014. I'd argue there's more and better paid employment in Moray than Sutherland.
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