NC500 (north coast road)
Discussion
Rocco1 said:
Whats the average speed mph you guys travel on the NC500
Most of these are on the route. You can decide what speed you'd probably do:http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
https://youtu.be/GvDDnmgATuQ
Enjoy the run we have done a few and over this route it can be a hoot, be careful on the achnasheen section as its frequently staked out - as a group from SCD found out the next day (they can by torridon as we were assembling minus a couple of cars as a result)
Edit : YouTube link not working alternate link here https://www.tartantarmac.com/porsche-gt3-and-frien...
Enjoy the run we have done a few and over this route it can be a hoot, be careful on the achnasheen section as its frequently staked out - as a group from SCD found out the next day (they can by torridon as we were assembling minus a couple of cars as a result)
Edit : YouTube link not working alternate link here https://www.tartantarmac.com/porsche-gt3-and-frien...
Edited by shocks on Monday 1st February 09:38
Evening all :-)
Now that i have booked hotels for NC500 drive i am wondering how will my TVR Sagaris fair on the NC500 route
The Sag has a 4" clearance at best from ground do you guys think it will be fine?
My other option is to take the Diablo but that seems too wide,the Scud has similar ground clearance as the Sag.I also have a Porsche 964 turbo which is very user friendly (but a little boring in comparison to Sag lol)
Whic car is best suited for the NC500?
Thank you
Now that i have booked hotels for NC500 drive i am wondering how will my TVR Sagaris fair on the NC500 route
The Sag has a 4" clearance at best from ground do you guys think it will be fine?
My other option is to take the Diablo but that seems too wide,the Scud has similar ground clearance as the Sag.I also have a Porsche 964 turbo which is very user friendly (but a little boring in comparison to Sag lol)
Whic car is best suited for the NC500?
Thank you
Rocco1 said:
Evening all :-)
Now that i have booked hotels for NC500 drive i am wondering how will my TVR Sagaris fair on the NC500 route
The Sag has a 4" clearance at best from ground do you guys think it will be fine?
My other option is to take the Diablo but that seems too wide,the Scud has similar ground clearance as the Sag.I also have a Porsche 964 turbo which is very user friendly (but a little boring in comparison to Sag lol)
Whic car is best suited for the NC500?
Thank you
Tiv or the Porker in my opinion, Wide can be a problem on the single tracks (when you meet an artic). 4" clearance isn't a problem, but 'overhang' at the front can be an issue on tight hill corners.Now that i have booked hotels for NC500 drive i am wondering how will my TVR Sagaris fair on the NC500 route
The Sag has a 4" clearance at best from ground do you guys think it will be fine?
My other option is to take the Diablo but that seems too wide,the Scud has similar ground clearance as the Sag.I also have a Porsche 964 turbo which is very user friendly (but a little boring in comparison to Sag lol)
Whic car is best suited for the NC500?
Thank you
BTW, watch out - the krauts are coming
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 4th February 14:24
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 4th February 17:27
GetCarter said:
Tiv or the Porker in my opinion, Wide can be a problem on the single tracks (when you meet an artic). 4" clearance isn't a problem, but 'overhang' at the front can be an issue on tight hill corners.
BTW, watch out - the krauts are coming
Thank you BTW, watch out - the krauts are coming
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 4th February 14:24
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 4th February 17:27
I did the NC500 route last weekend as I had a couple of days off. It's just as I expected from having done it all before (just not at once)...
Basically, the west and north is fantastic, but by the time you get to Thurso, you might as well fill up with 97, turn around and go back the way you came, because Dounreay to Inverness via A9 is the dullest motoring Scotland has to offer. It's a tourist-stop route at that stage, not a driver's route. Plenty good stop-offs, but the roads suck!
If you want driving, turn around at Thurso and go backwards. In 3 days you'll have plenty time. I did the whole route, plus 100+ miles at each end to and from the start point, in 2 days between 9am-6pm, with LOADS of spare time for stops for photos, lunches, coffees, fuel. I also plod along very slowly whenever there's a sign of civilisation. No point upsetting the locals.
As of Feb 2016, there's 99 octane at Tesco Inverness, then 97 at Ullapool and Thurso Gleaners. In between there's only 95 in a few places.
At all times of year, beware of sheep and goats on the road, especially spring when the little ones haven't learned the green cross code yet!
The Ceilidh place, Ullapool is a great stopover.
Lochinver Pie Shop is a favourite lunch stop, or takeaway.
The Steading Bistro in Gairloch has good coffee and cakes, but I didn't try the meals. Looked good though. Log stove and sofas.
Basically, the west and north is fantastic, but by the time you get to Thurso, you might as well fill up with 97, turn around and go back the way you came, because Dounreay to Inverness via A9 is the dullest motoring Scotland has to offer. It's a tourist-stop route at that stage, not a driver's route. Plenty good stop-offs, but the roads suck!
If you want driving, turn around at Thurso and go backwards. In 3 days you'll have plenty time. I did the whole route, plus 100+ miles at each end to and from the start point, in 2 days between 9am-6pm, with LOADS of spare time for stops for photos, lunches, coffees, fuel. I also plod along very slowly whenever there's a sign of civilisation. No point upsetting the locals.
As of Feb 2016, there's 99 octane at Tesco Inverness, then 97 at Ullapool and Thurso Gleaners. In between there's only 95 in a few places.
At all times of year, beware of sheep and goats on the road, especially spring when the little ones haven't learned the green cross code yet!
The Ceilidh place, Ullapool is a great stopover.
Lochinver Pie Shop is a favourite lunch stop, or takeaway.
The Steading Bistro in Gairloch has good coffee and cakes, but I didn't try the meals. Looked good though. Log stove and sofas.
Last September we took a 911GT3RS Cayman GT4 Aventador Ferrari McLaren around the NC500 without any real issues except a puncture on the 911 which necessitated a c500 mile round trip to Aberdeen for a replacement tyre. The other decision we made was not to take the Aventador over the Bealach.
It is a pity the Torridon Hotel is where it is as is only c100 miles from start/finish. Can recommend Myrtle Bank hotel at Gairloch
It is a pity the Torridon Hotel is where it is as is only c100 miles from start/finish. Can recommend Myrtle Bank hotel at Gairloch
Durness.... Holiday spot for John Lennon along tine ago The McKays Hotel stayed there a few years ago believe they also have a bunk house as well and visit Smoo Cave a must stop on the way ,
If you have time leave the car at John o Groats and take the ferry to Orkney for the day fascinating island and well worth the visit having travelled so far north.
If you have time leave the car at John o Groats and take the ferry to Orkney for the day fascinating island and well worth the visit having travelled so far north.
Edited by woodysnr on Sunday 21st February 22:28
TartanPaint said:
As of Feb 2016, there's 99 octane at Tesco Inverness, then 97 at Ullapool and Thurso Gleaners. In between there's only 95 in a few places.
That's exact;y what I wanted to know, thanks. Given my intended car only runs on '99 and can do about 160 miles on a tank driven reasonably conservatively, fuel is an issue.Is the legal limit not 20 litres in a jerrycan? If so, I might struggle?
Anyway, enjoy the run OP, Mr Carters pictures are fantastic, hope the weather bodes well..
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