Planning a NC500ish route
Discussion
Myself and a pal are planning a weekend long adventure, heading off on a Friday and heading back on Sunday Morning, the current thinking is that we'll Bothy/wild camp if need be. This is the route map as it stands:
Having read many other threads on the NC500 i've decided that JOG isn't worth it. I may cut out the Lecht on the way there or back depending on time/weather. And may add in a lap of Skye as I Am rather partial to Portree - Staffin - Duntulm - Uig.
The mighty steeds are my Megane RS250 and a Leon Cupra 290.
Any changes or additions that you would make?
Having read many other threads on the NC500 i've decided that JOG isn't worth it. I may cut out the Lecht on the way there or back depending on time/weather. And may add in a lap of Skye as I Am rather partial to Portree - Staffin - Duntulm - Uig.
The mighty steeds are my Megane RS250 and a Leon Cupra 290.
Any changes or additions that you would make?
From Lairg, keep going north to Tongue, misses out a bit of the east coast A9, but since you are missing the two 'best' bits of it it's no real miss.
Add in a visit to Achiltibuie to make up for it. Take the wee coast road from Lochinver south, after stopping for a pie.
(Good camping on the shore, https://goo.gl/maps/p3koMntPLZ92 )
Add in a visit to Achiltibuie to make up for it. Take the wee coast road from Lochinver south, after stopping for a pie.
(Good camping on the shore, https://goo.gl/maps/p3koMntPLZ92 )
Chongwong said:
Having read many other threads on the NC500 i've decided that JOG isn't worth it.
Agreed.Chongwong said:
I may cut out the Lecht on the way there or back depending on time/weather.
Sacrilege! 
When we went over it in April it was a whiteout which made it 'interesting'...
Blowing a gale with drifting snow piling up on the northbound side of the carriageway.
By the time we reached the distillery at Glenlivet the sun was out and it was a normal spring day!
It was a lot more pleasant up there on my recent trip 3 weeks ago. First photo on Day 2 here.
Chongwong said:
And may add in a lap of Skye as I Am rather partial to Portree - Staffin - Duntulm - Uig.
Did it the opposite way round. Photos at the end of Day 4 here.Every time I head up to the lecht the weather is horrific, always good fun though. On my last trip up there I warped both front discs simultaneously by splooshing through an ice cold puddle with roasting hot brakes.
I find myself wondering how I survived the next corner as I didnt realise until tipping it in to a tight one XD it was a very fun day though, I do miss the clio.
I love skye, if you manage to avoid tourists and time your run between ferry sailings the northern Road + the Quirrang pass make for a pretty brilliant lap.
It was your thread that got me planning this trip actually, I'd intended to do one earlier in the year, But never got round to it. I just needed a little inspiration.
I find myself wondering how I survived the next corner as I didnt realise until tipping it in to a tight one XD it was a very fun day though, I do miss the clio.
I love skye, if you manage to avoid tourists and time your run between ferry sailings the northern Road + the Quirrang pass make for a pretty brilliant lap.
It was your thread that got me planning this trip actually, I'd intended to do one earlier in the year, But never got round to it. I just needed a little inspiration.
Chongwong said:
Ooh, that does look nice, rather glad my tent is low profile as camping by the sea can be brutal in the wind XD
That's also shaved off a little time, which means I may be able to make Skye fit more easily and grab a night at my Granny's by heading back via the A87.
This is the best route (though you miss the fab 5 sisters road and Glencoe)... but remember that it's when you do it, as much as where you do it.That's also shaved off a little time, which means I may be able to make Skye fit more easily and grab a night at my Granny's by heading back via the A87.
Have fun. (Wave as you pass).
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 5th October 18:38
Chongwong said:
Every time I head up to the lecht the weather is horrific, always good fun though.
April 2015. 
Chongwong said:
I love skye, if you manage to avoid tourists and time your run between ferry sailings the northern Road + the Quirrang pass make for a pretty brilliant lap.
Also April 2015
3 weeks ago.
You're on MY road mister so you can
right off!
Very little traffic that day. The two camper vans and a couple of cars were pretty much the only oncomers I encountered the whole way along the single track section of the A855. I stopped not very long afterwards for a comfort break and I never saw white van man and the two cars again after that. Due to many photo stops earlier in the day it was quite late in the afternoon before I even got to Uig so I decided to give the Quiraing a miss this time round.
Chongwong said:
It was your thread that got me planning this trip actually, I'd intended to do one earlier in the year, But never got round to it. I just needed a little inspiration.
Thanks. I'm not the originator of the Highlands thread though so can't claim any credit. I'm just one of the many contributors.Awaiting the report of your trip.
Regarding the wild camping, I've stopped at Firemore Beach a good few times when I've done the NC500 route. It's about 10 minutes from Poolewe and whilst streetview shows a number of caravans, everytime I've been there's been 1 or 2 other people tops. Great spot.
https://goo.gl/maps/B82PztSVpeT2
The run to Ullapool for breakfast in the morning is always fun too!
https://goo.gl/maps/B82PztSVpeT2
The run to Ullapool for breakfast in the morning is always fun too!
The trip is cancelled until summer now, however i did manage to head out on a little blast passed the Lecht and back on the Saturday.
At some point I smacked a large stone though, and punched a fist sized hole in my passenger side wheel arch liner which put a small downer on things. I'll try and get a photo of that tomorrow at some point.
At some point I smacked a large stone though, and punched a fist sized hole in my passenger side wheel arch liner which put a small downer on things. I'll try and get a photo of that tomorrow at some point.
Chongwong said:
The trip is cancelled until summer now, however i did manage to head out on a little blast passed the Lecht and back on the Saturday.
At some point I smacked a large stone though, and punched a fist sized hole in my passenger side wheel arch liner which put a small downer on things. I'll try and get a photo of that tomorrow at some point.
Some amazing roads round there. As for the NC500 route your second option misses out a great bit of road. Don't turn off for Wick at Latheron, instead head to Thurso. The road takes you along the Caussiemire, which is a fantastic 20 miles. Open, smooth and quiet. It takes you through Thurso, and then the road from Thurso to Durness is brilliant. At some point I smacked a large stone though, and punched a fist sized hole in my passenger side wheel arch liner which put a small downer on things. I'll try and get a photo of that tomorrow at some point.
Tim1989 said:
Some amazing roads round there. As for the NC500 route your second option misses out a great bit of road. Don't turn off for Wick at Latheron, instead head to Thurso. The road takes you along the Caussiemire, which is a fantastic 20 miles. Open, smooth and quiet. It takes you through Thurso, and then the road from Thurso to Durness is brilliant.
It may be because my brain is ready for bed but i think i'm totally miss-understanding the directions your giving. Any chance of a quick maps screenshot of the section you describe? Don't judge me for being dumb XDIt's obviously just me, but I thought the Quiraing Road was rubbish. There are far better roads out there, so I'd not personally worry if I missed that next time I go.
I see you've put it on hold, but hope you're still going to do it - it's the best trip I've ever done! Your amended route looks brilliant. The East coast of the highlands is rubbish, so you're better off doing exactly what you've got and diagonally cutting across.
Your current route misses out two amazing places though - Skye and Glen Coe. There is simply nothing like driving through Glen Coe, and Skye is fantastic to drive.
What car are you taking? That's pretty key to some roads I'd recommend (though I see you've got Steve in the thread already, and he is far more knowledgeable than me!).
I see you've put it on hold, but hope you're still going to do it - it's the best trip I've ever done! Your amended route looks brilliant. The East coast of the highlands is rubbish, so you're better off doing exactly what you've got and diagonally cutting across.
Your current route misses out two amazing places though - Skye and Glen Coe. There is simply nothing like driving through Glen Coe, and Skye is fantastic to drive.
What car are you taking? That's pretty key to some roads I'd recommend (though I see you've got Steve in the thread already, and he is far more knowledgeable than me!).
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