Discussion
I know there are loads of threads on this specific topic but posting here in the hope of specific advice...
Have the opportunity to go at the end of October - what sorta weather / conditions can we expect?
How busy is it likely to be at this time - it's our half term but not sure how that corresponds to Scotland, although I guess it's the English that go up and make it busy!
We'd be taking a campavan - ten nights and it's a good 8 hour drive from where we are to Inverness, so prob 7 nights on the actual route - from what i've read this should be sufficient.
This would be our first proper motorhome trip...
Specific questions on where you actually can or can't sleep on the NC500? Recognise there are campsites that you can pay, but can you also pitch up in laybys etc in Scotland?
At this time of year, are things still open, do we need to book massively in advance if we do want to use a campsite?
Any other hints or tips for a first timer up there?
Have the opportunity to go at the end of October - what sorta weather / conditions can we expect?
How busy is it likely to be at this time - it's our half term but not sure how that corresponds to Scotland, although I guess it's the English that go up and make it busy!
We'd be taking a campavan - ten nights and it's a good 8 hour drive from where we are to Inverness, so prob 7 nights on the actual route - from what i've read this should be sufficient.
This would be our first proper motorhome trip...
Specific questions on where you actually can or can't sleep on the NC500? Recognise there are campsites that you can pay, but can you also pitch up in laybys etc in Scotland?
At this time of year, are things still open, do we need to book massively in advance if we do want to use a campsite?
Any other hints or tips for a first timer up there?
We went anti clockwise, the scenery gets better and better. It won't be very busy at that time of year, and there will be no midges. Roads are in worse condition that you think, especially as you get closer to Skye, I have never seen so many potholes or patchy road surfaces. Lots of roads are single track road, you will soon get good at anticipating when to pull over into the passing points. If you go to Skye, you will end up with locals an inch from your bumper as you try and find the bits of road between the pot holes.
Buy food and petrol when you can, there are some quite large gaps between civilisation.
Work out an itinerary before you go otherwise you will miss stuff. I really enjoyed Smoo Cave and the Whaligoe Steps, both easy to miss. Thousands of people have done this route before you, so just find an itinerary online.
The Fairy Pools on Skye are the most over hyped thing ever and have been ruined by the massive tourist carpark and gravel path that has been created. All of the photos you see online have been photoshopped, they look nothing like that in reality.
It's Scotland in October, I think rain is pretty likely!
If you go to Ullapool get fish and chips at the Delicasea Fish & Chips and not the Seaforth.
You see motorhomes parked up in car parks everywhere so I assume there are no issues parking up?
Buy food and petrol when you can, there are some quite large gaps between civilisation.
Work out an itinerary before you go otherwise you will miss stuff. I really enjoyed Smoo Cave and the Whaligoe Steps, both easy to miss. Thousands of people have done this route before you, so just find an itinerary online.
The Fairy Pools on Skye are the most over hyped thing ever and have been ruined by the massive tourist carpark and gravel path that has been created. All of the photos you see online have been photoshopped, they look nothing like that in reality.
It's Scotland in October, I think rain is pretty likely!
If you go to Ullapool get fish and chips at the Delicasea Fish & Chips and not the Seaforth.
You see motorhomes parked up in car parks everywhere so I assume there are no issues parking up?
Edited by ThingsBehindTheSun on Wednesday 17th September 13:23
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
You see motorhomes parked up in car parks everywhere so I assume there are no issues parking up?
There very much is an issue where camper vans park up unfortunately - lots of inconsiderate parking and grey waste dumping....but sadly those of us who live here have been screaming into the wind on this since the inception of the NC500I live here on the NC500. And provided much of the info and photos for the original concept (which it IS NOT what it is now! back then it was non commercial).
Weather: you'll get snow on the tops, but hardly ever on the roads. Weather will be variable. You may well get 0C overnight.
Open wise, About 75% will be open until end Oct. Some hotels /bars etc close end Sept.
NC500: east coast is a waste of time - do your research and stick to the west coast, the north and the middle.
Busy, well yes, that means meeting someone coming in the opposite direction every two minutes (in the west). Not a problem, but a bit of a pain on single track roads. (In Jan/Feb I'ts once every hour)
Don't make the mistake of parking overnight in inappropriate locations (passing places etc) as so many motorhomes do. It REALLY pisses the locals off.
This from here last month. They were there for 14 hours.
Feel free to e mail me for more detailed info. :0)
Weather: you'll get snow on the tops, but hardly ever on the roads. Weather will be variable. You may well get 0C overnight.
Open wise, About 75% will be open until end Oct. Some hotels /bars etc close end Sept.
NC500: east coast is a waste of time - do your research and stick to the west coast, the north and the middle.
Busy, well yes, that means meeting someone coming in the opposite direction every two minutes (in the west). Not a problem, but a bit of a pain on single track roads. (In Jan/Feb I'ts once every hour)
Don't make the mistake of parking overnight in inappropriate locations (passing places etc) as so many motorhomes do. It REALLY pisses the locals off.
This from here last month. They were there for 14 hours.
Feel free to e mail me for more detailed info. :0)
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 17th September 14:34
GetCarter said:
NC500: east coast is a waste of time - do your research and stick to the west coast, the north and the middle.
Nonsense. The East coast might not be as spectacular for scenery but if you've come up the West coast and are sick of idiots in campers parking in passing places to go to the beach, and you're driving something even remotely fun (which has been straining at the leash right up the West), then the road from Wick to Inverness can be a great drive. It's fast and flowing in a lot of places and if it's not too busy you can really enjoy it. Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 17th September 14:34
Dan_1981 said:
Thanks all - route-wise we were planning on going anticlockwise from Inverness, and then back down via Glencoe after the Applecross / Skye area
When you say stick to the middle - where abouts are you meaning?
The east is busy with regular roads and a fair amount of traffic. It's fairly flat and the scenery isn't that interesting. Most from here that travel up come for the dramatic scenery and empty roads. This doesn't happen much in the east. There are some lovely spots, Dornoch and Brora are lovely, but the roads are much more akin to those you'll seen in lowland Scotland.When you say stick to the middle - where abouts are you meaning?
When we say 'middle' we mean Tounge / Bettyhill or even (but not much) Thurso and travel south. There are some great roads there, and in Oct you may not see a car for miles. Unlike the A99.
Good call to include Applecross and Glencoe. Must sees.
Here's some photos from here on the west coast. (inc roads!)
https://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon2...
Again, feel free to DM or e mail and I can recommend specific routes (or just read the Highland Roads thread!).
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 17th September 17:35
Make sure you either book the motorhome into a proper site or use a proper carpark where they are allowed. Parking in passing places is a big NO NO, as is parking blocking any sort of gate - the track on the other side might look hugely overgrown but it'll be access that's needed for someone at some time possibly even mountain rescue in a hurry.
If you have enough days I'd suggest something along the lines of up the A9 but before Inverness cut off at Aviemore and go via Grantown, Dava, Nairn to Inverness (think of this as a brief taster for what's to come). Inverness up, via B9176 Struy road to Bonar Bridge, Lairg, Altnaharra towards the north coast (up the middle). Then continue anti-clockwise. Skye is beautiful but I'd agree with what someone else has posted - the Fairy Pools have been ruined. Similarly the Old Man of Storr but if you do research and the weather is amenable there are other routes to get quieter and arguably better views of the same. The ferry is a bit weather dependent but if it's running I'd go from Armadale on Skye to Mallaig then on to Fort William. Nice beaches around Arisaig. Glenfinnan Viaduct is another place that's suffered from over-tourism. The hillside to get the view of the viaduct is pretty much mud now.
Weather could be something of everything. Snow on road unlikely but might have a bit on the mountain tops. Assume at some point there'll be rain, of the heavy and horizontal variety. If you're unlucky it could be a week of rain but then you could also have a week of fresh days and blue skies.
I might sound a bit negative about the motorhome situation but irresponsible overnight parking and grey waste issues has led to the closure of a few forestry parking areas. And if you're on a single track road and a car or van is behind pull over when able - locals know the bumps, crests, potholes and corners and can carry good speed along the roads. 30mph might feel fast to you but their normal speed might well be near double that... the fastest vehicles in the Highlands are generally battered Berlingo vans!
Final tip - if you're reasonably fit and active and have decent clothing and footwear get out and explore on foot. Some of the best scenery can be found on foot and a bit off the beaten track. Most land up here has the right to responsible access.
If you have enough days I'd suggest something along the lines of up the A9 but before Inverness cut off at Aviemore and go via Grantown, Dava, Nairn to Inverness (think of this as a brief taster for what's to come). Inverness up, via B9176 Struy road to Bonar Bridge, Lairg, Altnaharra towards the north coast (up the middle). Then continue anti-clockwise. Skye is beautiful but I'd agree with what someone else has posted - the Fairy Pools have been ruined. Similarly the Old Man of Storr but if you do research and the weather is amenable there are other routes to get quieter and arguably better views of the same. The ferry is a bit weather dependent but if it's running I'd go from Armadale on Skye to Mallaig then on to Fort William. Nice beaches around Arisaig. Glenfinnan Viaduct is another place that's suffered from over-tourism. The hillside to get the view of the viaduct is pretty much mud now.
Weather could be something of everything. Snow on road unlikely but might have a bit on the mountain tops. Assume at some point there'll be rain, of the heavy and horizontal variety. If you're unlucky it could be a week of rain but then you could also have a week of fresh days and blue skies.
I might sound a bit negative about the motorhome situation but irresponsible overnight parking and grey waste issues has led to the closure of a few forestry parking areas. And if you're on a single track road and a car or van is behind pull over when able - locals know the bumps, crests, potholes and corners and can carry good speed along the roads. 30mph might feel fast to you but their normal speed might well be near double that... the fastest vehicles in the Highlands are generally battered Berlingo vans!
Final tip - if you're reasonably fit and active and have decent clothing and footwear get out and explore on foot. Some of the best scenery can be found on foot and a bit off the beaten track. Most land up here has the right to responsible access.
Dan_1981 said:
When you say stick to the middle - where abouts are you meaning?
When we drove LeJOG we went north on the B9176 to join the A836 via Bonar Bridge then took the B864 through Lairg past the Crask Inn to turn right on the B873 at Altnaharra via Syre to continue on the B871/A836 to Bettyhill and on to John O'Groats.We drove back down the east coast road, the A99 which by comparison was nowhere near as appealing. You might want to reverse our direction of travel and head south from Bettyhill; check it out on Streetview.
Dan_1981 said:
At this time of year, are things still open, do we need to book massively in advance if we do want to use a campsite?
Any other hints or tips for a first timer up there?
This was last weekend.
https://www.shieldaigcampingandcabins.co.uk
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