NC500 (north coast road)

[mallygreen]

Just completed another loop, prob the best one yet for weather and traffic. Slight detour down the Tongue to Lairg road, forgot how fantastic it is, single track but the surface is really good with great visibility, only met 3 cars on this section!

[Turn7]

That Car though......

[Drive Blind]

Hi,

I don't have time to do the full NC500.

Can anybody advise a 1 day loop starting and finishing in Inverness ??

[Janluke]

Drive Blind said:

Hi,

I don't have time to do the full NC500.

Can anybody advise a 1 day loop starting and finishing in Inverness ??

I'd be thinking a loop around Applecross and onto Ullapool and back. Approx 250miles slightly shorter if you don't take the leg up to Ullapool

So

Inverness, Garve, Lochcarron, Applecross,Fearnmore, Kinlochewe, Drumchork, Ullapool, Inverness

[Drive Blind]

Brilliant, thanks

[GetCarter]

Unless you really want to visit Ullapool, I'd skip the up/down bit and turn right when the A832 meets the A835 and head back towards Inverness. It's a busy bit of road and not particularly enjoyable.

Also when you reach 'F' at Kinlochewe, you might want to turn right drive 2 miles, then turn round and drive back. Reason:

[S2red]

Stunning image

[andym1603]

Drive Blind said:

Hi,

I don't have time to do the full NC500.

Can anybody advise a 1 day loop starting and finishing in Inverness ??

Another good one with good scenery
Inverness-Lairg-Ullapool

[mallygreen]

Drive Blind said:

Hi,

I don't have time to do the full NC500.

Can anybody advise a 1 day loop starting and finishing in Inverness ??

Depends on what you`re after, be it best scenery or best driving roads, the west has by far the best scenery. But If you`re after some spirited driving roads as I said the Lairg - Tongue section although single track is great, I think I met just 3 cars on the whole 38 mile section. The first 15 miles of A9 out of Thurso is also pretty quick, rest of the A9 not much to speak of although Dunrobin Castle is defo worth a visit (I like my castles).

[Drive Blind]

thanks for the suggestions - plenty to think about

[Tye Green]

inverness - ullapool - kylelescu - laxford bridge - lairg - bonar bridge - achandunie - evanton -dingwall - inverness

take a detour to Lochinver for pasties on the way!

the section from Ullapool to Laxford bridge is fast, quiet, smooth and full of stunning scenery - possibly the driving best road in UK!

[AJB88]

Really wish I lived closer, loved doing the NC500 last year. If I was to set off right now just to get to Inverness would take 9 hours.

[BrotherMouzone]

Turn7 said:

That Car though......

+1

@mallygreen

What a great car in which to do road trip!

[5 In a Row]

Can anyone tell me how busy things are north of Inverness?

The missus and I are hoping to head up to Kinlochbervie from Fife next week in our (small, Jap taxi based) campervan.

[towser]

5 In a Row said:

Can anyone tell me how busy things are north of Inverness?

The missus and I are hoping to head up to Kinlochbervie from Fife next week in our (small, Jap taxi based) campervan.

Lots of campervans along the North Coast at the moment - considering the school's aren't out yet it's certainly busier than it was last year in my view. Lots of antisocial benaviour again sadly....

[5 In a Row]

towser said:

Lots of campervans along the North Coast at the moment - considering the school's aren't out yet it's certainly busier than it was last year in my view. Lots of antisocial benaviour again sadly....

Thanks, might just chance it.

[mikeiow]

5 In a Row said:

towser said:

Lots of campervans along the North Coast at the moment - considering the school's aren't out yet it's certainly busier than it was last year in my view. Lots of antisocial benaviour again sadly....

Thanks, might just chance it.

Just finished LEJoG, including riding up from Lairg, staying at The Crask Inn and heading on to Bettyhill & along the top to JoG.
I’d say it wasn’t too busy: & that’s from a pedalling perspective!
Saw a good few m/bikes too. Stunning scenery!

[GetCarter]

In case anyone is coming tomorrow, 175 bikes will be on the road for about 6 hours, starting in Shieldaig, heading north at about 6 a.m. (Celtman Triathlon).

[UmpaLoompa]

GetCarter said:

In case anyone is coming tomorrow, 175 bikes will be on the road for about 6 hours, starting in Shieldaig, heading north at about 6 a.m. (Celtman Triathlon).

Mate of mine is doing this. Apparently 40mph cross winds today making pre-race recce on the bike tricky. And that's if the jellyfish don't get you first...

[GetCarter]

UmpaLoompa said:

GetCarter said:

In case anyone is coming tomorrow, 175 bikes will be on the road for about 6 hours, starting in Shieldaig, heading north at about 6 a.m. (Celtman Triathlon).

Mate of mine is doing this. Apparently 40mph cross winds today making pre-race recce on the bike tricky. And that's if the jellyfish don't get you first...

Could you tell him/her from me, they are a complete nutter. This is not the right way to spend 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning!

Edited by GetCarter on Friday 11th June 17:42