NC500 (north coast road)

[giblet]

giveitfish said:

I think there are several routes earlier in the thread.

This is roughly what I did last year in my Elise - did it clockwise and cut off the North East section because I think it's dull compared to jinking down the road south from Tongue.

https://goo.gl/maps/9GhcDk3EfP62

3 day weekend plus travelling to Glasgow from Yorkshire after work on Thursday.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/giveitfish/albums/72...

Given I've been stalking you in the 4C thread, I think these roads would be fun One change as your car is a lot faster than mine and prefers smooth tarmac you might enjoy turning right at Kinlochewe and going through Achnasheen and Garve then north to Ullapool - fast and epic but watch for speed camera vans.

I like your route, pics look great too. I just need to convince my mate to come along in his S2 Elise before he sells it. The 4C is a lot wider than the Elise -



The 4C thread is a prime example of why I shouldn't be allowed on the internet. How have you been getting on with your Elise? The last time I saw it was on that drive out when I had the XJR!

[GetCarter]

giblet said:

Is there a google maps type link that I could use for directions? Tempted to do it on my own in late August/early September.

This is the 'official' route: http://www.northcoast500.com/interactive-map.aspx

...but to be honest 'official' is a load of marketing tosh. Much of the route is a waste of time. Just take a map and drive up the west coast and along the north coast and you won't go far wrong. Don't bother with the east coast or Inverness. (Unless you like traffic).

ETA I know the west coast very well (lived here 20 years) and this would be my preferred route:

Starting at Loch Lomond... Tarbet > Crianlarich > Glen Coe > Fort William > Invergarry > Shiel Bridge > Strathcarron > Applecross > Shieldaig > Kinlochewe > Gairloch > Poolewe > Braemore > Ullapool > Drumrunie > Badnagyle > Inverkirkaig > Lochinver > Clachtoll > Drumbeg > Kylesku > Scourie > Laxford Bridge > Durness... then head south via either Tongue or Bettyhill.

Edited by GetCarter on Friday 7th July 07:44

[giveitfish]

giblet said:

The 4C thread is a prime example of why I shouldn't be allowed on the internet. How have you been getting on with your Elise? The last time I saw it was on that drive out when I had the XJR!

O/T so I'll be brief! Those deals were interesting, I might have gone for one if other things weren't going on.

The Elise has it moments but I'm loving it - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

That drive was a good one, I remember it well!

[Steff1965]

GetCarter said:

giblet said:

Is there a google maps type link that I could use for directions? Tempted to do it on my own in late August/early September.

This is the 'official' route: http://www.northcoast500.com/interactive-map.aspx

...but to be honest 'official' is a load of marketing tosh. Much of the route is a waste of time. Just take a map and drive up the west coast and along the north coast and you won't go far wrong. Don't bother with the east coast or Inverness. (Unless you like traffic).

ETA I know the west coast very well (lived here 20 years) and this would be my preferred route:

Starting at Loch Lomond... Tarbet > Crianlarich > Glen Coe > Fort William > Invergarry > Shiel Bridge > Strathcarron > Applecross > Shieldaig > Kinlochewe > Gairloch > Poolewe > Braemore > Ullapool > Drumrunie > Badnagyle > Inverkirkaig > Lochinver > Clachtoll > Drumbeg > Kylesku > Scourie > Laxford Bridge > Durness... then head south via either Tongue or Bettyhill.

Edited by GetCarter on Friday 7th July 07:44

Apart from traffic, is there nothing else worth seeing on the east coast?

[GetCarter]

Steff1965 said:

Apart from traffic, is there nothing else worth seeing on the east coast?

Well Dornoch is a nice place, and there's a nice beach at Brora - but it's a bit flat (although still pretty)... it just doesn't have the scenery or emptiness of the north and west. The real reason it's on the NC500 is just to make it circular to Inverness!

[towser]

Steff1965 said:

Apart from traffic, is there nothing else worth seeing on the east coast?

As a road the A9 down to roughly Tain isn't actually that bad and you get to take in the infamous Berriedale Braes just north of Helmsdale. The stretch between Thurso and Latheron is particularly good.

Going south from Tongue, Bettyhill or Melvich takes you through far wilder country than the east coast route, although depending on the time of day the numpty count ( read as people who don't know how to drive on single track roads ) might be quite high!

As for things to see and do on the eastern part of the route......from my post on the previous page the following are all on the east coast :

11) Timespan Centre in Helmsdale ( http://timespan.org.uk/?gclid=CNDWmuy_o9ICFQoUGwod... )
12) Dunrobin Castle near Golspie
13) If you like golf there are certainly some fantastic courses in Dornoch, Brora and Golspie ( also Durness but never played ).
14) Dornoch Cathedral and Jail.
15) Carn Liath Broch between Brora and Golspie is relatively well preserved and often bypassed ( http://www.discoversutherland.co.uk/golspie_broch.... ).
16) Big Burn Walk in Golspie is a nice easy ramble through a leafy gorge ( https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/sutherland/big-bur... ).

[Steff1965]

Thanks for the replies.

I intend doing the route in two weeks time.

What's the best way to do it, clockwise or anti-clockwise?

[GetCarter]

Steff1965 said:

Thanks for the replies.

I intend doing the route in two weeks time.

What's the best way to do it, clockwise or anti-clockwise?

Makes no real odds. Sun behind you as you drive up the west coast means clockwise best. The Bealach na Ba (to Applecross) is best done clockwise also, for views and brakes!

[GetCarter]

Steff1965 said:

stuff

Here's a link to my vid 'driving down the Bealach'. It's taken mid July, showing that it's the time of day you choose that will determine how much traffic there is ... also why it can cook brakes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYX7pWTzpg&fe...

[Davie]

GetCarter said:

The Bealach na Ba (to Applecross) is best done clockwise also, for views and brakes!

Ha, ahhh yes... have done the pass several times, mostly in some fat arsed Volvo estate loaded up with crap and I can confirm that things get a tad hot and bothered in either direction, that applies to both the brakes and occupants when said brake start to make their utter disgust known. Still, an ice cream whilst sat on the shore with the faint whiff of burnt friction material and a very nervous other half for company is a fabulous experience.

Must... MUST... get involved in this before the summer is out, though can't but help feel I'd rather not do the 'tourist' lap and instead forge off in to more uncharted territory and seek out the hidden gems which by now are probably long since 'hidden' which is a shame, however that is somewhat hypocritical of me.

Off to look at some images and a map again, whilst sat in the office in the rain... bah!

[Steff1965]

GetCarter said:

Steff1965 said:

stuff

Here's a link to my vid 'driving down the Bealach'. It's taken mid July, showing that it's the time of day you choose that will determine how much traffic there is ... also why it can cook brakes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYX7pWTzpg&fe...

Looks great. Thanks for sharing the video

[abzmike]

Got back this evening from a 5 day clockwise spin round the route as a quick home honeymoon. Starting off from home near Aboyne on Tuesday, 789.3 miles covered in all. We drove over the Lecht to Inverness and our first stop at Kinlochewe. Wednesday was a day exploring round Applecross including obviously the pass and lunch at the Inn - clear blue skies, and an amazing day. Thursday up the cost to Scourie, and then Friday a long drive round to Dornoch, back home today. Brilliant week, we were lucky with the weather, just a few showers the last couple of days.

We thought the roads were surprisingly quiet, amd we didn't get held up behind much traffic. The worst we had was having to reverse back up a single track into Lochinver three times to let a convoy of campers up a very steep and narrow section.

Hotels, food and drink were all good, and a warm welcome all round - and best of all not a single midge was spotted, maybe too early in the season. We could have taken twice the time seeing all the sights, or exploring hills and beaches more, but we will certainly be back to explore individual areas. Highly recommended.

[JapanRed]

Does anyone fancy doing the NC500 as part of a group trip sometime during August or September? I'd love to do this sooner rather than later. :-)

[Davie]

JapanRed said:

Does anyone fancy doing the NC500 as part of a group trip sometime during August or September? I'd love to do this sooner rather than later. :-)

I've done forum / club runs in the past and a lot of the time they seem end up being an en mass car arranging / picture taking at every lamp post sort of affair and thus progress can be painfully slow... so fell out of love with group runs but would love to get involved in some stuff where the driving was more important, yes pictures are part and parcel but not when they mean you cover 29 miles in 12 hours... but equally, not really keen to be part of something where it attracts the idiots who drive like they're on a suicide mission. Hence, hard these days as unless it's with mates that you know, there's always an element of the unknown involved... which is probably why I've never committed to any runs of late. Need to address that!

[GetCarter]

JapanRed said:

Does anyone fancy doing the NC500 as part of a group trip sometime during August or September? I'd love to do this sooner rather than later. :-)

Top tip. Don't do it in convoy on single track roads or you'll end up seriously hindered.

I just wrote this to share with the NC500 community (most of which won't apply here... but anyhow) :

Everyone is a driving God, and knows just how to drive on a single track road in the Scottish Highlands. But just in case you know someone that is complete crap at it… here’s 10 points to help them.

In Formula One, you get three blue flags before you need to let the faster car behind you pass. In the Highlands, it’s three passing places. Longer than that and you are going to seriously annoy a local, or a visitor who is keen to be further down the road, or a first responder, first responding. Oh and, green flashing lights means the same as blue flashing lights elsewhere.

When you do let someone pass, PLEASE don’t do it on a blind corner.

If you are approaching a car from the opposite direction, stop IN or OPPOSITE the passing place, not before or after it… or both cars will have to stop.

If you are planning to drive in a convoy of cars. DON’T DO IT. You’ll end up meeting a caravan who can’t reverse (or fit in a passing place) and it’ll add up to 15 minutes to your journey. Drive in groups of a maximum of two. Three’s a crowd. Twenty is a nightmare.

Cattle grids don’t have to be taken at 2 mph. They can support a car’s weight. Honest.

Passing places are not Picnic places. I know the words look similar, but they are different.

Even though single track roads are, um, single track, you should still stick to the left hand side of the road when taking blind corners. Especially motor cycle riders who lean into corners and can (literally) lose their head.

It’s really useful to know how to reverse. Especially when you have to reverse.

Please thank people who move out of the way for you. It’s just nice to do so.

Motor caravans with the word ‘Swift’ on the back, should remove said text immediately.

Hope that helps

ETA - I posted this on the Highland Roads thread, but might as well post here as well... Part of The Bealach na Ba this morning (in rush hour)

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 19th July 14:24

[johnwilliams77]

My conclusion: avoid single track as much as possible unless you are looking for a very early start.

Cairngorrms, Ullapool > Kylesku and some roads a bit south has more than enough fun roads. I find the stop start / aggressive / stupidity of some of the road users on single track quite frustrating (recent experience of very near head on's due to campervans going around bends far too quickly and forcing me to do emergency stops from a very sedate speed.

[JapanRed]

Thanks for the comments.

Single track roads aren't really the best for spirited driving and certainly not enjoyable when you can't see 15 foot in front of you due to blind corners and big hedges.

Is the NC500 really this bad? I drove the west coast of Scotland in a motorhome last month and it didn't seem as bad as some of the comments suggest. Yeah there are a few hellish roads such as applecross but most of the roads I saw weren't single track.

It would really put me off if a significant portion was single track.

[GetCarter]

JapanRed said:

Is the NC500 really this bad?

As you can see from the photo above, if you drive early or late, you'll meet very little traffic. 90% of drivers are fine. It's *some* holiday makers who don't understand single track roads or can't reverse that cause the problems (and large convoys). I met a woman a couple of weeks ago who refused to reverse about 10 yards into a passing place, so I and another car had to reverse about 150 yards into a passing place. She didn't even thank us as she passed.

You just have to be aware that people can do daft things at this time of year. Out of 'the season' there is never a problem.

[towser]

JapanRed said:

Thanks for the comments.

Single track roads aren't really the best for spirited driving and certainly not enjoyable when you can't see 15 foot in front of you due to blind corners and big hedges.

Is the NC500 really this bad? I drove the west coast of Scotland in a motorhome last month and it didn't seem as bad as some of the comments suggest. Yeah there are a few hellish roads such as applecross but most of the roads I saw weren't single track.

It would really put me off if a significant portion was single track.

Was caught behind a dawdling dutch tourist from just after Lairg to Syre ( a distance of approx 30 miles on single track ) last year....despite me flashing to let me past they just kept on their merry way....they then had the audacity to flick me the bird when they eventually pulled over at Syre church. Probably an extreme example of ignorance but I would imagine not uncommon.

[GetCarter]

towser said:

Was caught behind a dawdling dutch tourist from just after Lairg to Syre ( a distance of approx 30 miles on single track ) last year....despite me flashing to let me past they just kept on their merry way....they then had the audacity to flick me the bird when they eventually pulled over at Syre church. Probably an extreme example of ignorance but I would imagine not uncommon.

A mate runs a guest house in Shieldaig. He got caught behind someone that wouldn't let him pass all the way from Kinlochewe to Torridon. He was so stressed he stopped at the Torridon Inn and had a dram. Got home 20 minutes later and the car was parked outside his guest house. The couple were standing there checking in. He got their cases and chucked them into the street and told them never to step foot in his property again