NC500 (north coast road)
Discussion
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?
I've done the route (kinda) in both directions. If it's your first time I'd got counterclockwise. Up the north past Inverness the views open up in a more breathtaking manner and clockwise.I intend doing the route in two weeks time.
What's the best way to do it, clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Jayho said:
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?
I've done the route (kinda) in both directions. If it's your first time I'd got counterclockwise. Up the north past Inverness the views open up in a more breathtaking manner and clockwise.I intend doing the route in two weeks time.
What's the best way to do it, clockwise or anti-clockwise?
It's the first time. I didn't know about it until I noticed this thread.
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.
There are no big hedges to worry about. 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.
Many significant parts are single track though. By that I mean significant places. e.g. Applecross, Lochinver-Kylesku section (most of it except the last few miles) and stretches further north and across the north coast. But, a lot of that isn't tight, twistym narrow, but often more like 1.5 lanes wide where two cars can get past each other easily. There are also plenty of passing places in most stretches.
Your definition of Hellish is different to mine. Last week I was on the M6-M56-A494, that was Hellish.
JM said:
There are no big hedges to worry about.
Many significant parts are single track though. By that I mean significant places. e.g. Applecross, Lochinver-Kylesku section (most of it except the last few miles) and stretches further north and across the north coast. But, a lot of that isn't tight, twistym narrow, but often more like 1.5 lanes wide where two cars can get past each other easily. There are also plenty of passing places in most stretches.
Your definition of Hellish is different to mine. Last week I was on the M6-M56-A494, that was Hellish.
You're definitely mistaken here. Lochiver - kylesku is definitely not single track although you can take a very narrow, slow and scenic road if you take a left once to leave lochinver towards the beaches like clachtoll. Eventually you end up back on a normal B road to kylesku.Many significant parts are single track though. By that I mean significant places. e.g. Applecross, Lochinver-Kylesku section (most of it except the last few miles) and stretches further north and across the north coast. But, a lot of that isn't tight, twistym narrow, but often more like 1.5 lanes wide where two cars can get past each other easily. There are also plenty of passing places in most stretches.
Your definition of Hellish is different to mine. Last week I was on the M6-M56-A494, that was Hellish.
johnwilliams77 said:
JM said:
There are no big hedges to worry about.
Many significant parts are single track though. By that I mean significant places. e.g. Applecross, Lochinver-Kylesku section (most of it except the last few miles) and stretches further north and across the north coast. But, a lot of that isn't tight, twistym narrow, but often more like 1.5 lanes wide where two cars can get past each other easily. There are also plenty of passing places in most stretches.
Your definition of Hellish is different to mine. Last week I was on the M6-M56-A494, that was Hellish.
You're definitely mistaken here. Lochiver - kylesku is definitely not single track although you can take a very narrow, slow and scenic road if you take a left once to leave lochinver towards the beaches like clachtoll. Eventually you end up back on a normal B road to kylesku.Many significant parts are single track though. By that I mean significant places. e.g. Applecross, Lochinver-Kylesku section (most of it except the last few miles) and stretches further north and across the north coast. But, a lot of that isn't tight, twistym narrow, but often more like 1.5 lanes wide where two cars can get past each other easily. There are also plenty of passing places in most stretches.
Your definition of Hellish is different to mine. Last week I was on the M6-M56-A494, that was Hellish.
JM said:
johnwilliams77 said:
JM said:
There are no big hedges to worry about.
Many significant parts are single track though. By that I mean significant places. e.g. Applecross, Lochinver-Kylesku section (most of it except the last few miles) and stretches further north and across the north coast. But, a lot of that isn't tight, twistym narrow, but often more like 1.5 lanes wide where two cars can get past each other easily. There are also plenty of passing places in most stretches.
Your definition of Hellish is different to mine. Last week I was on the M6-M56-A494, that was Hellish.
You're definitely mistaken here. Lochiver - kylesku is definitely not single track although you can take a very narrow, slow and scenic road if you take a left once to leave lochinver towards the beaches like clachtoll. Eventually you end up back on a normal B road to kylesku.Many significant parts are single track though. By that I mean significant places. e.g. Applecross, Lochinver-Kylesku section (most of it except the last few miles) and stretches further north and across the north coast. But, a lot of that isn't tight, twistym narrow, but often more like 1.5 lanes wide where two cars can get past each other easily. There are also plenty of passing places in most stretches.
Your definition of Hellish is different to mine. Last week I was on the M6-M56-A494, that was Hellish.
Happy days.
GetCarter said:
Just to put this to bed... the NC500 doesn't even enter Lochinver,
Haha, that's very true, but to say the route 'from Lochinver' makes more sense than saying 'the route from the turning just before the entrance to the Glac Mhor Industrial Estate 400yds before Lochinver'. 
What's your midgie situation like now?
GetCarter said:
Perfect car for it, as it's nice and narrow. It does look like it was filmed with a potato though 
We spent the weekend on Skye and the midgies were really bad last night and this morning.
I had the 620R on top of Bealach for the 3rd time this year, the traffic was so much busier than the last couple of times but did allow for the odd stretch of the legs.
I had the 620R on top of Bealach for the 3rd time this year, the traffic was so much busier than the last couple of times but did allow for the odd stretch of the legs.
Edited by craig2003 on Tuesday 25th July 10:42
GetCarter said:
Skornogr4phy said:
Perfect car for it, as it's nice and narrow. It does look like it was filmed with a potato though
Fair point. Converted from wmv to mov - destroying any quality!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzU8cOcuRsI
Not long for us either, heading out from the Midlands next Friday (11th Aug). Can't wait. Unfortunately we only have 4 days in total so Day 2 is a long long day from Inverness clockwise to Durness/Tongue. Should've really got a drone after that amazing footage from Carter.
Some great info and inspiration on this thread. Many thanks for all the advice...great community here. Got our midge spray too!!
We'll be travelling in an A45 AMG, Abarth 595, and VX220 (we know convoy isn't a great idea on single tracks so will be leaving plenty of space between us), be sure to say hello if you see us !
Some great info and inspiration on this thread. Many thanks for all the advice...great community here. Got our midge spray too!!
We'll be travelling in an A45 AMG, Abarth 595, and VX220 (we know convoy isn't a great idea on single tracks so will be leaving plenty of space between us), be sure to say hello if you see us !
That's me completed the entire route.
GetCarter was right about the East coast. Not much to see and I found it to be mostly commuters hurrying to get home etc. The West and North coasts are fantastic though.
I did see these three at John O Groats so the visit there was worthwhile.
GetCarter was right about the East coast. Not much to see and I found it to be mostly commuters hurrying to get home etc. The West and North coasts are fantastic though.
I did see these three at John O Groats so the visit there was worthwhile.
Edited by Steff1965 on Thursday 3rd August 06:16
Edited by Steff1965 on Thursday 3rd August 06:17
rovcallum said:
Still have trouble believing that someone would take a Mclaren on those roads - brave man!
https://youtu.be/ZUhKhQP4PBo?t=4
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