NC500 (north coast road)
Discussion
Blown2CV said:
carparkno1 said:
Quick Q... what's the phone reception like on the NC500 as a whole? Pal and I are debating cheap 2way walkie talkies as we drive, or should we just connect on bluetooth with our phones?
i'd use the radios just for fun factor but it will also be useful i am sureWe’re giving 11 days to the NC500 travelling East to West starting a week today. Thanks again to GetCarter (and others) for the guidance, and the great weather reporting images posted on Twitter most mornings which have us salivating while waiting to go.
Travelling E/W means we get the best bits in week two, though the Orkneys, Smoo Caves and other inland places do look to counter the oft dismissed Eastern section of the route - we’ll see eh!
Accommodation wise, again we have been guided by advice on here. Our catholic selection promises a range of experiences, including an old railway carriage (Sleepeez), the Ceilidh Place Hotel, a wooden pod on the north coast, the Kylesku Hotel, and Craigvar B&B in Strathpeffer. Add in stops at the Betty House Hotel, The Aultbea Hotel and Anchorage B&B near John O’Groats to complete the (not in order) list.
Loch Ness on the way up or down is part of the plan, as is the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, Glencoe and Loch Lomond. The list will be added to or changed depending on what we see and the changing weather.
The week of waiting ahead could be a long one...........
Travelling E/W means we get the best bits in week two, though the Orkneys, Smoo Caves and other inland places do look to counter the oft dismissed Eastern section of the route - we’ll see eh!
Accommodation wise, again we have been guided by advice on here. Our catholic selection promises a range of experiences, including an old railway carriage (Sleepeez), the Ceilidh Place Hotel, a wooden pod on the north coast, the Kylesku Hotel, and Craigvar B&B in Strathpeffer. Add in stops at the Betty House Hotel, The Aultbea Hotel and Anchorage B&B near John O’Groats to complete the (not in order) list.
Loch Ness on the way up or down is part of the plan, as is the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, Glencoe and Loch Lomond. The list will be added to or changed depending on what we see and the changing weather.
The week of waiting ahead could be a long one...........
carparkno1 said:
Quick Q... what's the phone reception like on the NC500 as a whole? Pal and I are debating cheap 2way walkie talkies as we drive, or should we just connect on bluetooth with our phones?
We do the NC500 3/4 times a year and we’re heading back in May. Phone reception is 50/50 we use Mitex General walkie talkie radios, good for half mile range due to the terrain 
ian2144 said:
We were up at Inverness to get the car serviced, so we made it a mini road trip of it. With an overnight at Dornoch, then cross country to Lochinver (Pie Shop) then south via Ullapool then back home through Inverness. 
Canisp from Loch Awe. Edited by ian2144 on Monday 25th March 09:39
https://goo.gl/maps/QtoGoFKKpuS2
Just wanting to beat Red Devil to posting that.
Set off from Inverness last Monday heading anti clockwise. As discussed on here, and with a few exceptions, the drive is mainly straightforward A road stuff, enlivened by some spectacular castles and locations (Wick castle was well worth the diversion), with the visit to Cromarty (the coffee hut by the two car ferry terminal with diy toast and superb coffee was a great place to stop) deserving a special mention.
Coco Mountain yesterday put any weight lost back on - thxs for the tip Slipstream 1985! - a good place to put on any itinerary.
A couple of racers practising blind bend overtakes on the twisty bits before Bettyhill proved interesting; bet the guy in the fluorescent Lotus needed new undies after he shaved oncoming traffic which had not been part of his master plan...
Talmin to Kylesku today, looking forward to the drive and the scenery as the roads, and cars, get more interesting. Picture is of the approach to the causeway no Tongue, and a pit stop with chickens at Bettyhill. Beautiful country with amazing weather - hailstone just stopped, now bathing in full sunshine (tho’ 5 degrees C)
Coco Mountain yesterday put any weight lost back on - thxs for the tip Slipstream 1985! - a good place to put on any itinerary.
A couple of racers practising blind bend overtakes on the twisty bits before Bettyhill proved interesting; bet the guy in the fluorescent Lotus needed new undies after he shaved oncoming traffic which had not been part of his master plan...
Talmin to Kylesku today, looking forward to the drive and the scenery as the roads, and cars, get more interesting. Picture is of the approach to the causeway no Tongue, and a pit stop with chickens at Bettyhill. Beautiful country with amazing weather - hailstone just stopped, now bathing in full sunshine (tho’ 5 degrees C)
Edited by connoisseur21 on Saturday 30th March 09:00
Route booked for next month with our two muscle cars
Up to Inverness after work, then:
Day 1 Inverness to Bettyhill (via Wick/John O Groats)
Day 2 Bettyhill to Garve (Kylesu Bridge etc)
Day 3 Garve to Fort William (with Applecross etc)
Drive home next morning.
Should be a good one, we are there for driving and decent food, then I plan on a 10 day trip later in the year with the family.
Up to Inverness after work, then:
Day 1 Inverness to Bettyhill (via Wick/John O Groats)
Day 2 Bettyhill to Garve (Kylesu Bridge etc)
Day 3 Garve to Fort William (with Applecross etc)
Drive home next morning.
Should be a good one, we are there for driving and decent food, then I plan on a 10 day trip later in the year with the family.
carparkno1 said:
Route booked for next month with our two muscle cars
Up to Inverness after work, then:
Day 1 Inverness to Bettyhill (via Wick/John O Groats)
Day 2 Bettyhill to Garve (Kylesu Bridge etc)
Day 3 Garve to Fort William (with Applecross etc)
Drive home next morning.
Should be a good one, we are there for driving and decent food, then I plan on a 10 day trip later in the year with the family.
Watch out for the lambs (mostly around Shieldaig & Applecross), which will be all over the road at that time of year (and are VERY stupid at that age).Up to Inverness after work, then:
Day 1 Inverness to Bettyhill (via Wick/John O Groats)
Day 2 Bettyhill to Garve (Kylesu Bridge etc)
Day 3 Garve to Fort William (with Applecross etc)
Drive home next morning.
Should be a good one, we are there for driving and decent food, then I plan on a 10 day trip later in the year with the family.
Meanwhile... driving down Glen Torridon towards Liathach:
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 3rd April 16:15
We just got back on Saturday night from it.... was more like the NC900 after a few detours.
I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
shibby! said:
We just got back on Saturday night from it.... was more like the NC900 after a few detours.
I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
I spotted you. I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
GetCarter said:
shibby! said:
We just got back on Saturday night from it.... was more like the NC900 after a few detours.
I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
I spotted you. I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
GetCarter said:
shibby! said:
We just got back on Saturday night from it.... was more like the NC900 after a few detours.
I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
I spotted you. I was in a very bright Lotus, but it wasnt fluorescent, so happy it wasnt me that almost binned it.
We are only 2 hours from the area and have done it all in various stages but not all in 1 go, we did it over 3 days and took in Skye also. There was a surprising amount of cars up there doing the same thing, with some nice metal on show.
We did it in an Orange Exige and Grey M2, i think at the size of those cars, it was about right for some parts. Some of the larger cars i think the road would feel quite small in parts, especially the single track type stuff in the West.
Its quite amusing to be driving through these valleys, and just appear at a random castle on an island somewhere out of nowhere, and pristine beaches/bays. All worth hauling on the brakes and going for an explore.
Weather was decent enough, although it looks to have changed for the worse in the past few days.
I hope your trip was good. Edit - Never mind, i just looked at your profile and you live there! ha!!!
Edited by shibby! on Friday 5th April 09:15
I don't think I ever shared pics of our 2016 trip round the NC500 in our 78 Plymouth. We went to Orkney on the way round too.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/grantgb/albums/72157...
North Coast 500 by Nick Grant, on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/grantgb/albums/72157...
North Coast 500 by Nick Grant, on FlickrGassing Station | Scotland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff