The NC500: Our Blog
Discussion
ONtheROCS said:
Top effort. Excellent write up. It's just a shame that the NC500 starts/finishes in Inverness and has to pass through the boring NE corner bit (Wick/Thurso)!
The "boring" bit being, the numerous beaches or the sea cliffs and coves or the historic sites and castles or the unique 'flow-country'? 
Tickle said:
Nope, did nothing to the DC2 apart from keep it in good condition, felt fantastic as standard, sold it a couple of years later for a couple of hundred more than I bought it for.
The journey up to Scotland is not to bad for myself, probably only 4hrs to the first nights stop. It's just the thought of 4hrs of predominantly motorway in a S1 111s Elise, no radio, loud, hot, with a close ratio gearbox.... However; it's for them aforementioned points why I want to get to Scotland for a few days in it
Oh, luckily the Royal was not on my list of stop overs!
A standard DC2 is fantastic, but I am biased when it comes to Hondas *blushes*The journey up to Scotland is not to bad for myself, probably only 4hrs to the first nights stop. It's just the thought of 4hrs of predominantly motorway in a S1 111s Elise, no radio, loud, hot, with a close ratio gearbox.... However; it's for them aforementioned points why I want to get to Scotland for a few days in it
Oh, luckily the Royal was not on my list of stop overs!
I think 4 hours is a healthy stint, our journey was far too long and we were lucky we opted for an earlier start to factor in multiple stops - it also helped with the Comms too; radios really helped the communication between each car. The Elise must've been amazing out there!
I would like to take the opportunity to say with 'that' hotel, we took one for the team - you guys can have the good fortune of never going to it!!
giveitfish said:
Have had 5 trips around the north highlands now but still enjoyed reading that, made me remember what it was like driving there for the first time.
My first trip back in 2000 was an endurance test, Bradford -> Kyle of Lochalsh -> Thurso -> Bradford in an Impreza. 1200 miles in 3 long days of driving, in October at that.
In 2000 I also stayed at the Royal in Thurso. It was grim then and it sounds like it's only got worse. Such a shame as there are so many lovely places to stay up there.
Wow a veteran! I must say, I don't think I will ever experience a 'wow' moment with the scenery quite like the NC500 ever again, hands down a beautiful and tranquil place to be.My first trip back in 2000 was an endurance test, Bradford -> Kyle of Lochalsh -> Thurso -> Bradford in an Impreza. 1200 miles in 3 long days of driving, in October at that.
In 2000 I also stayed at the Royal in Thurso. It was grim then and it sounds like it's only got worse. Such a shame as there are so many lovely places to stay up there.
They must've been huge driving stints! Any tips on keeping the endurance going?
And agreed, grim would've been a polite way of saying it when we went so from the sounds of it, it really has gotten worse. For future reference, what are the good/great hotels around there, so we can keep an eye out for it when we decide to do it again? Perhaps next time - we'll let the girls do the accommodation bookings
sjabrown said:
Glad you enjoyed the roads up our neck of the woods. Hotels are variable: there are a number that seem stuck in the 1970s/80s with regards to room decor, food and service. But there's also a number of stunning places to stay out there (GetCarter knows of several in his patch). I forget how good the roads are; until I hit the M74/M6 heading south!!
Oh mate, I have probably said it several times in the blog and on the forums, but it really was a truly unforgettable experience. Last year's Run Against The Sun was amazing in different aspects - but this one was one for the cars and cameras for sure!Come to think of it, I don't know how far we were from Thurso but I recall driving through some really twisty roads and out of nowhere it looked like some amazing spa resort hotel tucked away in the trees, annoyed with myself that I've forgotten the location and the name of the place, but it seemed like it would have been an absolute gem!
Red Devil said:
Mid to late April/early to mid May: before all the campervans/mobile homes arrive en masse
Another reason to go early in the year - https://stv.tv/news/features/1388044-midge-explosi...
Or late September/early October after most of the tourists (and the midges) have buggered off.
3 days is far too short. Aim for 5 or 6. ~250 miles is the max I would attempt in a day.
More than that means you don't have time to explore or appreciate the scenery.
Thank you so much for the information! Another reason to go early in the year - https://stv.tv/news/features/1388044-midge-explosi...
Or late September/early October after most of the tourists (and the midges) have buggered off.
3 days is far too short. Aim for 5 or 6. ~250 miles is the max I would attempt in a day.
More than that means you don't have time to explore or appreciate the scenery.
ONtheROCS said:
Top effort. Excellent write up. It's just a shame that the NC500 starts/finishes in Inverness and has to pass through the boring NE corner bit (Wick/Thurso)!
Thank you for taking the time to read the write up! I would say there are far worst driving places to be than the corner bit your speak of! Such as the A9 with the 10000000000000000 SPECS cameras! Kesler said:
Come to think of it, I don't know how far we were from Thurso but I recall driving through some really twisty roads and out of nowhere it looked like some amazing spa resort hotel tucked away in the trees, annoyed with myself that I've forgotten the location and the name of the place, but it seemed like it would have been an absolute gem!
From the description is sounds like it might have been The Torridon.If so, a long way from Thurso and not that easy to see from the road - https://goo.gl/maps/hyqSu1wy4sr
As for a gem, I don't doubt it, but it had better be considering the room rate plus dinner at £60 (or more) per head!
Far too rich for my blood: I can manage very nicely for nearly six days for that amount of wedge.
I'll probably be making my next foray later this year. It will be my 10th trip from the far South.
The magic never fades and there is always somewhere I have yet to go or to see/do.
As a famous Scottish person said: "there is no such thing (in Scotland) as bad weather; only the wrong clothes!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xys_YS0HeY
Yipper said:
Good report. Good to see crowded Britain still has some semi-wilderness left, where sheeps can roam free, multi-channel TV or fast Web is rare, and old-world hotels with limited facilities still exist.
On a sour note -- not sure why you found killing a duck "funny". Comes across as moronic, tbh.
I'm Hardeep, and the owner of the DC2 that killed the duck. I still have horror flashbacks now, it was a horrific moment but sadly there was nothing I could have done to avoid it. Sorry if it caused any offence.On a sour note -- not sure why you found killing a duck "funny". Comes across as moronic, tbh.
Great write up Andy, need to start planning the next one soon!
Nice write up!
We did the NC500 a couple of weeks ago, pretty sure they must have been your skidmarks in the carpark by Kylesku Bridge!
It was an amazing trip, as others have said the roads were deserted and so much fun. We camped the whole way round and I would highly recommend it. We stayed in some beautiful campsites (Sango Sands in Durness being an absolute peach) and facilities were always good and people very friendly. Plus it saved a fortune compared to hotels. 100% we'll go again.
We did the NC500 a couple of weeks ago, pretty sure they must have been your skidmarks in the carpark by Kylesku Bridge!
It was an amazing trip, as others have said the roads were deserted and so much fun. We camped the whole way round and I would highly recommend it. We stayed in some beautiful campsites (Sango Sands in Durness being an absolute peach) and facilities were always good and people very friendly. Plus it saved a fortune compared to hotels. 100% we'll go again.
lb3nson said:
We stayed in some beautiful campsites (Sango Sands in Durness being an absolute peach) and facilities were always good and people very friendly.
A stone's throw from a cracking beach as well.https://drive.google.com/open?id=13Zffy3sb_yQ4GoQx...
It can get crowded though
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1NdzZzYkDXfVRb8rF...
Another excellent one is Ceannabeinne, further east near Rispond.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IAWZ2ZuTuLiLAZqw...
Going at the times of year I do there has never been more than two people on either of them.*
Probably because many people don't equate sunbathing and swimming with the Highlands.
* Those I have encountered Ceannabeinne have mostly been clad in a wetsuit and lugging a surfboard.
It always seems to be sunny in Durness, at least when I have been there.
Last September was the exception: the first time in 10 trips that I have encountered bad weather.
I waited it out by getting a chocolate fix at Balnakiel.
When I emerged the torrential rain had stopped and the sun was starting to break through.
The NC 500 is a tourist board confection and not a road a la Route 66. You don't have to follow its exact course and there are many fabulous roads which are not included and some awful ones which are. I certainly wouldn't choose to stay in hotels in towns - any towns, let alone Thurso or Inverness . There are some wackily awful hotels in the Highlands , if not as bad as some of the simply dreadful places I stayed in during my early ventures in 80s and 90s but there are some absolute gems too - and far more than there used to be .
I'd recommend people to take an interest in where they are - there are few roads and so you don';t need a sat nav (if you do you shouldn't be allowed out by yourself) and it's far more rewarding to plot your route old style , and notice which mountains etc you're seeing .
The first thing for newcomers - and I was one once - is to realise Scotland is a big place , and a very different country to England. And north of the Great Glen, hardly anybody lives there . Which is wonderful for views, roads and wildlife . But remember some people do live there, and other people are there to enjoy it for other reasons . And that means not driving like a dick - which a minority of NC500 drivers do,and spoil it for the rest of us .
I'd recommend people to take an interest in where they are - there are few roads and so you don';t need a sat nav (if you do you shouldn't be allowed out by yourself) and it's far more rewarding to plot your route old style , and notice which mountains etc you're seeing .
The first thing for newcomers - and I was one once - is to realise Scotland is a big place , and a very different country to England. And north of the Great Glen, hardly anybody lives there . Which is wonderful for views, roads and wildlife . But remember some people do live there, and other people are there to enjoy it for other reasons . And that means not driving like a dick - which a minority of NC500 drivers do,and spoil it for the rest of us .
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