The NC500: Our Blog

[Lotobear]

Did this back in May - we were blessed with fantastic weather and it was a wonderful experience.

The Bettyhill Hotel was very comfortable and we had an excellent meal there. The Kylesku fish restaurant was very good too.

[JS2808]

What an awesome write up!

[Kyodo]

Thanks for sharing. Loving the cows and the healthy eating!

[Kesler]

topless360 said:

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.

Great write up Andy, need to start planning the next one soon!

Thanks mate! Jonny said Wales next year?

[Kesler]

lb3nson said:

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 consider camping (most likely everyone in the Audi as it's basically a hotel on wheels) but our other halves preferred the 'luxury'. They probably feel camping was a better option now!

[Kesler]

billzeebub said:

Lovely write up chaps. Hope to do this myself later in the year

Thank you for reading it, hope your adventure is as awesome as I remember ours!

[Kesler]

Steff1965 said:

Excellent write up. I'm doing the route over three days starting tomorrow

Amazing, how did your trip go?

[Kesler]

Bowen86 said:

Enjoyed that, thanks for sharing.

Thank you for reading it, just reading back on it brings all the memories (and the horrors) back to us!

[Kesler]

GetCarter said:

First pic is nice.

HAHA thanks!

[Kesler]

jimmybell said:

brilliant!

great write up - we're doing a half-NC500 starting on Friday, have decided on some time on Skye and cairngorms instead of the JOG leg. Looks like you all had a great time.

Thanks Jimmy - how did your trip go?

[Kesler]

JS2808 said:

What an awesome write up!

Thank you for taking the time to read it!

[Kesler]

Kyodo said:

Thanks for sharing. Loving the cows and the healthy eating!

Thank you for reading it, the helian coo were amazing, so chilled - and that made us all chill out too!

[Nick78]

Just read through your thread what an awesome trip and great cars looks like you all had an unforgettable experience was nice to here the guy from Dundee made it across for your last night !

Myself and my best mate and our wives are going up to do the nc500 in September this year cant wait !!

[Kesler]

Nick78 said:

Just read through your thread what an awesome trip and great cars looks like you all had an unforgettable experience was nice to here the guy from Dundee made it across for your last night !

Myself and my best mate and our wives are going up to do the nc500 in September this year cant wait !!

Thanks for your kind words, Nick! It really was an unforgettable experience, the superb sunshine we're getting today really reminded me of that time we hooned it round Loch Ness! Callum making it over for the last night really topped off an epic road trip, I couldn't of wished for a better time out!

Have a great time with you do go, you'll have to tell us all about it!

[MikeDrop]

Excellent thread and write up! Me and 2 other PHers done South Wales - Land's End - John O'Groats - NC500 - Edinburgh - South Wales in October last year and, my, what a journey!

Here's a short video montage of our trip for those who are interested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdCaObKwLHo

[Kesler]

MikeDrop said:

Excellent thread and write up! Me and 2 other PHers done South Wales - Land's End - John O'Groats - NC500 - Edinburgh - South Wales in October last year and, my, what a journey!

Here's a short video montage of our trip for those who are interested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdCaObKwLHo

Thanks Mike! That's a lovely montage, definitely liking the feel of that - what a journey that must have been!

[mustdash]

MikeDrop said:

Excellent thread and write up! Me and 2 other PHers done South Wales - Land's End - John O'Groats - NC500 - Edinburgh - South Wales in October last year and, my, what a journey!

Here's a short video montage of our trip for those who are interested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdCaObKwLHo

Nice video Mike. Where was the dam at about 1m in to the vid?

[MikeDrop]

Kesler said:

Thanks Mike! That's a lovely montage, definitely liking the feel of that - what a journey that must have been!

Thanks Kesler - was incredible! We're doing similar, but to the 'Ring via 5 European countries

mustdash said:

Nice video Mike. Where was the dam at about 1m in to the vid?

Thanks. It's Claerwen Dam in Elan Valley, Rhayader. You may recognise it from such Top Gear episodes, they dragged a Land Rover up the side of it

ETA - can't take credit for the video, was a mate of mine Mick (Wunderbolf on here) that sifted through tens of thousands of timelaps images and hours of footage to edit the montage!

Edited by MikeDrop on Monday 23 April 11:25

[LosingGrip]

This has made me want to do it.

Does anyone have a rough idea on costs and how long it will take? I'm down in Dorset, so need to add another day or two each side ideally.

[GetCarter]

LosingGrip said:

This has made me want to do it.

Does anyone have a rough idea on costs and how long it will take? I'm down in Dorset, so need to add another day or two each side ideally.

Dont do the NC500 from Dorset. Do this: M5, M6, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Fort William, Applecross, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Aultbea, Ullapool, Lochinver, Kylesku, Durness, Tongue - then find your way back however you like. You'll miss all the worst bits, and take in loads that the NC500 misses.

As for time - 4 days min, (stop by Loch Lomond up and down) 6 days good, 20 years best - I'm just coming up to 20 years, but can't seen to find the way back

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 23 April 16:06