North Coast 500

[ilikeAstons]

I'm thinking of doing this in May. There would be four of us in 2 x DB9's.

Has anyone done it? I presume this trip must have been driven by a few Aston owners on here.

Wondering who you booked through, and how was the trip.

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

[C997]

ilikeAstons said:

I'm thinking of doing this in May. There would be four of us in 2 x DB9's.

Has anyone done it? I presume this trip must have been driven by a few Aston owners on here.

Wondering who you booked through, and how was the trip.

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Done it? :-) I grew up on the North part of the route, my V12V frequented it regularly and the new V12VSRM will be there from late summer.

Bookings I cant help with as I just stay in my house but if you want some recommendations I can probably help in areas.

The route is fantastic in places, slow up with West coast and very fast down the East coast (if you want it to be). My suggestion would be don't try to do it too quickly and get frustrated at the slow progress on the West coast. Take your time and enjoy it.

cheers,

[BigScotty]

A group of us done the NC500 last year, after we'd done the highland hoon.

We didn't book through anyone, and just picked a couple of hotels along the route and organised our stays with them.

We had fantastic weather and everyone throughly enjoyed themselves.

[bentley01]

Any recommendations for hotels/inns with decent parking?

[MollyGT3]

bentley01 said:

Any recommendations for hotels/inns with decent parking?

We were on Scotty's trip and would recommend The Tongue Hotel (yes, Tongue is the place name - nothing weird going on here!) - its in the middle of the far north coast line. Also used by Petrolhead Tours when they are up there so parking is obviously well up to the job

[divetheworld]

None of the roads on this route caused any problems. Only downside, is Applecross pass is better going up if you want to drift the arse out a bit.

https://spark.adobe.com/page/fgzJ5/

Hotels:
Kinnettles Castle Hotel - Meh. Looks better than it is. Some rooms are a long way better than others.
Bunchrew House hotel - Must stay. Really good place to stop.
Forsshouse hotel - Excellent staff, cant fault it.
Inverlodge hotel - Looks crap, actually superb.
Torridon, meh.... Nice grounds and building but not worth going out of your way for. Parking was in a gravel patch round the back with trees that drop sticky stuff. Really.
- http://www.gille-brighde.com/ near Torridon is a great place to eat. You'll poo your pants driving down the road to get to it but its worth it. Not a rough road but narrow and some blind crests that will have you clenching.
Barcaldine castle - B&B castle, well worth a stay. Faultless service. Good restaurants in the area for evening meals.
Tigh na Sgiath Country House Hotel - Awesome place to stay. No evening meal (B&B), but order a takeaway and they will set the dining room out for you and serve it. Cool!

start - Kinnettles Castle Hotel, Forfar DD8 1TR.

133 miles
1. Leave on B9127 towards Douglastown onto A94. Turn right onto A954 towards Alyth.
2. Turn right at roundabout onto A926. Turn right on A93 (Braemar) towards waypoint PH10 7BB.
3. Stay on the A93 (Old military Road) until right turn to B976 (Tomintoul) at waypoint AB35 5TL
4. Turn left at end onto A939. Follow through the Cairngorms and have fun!
5. End of A939 turn left, and keep left onto A9 towards Perth and Inverness via waypoint PH26 3NT
6. Follow Satnav to Bunchrew House hotel via fuel stop IV2 3RH. Hotel at IV3 8TA

118 miles
1. Leave hotel right onto A862 following Satnav via A9 to waypoint KW10 6SF.
2. Fuel stops at 39miles - IV19 1EH, 105 miles - KW12 6UW
3. Stop at Dunrobin Castle KW10 6SF.
4. Dunnet Bay Distillery KW14 8XD
5. Fuel stop near destination at KW14 8PP
6. Follow Satnav to Forsshouse hotel KW14 7XY

118 miles
1. Leave hotel on A836 following Satnav to IV27 4PN
2. Fuel stops at 25miles - KW14 7SP, (crappy) 66 miles - IV27 4PN, 91 miles IV27 4SX
3. Turn right onto local road at Tongue onto A838 to Durness.
4. Follow Satnav to Inverlodge hotel IV27 4LU

122 Miles
1. Leave hotel onto A837 toward Ardvreck Castle, IV27 4HN
2. Fuel stop at 37miles - IV26 2SX, 77 miles - IV22 2NB, 92 miles - IV21 2BL
3. Follow A837 until Ledbeg/Ledmore and turn right onto A835 towards Ullapool
4. At Braemore Junction, turn right on A832 towards Gaireloch
5. Just here is Corrieshalloch gorge (waterfall).
6. Follow Satnav to waypoint IV22 2NB
7. At Kinlochewe, turn right on A896 towards Torridon
8. Arrive at hotel IV22 2EY

[bentley01]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated

[xcentric]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BQrSHoUyqnfSKjNR...

has route we took and the places we stayed, all fine. Did it in a D4 - partial write up here, must finish it sometime.....
http://5goadventuring.com/2016/10/heading-north/