The NC500 - Scotland

[strummagnet]

Hi all.

Thinking about a gentle sojourn around the north of Scotland in 2024 and looking at the NC500:

https://www.northcoast500.com/top-ti...500-adventure/

Wondering if any of you guys have taken this 'tour' in your 8's, if so, what was the experience?

[HPsauce]

I'm one who's very sceptical about the NC500 concept, not least because it's an area of Scotland we've had many LONG holidays in and the idea of belting round it in a couple of days seems total heresy to me.

Some we've done fly/drive and others we've done in an S8. We've covered much, but not all, of the NC500 but also endless other roads off/near it that are just as or more rewarding.

There are nonetheless some wonderful roads up there and "back in the day" boy could you "make progress" at times. But now, with the NC500, there's a lot more traffic and much more concern about how it behaves.

So do go, but take your time, maybe stay several days in one area. Don't see completing the NC500 as an objective, it's just a way of getting you into a spectacular landscape.

And no, I never found a road I couldn't get the S8 along, though some were "challenging". See "The wee mad road" through Inverkirkaig which is a diversion off. I mentioned it here in a thread a while back, somewhere.... https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/310472

This was a trip in 2012, in the first S8. Quinag behind:

[Markiii]

did it a couple of years plus an couple of planned diversions over 7 days. Took the Lambo and it coped fine so the S8 will be a breeze. Only bit I'd question is the Applecross pass which can be a tadge awkward. However its not particularly great to drive anyway so better to come in from the north using the flat and much better roads

[HPsauce]

Applecross is great, but you do have to go over the pass (Bealach na Bà), that's really the main point! No bother in an S8
I imagine in a Lambo your two problems would be visibility (being low) on the rollercoaster minor roads and possibly turning circle.
First time we went to Applecross there was no road in from the North, it was the pass or nothing! Stayed in the hotel (pub).
The coastal route joining up is "relatively" recent, the pass opened just over 200 years ago.

[strummagnet]

Some good insight. Thanks.

My sister did this with a VW camper club and they spent 3 weeks, so planning for a similar time period.

[The_Laird]

Me, Brian and David did it in our S8s around 5 years ago (I think) or thereabouts. We were blessed with pretty good weather, so the scenery was visible; the beaches were spectacular. However, the road surfaces were awful and the 20” wheels and low profile tyres were pretty unforgiving. I’ve heard a few reports that, recently, it’s a bit busy and plagued by litter (and worse in some spots!), but who knows. I’m glad we did it - one item in the bucket list ticked off.

[The_Laird]

We also did the Old Military Road which, IIRC, runs from south of Aviemore to Stirling (David and/or Brian will correct me if I’m too far out). That was a great drive in the S8s. And hardly a single other car to be seen along the way. I’m told that there are parts where you might be tempted to exceed the legal speed limit, but I couldn’t comment on that, of course

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by strummagnet

they spent 3 weeks, so planning for a similar time period.

Well worth that time and more.
Though, unless you like really long driving days , a week of that will be taken up getting there and back! One reason we've often/regularly flown to Inverness and hired a car, certainly for any one-week trips.

[strummagnet]

Any advice on best time of year to do this? Thinking around September.

[HPsauce]

You have to beware of midges through a lot of the summer. They can be murderous.
https://outaboutscotland.com/midges-in-scotland

Our favourite time is usually late June, the sun barely sets and it's light outside until about midnight.