10 Places Not to Miss along the North Devon Coast. What makes Mellon Udrigle Beach so special is the unrivalled backdrop that is visible from its white sand beach. In 2015 the North Coast 500, commonly referred to as the NC500, was launched by the Tourism Project Board of the North Highland Initiative. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: My Favourite Hikes in Scotland – From Easy Trails to Munros. The infrastructure in northwest Scotland is definitely sparser than in other parts of the country. I drove the NC500 as part of a paid project with Hostelling Scotland. I will be doing many of the things you have listed in June but will unfortunately have to skip others. Shieldaig is easily one of the prettiest seaside villages in Scotland with its colourful waterfront facing Loch Shieldaig. There is no shortage of petrol stations (gas stations) all along the route. Want to know where to go, what to see and what not to miss? There is no issue with campervans using the Bealach na Ba pass. Scottish tour company Rabbie’s offers a 3-day NC500 tour from Inverness. Our trip lasted nine days. The circular route starts and finishes in Inverness, the unofficial Capital of the Highlands. This delightful village sits along the shore of Loch Shieldaig and Loch Torridon and might be the most picturesque you will come across on the NC500. The iconic north coast NSW road trip, known as the Legendary Pacific Coast, is one of Australia’s top coastal drives.. Stretching along the Pacific Coast corridor it has something for everyone: stunning beaches and beach side towns, National Parks, historic sites, beautiful hinterland, wildlife watching, wineries and every water sport imaginable. The official start is at Inverness but there are many areas you might want to explore before you go such as Glenfinnan (Harry Potter train viaduct), Kyle of Lochalsh (Eilean Donan Castle) and the Cairngorms. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland's northern coast, offering drivers rugged landscapes, sandy benches, wildlife, museums, castles, whisky distilleries, and so much more! It is possible to drive the NC500 anti-clockwise too. Achmelvich is very remote, which means there is very little (if any) reception, but to be honest you want to unplug in an area like this. But after spending a weekend there he left, never to return. Sitting beside the tranquil Kyle of Tongue, which is dissected by a causeway, the imposing mountains of Ben Hope and the “Queen of Scottish mountains” - Ben Loyal seem to always be looming over you. The NC 500 offers a little bit of everything that makes Scotland such a wonderful place to visit. The entrance ticket costs £12.50 (£7.50 for children) and includes the castle and the gardens. A carefully designed itinerary, travelling the North Coast 500 driving route – covering more than 500 miles of the best coastal scenery the North Highlands has to offer, but within a leisurely week’s holiday. Check my Disclaimer for more information. The North Coast 500 is something I would be very interested in doing. Scotland's 'Route 66' is a roller-coaster road of ruined castles, pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs, and charming villages. Here are the ones I found useful on our trip: Make sure to pick up the official North Coast 500 tourist map along the route as well (for example at the VisitScotland Inverness iCentre, 36 High St). The Ultimate Roadtrip! Inverness is the main city on the North Coast 500 route and it is the capital of the Highlands. The North Coast 500 is a road trip destination and best done by car or with a campervan. There is a car park at the highest point so you can catch your breath and once you have descended into Applecross you can take it easy along the scenic coastal drive to Shieldaig. As you begin to make your way east from Durness on the north coast of Scotland, you will eventually reach the charming village of Tongue. All the photos were breath taking. We picked up several flyers and recommendations at the VisitScotland iCentre in Ullapool, called around and ended up booking a spontaneous half-day sea kayaking trip with Will from Kayak Summer Isles. When you have had enough of the views, take the same road back to Torridon and continue on the main route of the North Coast 500. Next to the lighthouse, you can walk along the cliffs and spot sea birds nesting at these soaring heights. There are many places to camp along the North Coast 500 route, but you should not just take up your temporary residence anywhere. There is a visitor centre and you can either walk the field by yourself or participate in a guided tour. Buy my Scotland Travel Guides and Resource Library. From butchers to fishmongers, as well as fab cafes and restaurants. We only stopped for a few photos, but since the beach is sheltered from the strong winds you could easily bring a picnic and spend a few hours here. There is a sign at the bottom stating that it is not suitable for learner drivers, caravans and very large vehicles – see photo on the article; unfortunately, many people put stickers on top of this essential warning. The views are magnificent and if visibility is good you can see the Old Man of Hoy in Orkney in the distance. Many believe it was built by the Vikings or the Norse. There is an easy walk out a rocky headland across the road from the shop. 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