NC500 route and Itinerary

Our NC500 route and Itinerary

Looking for an Itinerary for your North Coast 500 trip? No problem!

Here is our jam-packed seven-day wee wild adventure along the North Coast 500 (NC500). Every twist and turn of the road unveils breathtaking vistas and exhilarating experiences. With a perfect blend of driving, hiking, and paddling, this journey promises to be an unforgettable exploration of the Higlands of Scotland’s rugged beauty.

We van camp, use hotels, Bed and Breakfast, we travel by foot, boat and van, we travel on two-legs (Mandy & Cory) and four-legs (Nancy Coo, The Highland Cow).

Why Travel the NC500 with a Highland Cow called Nancy Coo?

Nancy Coo our trusted companion eagerly peers out the window as we wind your way along the scenic roads, her fluffy ears flapping in the breeze. She occasionally lets out a playful “moo” as if in conversation with Nessie herself. Nancy proves she is the perfect travel companion. Her infectious enthusiasm lifting your spirits with each passing mile.

Day 1 NC 500 Route and Itinerary

Inverness – Torridon

1. Inverness (River side walks, Castle, Museum, Botanic Gardens)
2. Beauly (Beauly Priory part of Outlander Trail)
3. Rogie Falls (Great walks, Salmon jumping)
4. Achnascheen (Red Deer roam Strath Bran, Toilets at railway station)
5. Attadale Gardens (Sculpture Gardens, Honesty Cafe, Beautiful house)
6. Belach na Ba – (Amazing winding road, Golden Eagles)
7. Applecross (Applecross Inn)
8. Am Ploc (Historic Open Air Church)

Day 2 NC500 route and Itinerary

Torridon – Ullapool

1. Torridon (Deer Park)
2. Kinlochewe (Loch Maree and start of walk up Slioch)
3. Loch Maree (White Tailed Sea Eagles, Visitor Centre, Glas-Leitir, Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve, Canoe to Isle Maree)
4. Shieldaig, Gairloch (Fairy Lochs Walk)
5. Gairloch (Gale Centre, Flowerdale Walk, Whale Trips)
6. Melvaig (Lighthouse walk)
7. Poolewe (Inverewe Gardens)
8. Aultbea (Russian Arctic Convoy Museum)
9. Laide (Laide Woods)
10. Gruinard Bay (Amazing Beach)
11. Gruinard Island (Anthrax Island)
12. Corrieshalloch Gorge (Dramatic Gorge National Trust)
13. Ullapool (Harbour, Ceildh Place, Museum, Fish and Chips)

Day 3 NC500 route and Itinerary

Ullapool – Bettyhill

1. Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve (great walk with info boards)
2. Ardveck Castle (beautiful ruin)
3. Achmelvich Beach (amazing beach)
4. Old Man of Stoer (great walk)
5. Durness (Balnakeil Craft Village)
6. Cape Wrath (Ferry out to mostly north-westerly point of Mainland)
7. John Lennon Memorial Gardens
8. Smoo Cave (Explore cave)
9. Bettyhill

Day 4

Bettyhill – Forse O’Nature, Latheron

1. Drive past Dounreay, Melvich
2. Canisbay Church (John O’Groats Tombstone)
3. Dunnet Head Lighthouse (Puffins, Fulmars)
4. Wick (Ebenezer Place, the world’s shortest street)
5. Cairn O’Get (Chambered Burial Cairn)
6. Whaligoe Steps (Historic Harbour with many steps down)
7. Hill O’Many Stanes (200+ upright Standing Stones)
8. Camster Cairns (Large Neolithic chambered cairns)

Day 5

Latheron – Tain

1. Dunbeath (Heritage Walk, Broch)
2. Ousdale Broch
3. Helmsdale
4. Brora
5. Carn Liath Broch
6. Dunrobin Castle (Stately home and gardens)
7. Tain (Museum)
8. Shandwick Stone (Pictish Standing Stone)
9. Mermaid of the North (Sculpture trail, Seaboard Centre and Cafe)

Day 6

Tain – Inverness

1. RSPB Nigg Bay (Birds and hyde)
2. Cromarty (Nice walks, Hugh Miller Museum)
3. Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie (Lovely walk and beach)
4. Chanonry Point (Dolphins)
5. Clava Cairns (Chambered Cairns, Standing Stones, part of Outlander Trail)
6. Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre

Day 7

Inverness

1. Inverness (St Andrews Cathedral, Eden Court)
2. Loch Ness (Kayak, Boat Trips, Highland Cows)
3. Urquhart Castle

For more Wee Wild Adventures in Scotland

Urquhart Castle Wee Wild Adventure

Anthrax Island Adventure from Gruinard Bay – NC500

Ebenezer Place (Shortest Street in the World) – NC500