Van Travel
Scotland’s North Coast 500 | NC500 is undoubtedly one of the best road trips in Britain. A truly unforgettable journey through 516 miles of Scotland’s coastal beauty showing you exactly what Scotland has to offer. Starting and ending in the capital of the Highlands, and Nessie’s favourite city: Inverness. The route takes you through six regions all contrastingly diverse: Inverness-shire, Wester Ross, Easter Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, and the Black Isle. The North Coast 500 can be tackled in many ways: on foot, by bicycle but what better way than by Campervan?! We did The NC500 in Winter in our self-converted LWB Mercedes Sprinter Van: Jungle Jim. It was a journey of a lifetime and a bucket list item for us.
Wild Camping at Ben Stack
NC500 Roadtrip
Table of Contents
Can You Wild Camp in your Campervan or Motorhome along the NC500?
Is Wild Camping from your campervan Allowed along the North Coast 500?
Like everywhere in Scotland there are certain areas where you cannot park overnight but there are also areas where you can. It is entirely possible to wild camp the entire way around though like we did it. Although wild Camping is legal in Scotland (this usually doesn’t apply to vehicles) and you can not just wild camp anywhere, there are still rules to follow. Generally, be sensible and stay away from areas with “No Overnight Parking” signs and be responsible. The main things to consider are the time of year you go and where you decide to park overnight. I would not advise wild camping the entire way around during high season as it gets very congested. Low seasons, mid-week travel and quiet times are best for wild camping. Also try to pick areas that are away from residents, immersed in nature and well out of the way. Generally, the advice about wild camping is that it is preferred that you stay at campsites (especially during summer) however you can wild camp in your campervan along the NC500 and people do it all the time. We did the entire way around. The biggest advice we can give is to avoid wild camping along the NC500 during busy times like school holidays and Summer. As The North Coast 500 gets exceptionally busy, with 30K+ visitors each year in the high season. As well as this, Wild Camp responsibly and try to just sleep in your van overnight and not Camp outside. We wild camped the entire way around, which was hassle-free as we travelled in the winter and during the low season. Always have the highest respect for the locals, leave areas better than you found them and always ask permission if you are on private land.Â
What route to take on the NC500 and how long to go for?
How long is the NC500? It really depends on how long you want to spend at each stop, how much driving you like to do per day and the pace of the holiday you enjoy and what activities you want to do whilst on the trip. We took 7 days to do the trip and found that to be the perfect amount of time, we could have taken longer or cut the trip shorter but we prefer to not drive too long every day. This is the itinerary we followed.
Wild Camping & Free Parking Spots NC500 for Campervans
You can use our itinerary of the NC500 here and we have put together a guide of all the places we camped and the coordinates of locations below. Remember to check all signs before wild camping and parking up and know the essentials of the outdoor code. Â Also, be aware of your vehicle’s dimensions. Our Van: Jungle Jim is 6.8 Metres long and the following park-ups were fine, they might not however be suitable if you have a beast of a motorhome or a bus!
Kyle of Durness
wild camping
01 – Garve, Black Water River, Fain
Location: Garve,
Black Water River, Fain in Ross-shire
Coordinates:
N 57° 45′ 27″ W 5° 7′ 13″
(Latitude & Longitude)
What.3.words: ///treaty.havens.tagging
Probably our most remote and “wildest” North Coast 500 wild camping spot. This spot feels really isolated and far-flung because well, it is. It is located in the vast valleys of Strathmore and the bleak moorland of Fain. The area is just off the A832 “Destitution road” on the stretch of the North Coast 500 that runs from Braemore to Ullapool. The space is nestled in an expansive valley with stunning views of An Teallach Mountain, near the famous Fainmore House. A single off-road track takes you to a small gravelled spot next to a tiny wind turbine. Hidden away in the expansive wilderness. Totally isolated, expect the feel of a total sense of freedom all around. There are no prohibition signs in the area.
Garve
02 – Applecross Bay, Wester Ross
Applecross Bay, Wester Ross
Coordinates:
N 57° 27′ 51″ W 5° 51′ 44″
(Latitude & Longitude)
What.3.words: ///tractor.weary.makes
This had to be the most “Instagram-able” park-up of all on the NC500. Tucked along the stretch of road leads to Britain’s most dangerous road: the Bealach Na Ba or the Applecross Mountain Pass. Along this stretch of road, Sands beach is located on Applecross bay: There are two large parking laybys with absolutely majestic views overlooking the inner sound, with views to the islands of Raasay and Skye! Watching the sunset from here is incredible, seals bask on the rocks along the coast here, and there’s even a little waterfall on the hill behind. Both the parking bays are spacious, flat, and tarmac, as well as easy to navigate. There are no parking prohibited signs (when we went) however I imagine this spot gets hectic busy here in the summer so be wary of annoying the local villagers.
Hot Tip* The sunsets here are Epic, so park up early to avoid disappointment!
Applecross Sands
03 – Reiss Beach, Sinclairs Bay
Reiss Beach, Sinclairs Bay, Caithness
Coordinates:
N 58° 29′ 1″ W 3° 7′ 35″
(latitude & Longitude)
What.3.words: ///verse.happily.offstage
Just under 15 miles from John O’ Groats and the famous signpost, the pinnacle of the NC500, this spot is a serene haven. Lying on the Caithness coast just outside Wick is a long stretch of beautiful sandy beach, with amazing views looking out to the north sea, with two castles on each end of the bay; Reiss beach is the perfect sunrise park-up. The space is tarmacked and mostly flat with lots of room, next to the Wick Golf course. There are no prohibited signs, and there is a handy bin as you head towards the beach.
Reiss Beach
04 – Daviot Woods, Inverness
Daviot Woods, Inverness
Coordinates:
N 57° 26′ 38″ W 4° 8′ 59″
(Latitude & Longitude)
What.3words: ///somewhere.weeded.bolsters
The North Coast 500 starts and ends in the capital of the Highlands: Inverness. Whether you are beginning or ending your journey here and need a place to park up, we have the perfect spot for you set amongst the tall, towering trees of Daviot Woods; right on Invernesses doorstep and close to the historic Culloden Battlefield. The area is flat and spacious as well as incredibly shaded. It is surrounded by a 5km fitness trail where you can cycle, hike or run. The forest is part of the forestry commission. They allow overnight parking on their Stay The Night scheme. Check it out here.
Daviot Forest
05 – Loch Maree, Wester Ross
Loch Maree,
Gairloch Scenic Route
Coordinates:
N 57°40′ 26.5″W 5° 27’53.0″
(Latitude & Longitude)
What.3.words: ///enchanted.singers.newlywed
Located on the magnificent Gairloch Scenic Route, along the west coast of Scotland. On the stretch towards Torridon is Loch Maree, an expansive loch and national nature reserve. The loch has several beautiful islands dotted along it, with pine forests on its shores. Follow the road that runs around the loch you will eventually get to a very hidden park-up. It’s so hidden: Blink, and you will miss it. Only big enough for one Camper and up a dirt road, on slightly uneven ground, sheltered on all sides. Very secluded with fantastic views of the loch and no prohibition signs.
Loch Maree
06 – Laxford, Lairg
Laxford, Lairg
Northwest Highlands
Coordinates:
N 58° 22′ 40″ W 5° 3′ 37″
(Latitude & Longitude)
What.3.words:///satellite.iterative.spaceship
There aren’t many spots along this stretch of the North Coast 500 that runs from the northwest coast of Kinlochbervie to Scourie. We managed to find one with fantastic views of Ben Stack, the perfectly formed cone mountain above Loch Stack. The park-up is just off the A894 in the vicinity of Loch Laxford Bay in Lairg. Just off the main road in a layby, past a cattle gate. Enough space for one van.
Ben Stack
We hope you go out and enjoy these fantastic park ups responsibly, please feel free to sign up or leave a comment below if you enjoyed the read!
