The North Coast 500: Your Guide to a 7-Day Campervan or Motorhome Adventure through Scotland's Stunning Scenery

Scotland’s North Coast 500 or The NC500 is one of the most famous road routes you can do in the UK. We did this route in Jungle Jim, our LWB Mercedes Sprinter, and made an easy-to-follow 7-Day itinerary with park-up spots.

We went off-piste a little from the typical route, added extra trips here and there, and found some epic spots you can’t miss. We took our time and did The North Coast 500 over a 7-day itinerary but you can definitely condense or pad out your trip depending on your time and what you want to do. We thought that 7-days was the perfect amount of time without feeling so rushed!

You can expect great park-ups like this

North coast 500

The NC500 is a 516-mile road trip that takes you all around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending in the capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness. Along with it, you will find some pristine white sandy beaches, glass-like lochs set amongst spectacular rugged mountains, quaint towns, and faraway and lost-in-time fishing villages all along an unbelievable, scenic, and enjoyable drive. It’s undoubtedly the best road trip in Britain and tops the world stage charts!

Not only is the NC500 a chance to experience all that Scotland has to offer, but it’s also a chance to see a variety of different regions and the history and terrain as the route takes you through 6 counties: Inverness-shire, Black Isles, Easter Ross, Caithness, Sutherland, and Wester Ross. You will be amazed at how each county packs its own punch.

Before you go familiarise yourself with the NC500 advice on Campervan Overnight Parking, NC500 road safety advice-here. Scottish Outdoor Access Code here.

You can either tackle The North Coast 500 from the West: Starting in Inverness, heading towards Loch Carron and Gairloch in Wester Ross and heading north-west from there, along with one of the scariest roads in Britain, the Bealach Na Ba. Or you can begin by heading east from Inverness towards Tain and Brora for a more relaxing start. It’s hard to say which side is better to start on, and ultimately it comes down to personal choice. That being said, We started from the east and would recommend this route for many reasons:

1. It’s safer, as it gets you navigating the small Scottish roads with confidence.
2. More relaxing and enjoyable way to start your trip
3. If it’s your first time driving a campervan or caravan in Scotland, this route will ease you into it
4.  The west coast has got the best scenery without question. Save the best for last to give yourself a new boost of excitement.

*Please note that some roads along the NC500 drive are unsuitable for caravans and some RVs/ Motorhomes, such as the Bealach Na Ba, also known as the Applecross pass. You must avoid these roads if you cannot reverse comfortably or your vehicle is unsuitable; please check the information on the NC500 website regarding this HERE.*

Wild Camping | Overnight Parking along The North Coast 500

Tamara enjoying the cold and the view

One of our favourite evenings in Applecross

Inverness-shire-The Black Isles-Tain

Start in Inverness, spend the morning exploring Inverness, and the town center, check out nearby historically significant Culloden Battlefield and Daviot woods. Then head to Loch Ness, drive around the loch and take in all the quaint villages along the way.
Stop at Suidhe Viewpoint for spectacular views across Loch Ness valley and Foyers village/Falls of Foyers for a hidden and underrated gem. Then head northeast to The Black Isles to the wee village of Tain across the Cromarty Firth. Stop and park up at Tarbet Ness lighthouse.

We love forest park ups

Tarbet Ness- Dunrobin Castle- Sinclair Bay

After waking up surrounded by the sound of crashing waves in Tarbet Ness, take a morning stroll around the Victorian lighthouse and rocky coastlands and then be on your way heading north to explore the quaint, old, and heritage beach towns of Golspie and Brora. Make sure to stop at the phenomenal Scottish baronial castle Dunrobin. Take your time to explore the castle, gardens, and beach of the Dunrobin estate and soak up over 800 years of history. In the afternoon head up the coast towards Wick to Sinclair Bay and park up at Reiss Beach, bed down early and get your 40 winks in, so you can enjoy an epic sunrise in the morning.

Dunnethead lighthouse, one of the best views in Scotland

John O’ Groats-Dunnet Head- Strathy Beach

Wake up before sunrise, take your coffee to the beach, set up your camera, and enjoy a beautiful morning. Then head off early before the crowds towards John O’ Groats. Play around at the John O’ Groats signpost, explore the cute wee town, and then head west to Dunnet head and up to the most northerly point of Britain: Dunnet Head cliffs. Take in the rather exhilarating cliff-top views and lighthouse. After, head west along the northern coastline, make a stop at Drumholiston and hike down the hill to Puffin Cove: the cove has impressive sea caverns, jagged rocks, and a pebble beach where a puffin colony lives. Once you walk back up the steep hill and have caught your breath, head towards Strathy beach to park up.

John O Groats

Old Croft House

Ben Hope- Smoo Cave- Sandwood Bay

In the morning, head towards Tongue and get your camera ready around the towns of Hope for some mindblowing scenery of Loch Hope and Ben Hope. You will see the terrain of the NC500 start to change dramatically from here. The road will take you around Loch Eriboll. Some awe-inspiring viewpoints. Make a stop at Ceanniebenne, and do the Ceanniebenne Township Trail. It is a short historic walking path highlighting the story of the Durness Riots, a pivotal time during the Highland Clearances. The walk has great views over Ceanniebenne Beach and the ruins of the old crofting village. After heading towards Durness, making a stop at Smoo Cave. If it hasn’t been raining, make time for the tour! And then continue towards Kinlochbervie to Old Shoremore Beach. There is a 4-mile hike to “Britain’s Best beach: Sandwood Bay” from here if you are up for it, or park up and tackle it in the morning. If you forgo the hike, continue on the road to Kinlochbervie, head towards Scourie on the A894, and find a park up with majestic views of Ben Stack.

Ceannabeinne Township Trail

Drumholiston- Puffin Cove

Kylesku Bridge-The Summer Isles- Ullapool

Head past Scourie to KyleSku and along to Clashnessie Beach. If you have time, do the hike from the “Old Man of Stoer” lighthouse to the impressive sea stack, the walk is around 45 mins to an hour-long. Then head down the winding roads of the NC500 past Loch Inver, the road forks and you can head east towards Loch Assynt and enjoy the sights around there, or you can continue to the westerly coast-line to the wee village of Polbain. Just across the bay, you will find stunning views of the Summer Isles, and if travelling during the summer, you can visit these remote and beautiful islands. In the afternoon, continue to Ullapool, stop for local fish and chips, and head towards Garve for a very remote park-up with expansive and exceptional views of the mountain range An Teallach.

Gairloch- Beinn Eighe-Applecross

Set off early and head to Poolewe and Gairloch, and once you get there, take the Gairloch Scenic Route. The route will take you all around Loch Maree. Make sure you stop here for lunch and use the lovely picnic benches along the loch. After lunch, head to Kinlochewe and drive through the Beinn Eighe range of Glen Torridon, stopping at the Beinn Eighe viewpoint. stags and deer run around these valleys, so keep your eyes peeled! Continue onto Torridon, and Loch Torridon stopping when you get to Sands, Applecross, and park-up here for the night and enjoy an absolutely marvellous sunset with views across the inner sound to the Isle of Raasay and Isle of Skye.

Note that the Gairloch scenic route may not be appropriate for all vehicles. Please check the route before you travel.

Forest roads around Loch Maree

Bealach Na Ba- Loch Carron- Inverness

Today will be a wild day of driving. Before leaving,  check the weather conditions: if it has been snowing or icy, you will be unable to do this entire road as the road is dangerous and impassable. If the conditions are pleasant, head to the Applecross Pass or Bealach Na Ba road to Loch Carron. Now get your cameras ready, as you are about to see some crazy views and even crazier roads. In our opinion, this was one of the highlights of the entire NC500, so really savour it and take it slow.

The Bealach Na Ba is considered to be Britain’s most dangerous road. It’s one hair-raising and nerve-wracking experience like no other! Remember that this entire pass is unsuitable for certain types of campervans and or motorhomes and utterly unsuitable for caravans due to its elevated, single-track road full of hairpin turns. It’s 11 miles of a winding road cut straight through the mountain, gaining steep elevation, reaching a fantastic viewpoint. As the pass gradually falls, you end up on the banks of Loch Carron, in Strath Carron. From here, you are on the home straight, taking the A890 to Inverness. However, if you have time, you can dip down towards Kyle of Lochalsh towards the Isle of Skye and take a moment at the most photographed castle in all of Scotland- Eilean Donan. It’s worth the detour.

Eilean Donan, one of the most photographed castles in Scotland

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