North coast 500 tips.

[C7Steve]

Looks like you had a good trip with sunny weather and you have some nice pictures there too Bobby.


Steve.

[Corranga]

I'm thinking of doing this (or similar) this year too.

Any recommendations on direction, as in clockwise or anticlockwise?

I was thinking of I'll either head west out towards Ft Bill first, then pick up the west coast section and come back via Lecht / Glenshee, or vice versa for anti-clockwise.

Or is the Muir Of Ord / Tarvie / Garve / Achanalt / Strathcarron section worth the effort driving roads wise?
I could just head up to Inverness via Glenshee / Lecht and join onto the NC500 from there. the plus side bieng I love the Glenshee / Lecht road, the downside perhaps being I drive it more than any other fun roads as my go to route

Also, any recommendations on where to re-route to avoid the John O' Groats slog?

I'm thinking of doing it in the Maserati, so at around 16mpg, I'll be towing a fuel station with me too

[TarmacTerrorist]

day 1 (6.00am start)

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Whitl ... 412474!3e0

[TarmacTerrorist]

day 2

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Portr ... 77!1m0!3e0

[TarmacTerrorist]

day 3

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/IV27+ ... bb!1m0!3e0

[TarmacTerrorist]

day 4 home by the quickest route...

whats your thoughts guys?

Ta

[graeme]

OK, working backwards, I think Day 4 is too easy. Blairgowrie to Whitley Bay would be 3.5 hours ish. I've set off south from Blairgowrie many times (my folks live there and I used to live in Sheffield) and my first leg-stretch is usually Cramlington services. Which is nearly home for you. Seems like a short day, and a bit of a waste. Often I'd make it to Washington Services for the first stop.

Best Day 4 route is A68 south from Dalkeith, left at Carfraemill roundabout then the A697 via Coldstream all the way to rejoin the A1 at Morpeth.

https://goo.gl/maps/v6PtAJrWdSP2

But... I'd be tempted to move the Day 3-4 stopover up to Granton/Aviemore/Boat of Garten area and then attack the Glenshee bit on the morning of Day 4 before a cruise home.

That would then move your Day2-3 stopover further back and give you time to do a bit more playing (or just admiring the views) on the good bits.

[Corranga]

Personally, I'd change day 2 to include Bealach na Ba / Applecross.

Some don't like it, but it's one of my favourite roads in the country. It's narrow though, and have a google to make sure there isn't a cycling event on the day you are going

You might also want to add the extra 5 or so miles (there and back) from Auchtertyre to Dornie / Eilean Donan Castle just for photo opportunities too if you've never been, beautiful / iconic building.

[TarmacTerrorist]

Cheers guys, noted.

Will look to stop somewhere in the Cairngorms on night 3. Just looking at the map and 'cock bridge' is standing out... lol. That puts us on the Glenshee road south in the morning yes?

Yeah, the Coldstream run was the plan on the way back Graeme. It is a relatively quick jaunt back yes but my mate has another 5hrs to do the following morning home on top of the 5hrs to get to me the day before we leave so thinking of him in that respect as if I were the one having to do it...

[alicrozier]

Pretty limited choice there I'd guess?
Suggest Aviemore for a wilder night 3. From there take a back road cruise in the morning via Nethy Bridge to Tomintoul by which point fuzzy heads will have abated for 'full attack' on the Lecht and Glenshee...

[graeme]

Aviemore is fun, but if it's just a stopover, anywhere with a hotel and a pub will do.

So, if you're ok in principal with a stop somewhere around Cock Bridge / Aviemore / Granton / Boat, then I would move the Day 2-3 stop backwards accordingly. Your best bet for any sort of night out is Ullapool. There's always music going on in a pub somewhere. If you're not bothered about the pubs, Lochinver or Kylesku hotels might be another option.


Possible Day 2, with an optional tour of Skye roads

https://goo.gl/maps/JCa152JGG2J2


Possible Day 3, with some flexibility on the north bit to cut the corner if you want an easy day.

https://goo.gl/maps/8Y15Z2QwKa12
or
https://goo.gl/maps/WLG6m1G6dvq

Not as hard going as your originals. If you want time to stop for photos and coffees and generally enjoy the landscape and the route, Days 2 and 3 are the ones to do it on. I'm sure these can be tweaked and improved by others.

[hendeg]

Day 3 - I would avoid the A9 and go to Grantown-on-Spey with this route via Cawdor Castle.

[graeme]

Just a thought; avoid Inverness completely in the mornings for the next 22 weeks. They're doing daily wind turbine road trains and buggering up the A96 every day, departing Inverness Port at 0930 and slogging along the A96 to Elgin by about lunchtime.

I don't think it's going to be a problem at all with the current suggested routes, but be aware in case plans change on the fly.

[a4drk]

Watch for deer. Really, really seriously. They may kill you if they roll into a 2-11 cockpit. Nearly happened to me in an Elise. Worst at dusk but wandering about in full daylight too and their cammo is good.

Get Deer whistles for the front of the car

[campbell]

What are they then?