Complete 10 Day North Coast 500 Itinerary with Map
The North Coast 500 (NC500) is the most popular road trip in Scotland, and for good reason! Starting in Inverness and circling 516 miles, it captures the very best of the Scottish Highlands! Amazing coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, Highland cows, clear (and cold) waters, rugged mountains, and quaint villages are just a few of the things that make this road trip special.
In this guide, I will walk you through the best 10 day North Coast 500 itinerary (which also happens to be the route I followed 😉). This covers where to go, where to stay, activities to do, travel times and distances, and everything else you need to know for your upcoming trip!
NOTE: Itineraries are made to be modified. Scotland may not have the best weather (surprise surprise), so you may want to do more or less driving on different days as you make progress. Wild camping is legal in Scotland which further adds to your flexibility.
10 Day North Coast 500 Itinerary Map
Day 1: Inverness
- Distance: n/a
- Time spent driving: n/a
- Highlights/Stops: Inverness Castle, Loch Ness
- Accommodation 🏨: Inverness or Camp ⛺️: Loch Ness
Day 1 of your NC500 itinerary begins in Inverness, the Capital of the Scottish Highlands and the most northerly city in the UK.
Inverness has an international airport so you can fly directly to the start point. Otherwise, you can drive to the city. We drove from Aberdeen where we collected our campervan, meaning we took a detour through Cairngorms National Park to visit the Pyramids of Scotland (aka Prince Albert’s Cairn).
Spend the morning wandering along the River Ness, and visit Inverness Castle for panoramic views over the city. If you’re interested in Scotland’s rich history pay a visit to the Culloden Battlefield (site of the final Jacobite uprising in 1746) and Clava Cairns (a 4000-year-old burial site).
Inverness is located a stone’s throw away from Loch Ness, which will give you the chance to see if you can spot the famous monster. Plenty of boat tours (speedboats or cruisers) run on the loch, which can help with your search for Nessie or allow you to explore the amazing scenery surrounding the loch.
Wrap up your day with dinner at one of Inverness’s cozy pubs before setting off on your NC500 adventure tomorrow.
You can either spend the night in Inverness where there are plenty of accommodation options. I chose to wild camp near Loch Ness which made for a peaceful morning.
Day 2: Inverness to Dornoch
- Distance: 100km (including stops)
- Time spent driving: 1.5 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Chanonry Point, Loch Fleet
- Accommodation 🏨: Dornoch or Camp ⛺️: Loch Fleet
En route north, as you head anticlockwise around the NC500, I recommend a visit to the Black Isle. Make a stop at Chanonry Point, one of the best spots in the UK to spot dolphins! The best time to see them is on a rising tide (i.e. shortly after low tide). You can check the tides here.
Continue driving northbound towards the charming town of Dornoch. Stroll along Dornoch Beach and visit Dornoch Cathedral before settling in for the night.
I opted to drive slightly further to camp near Loch Fleet. There’s a nature reserve at Loch Fleet making it a great spot for birdwatching and wildlife!
Day 3: Dornoch to Wick
- Distance: 100km
- Time spent driving: 1.5 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Dunrobin Castle, Whaligoe Steps
- Accommodation 🏨: Wick or Camp ⛺️: Wick
In the morning explore Dunrobin Castle a stunning fairytale fortress with beautiful gardens overlooking the Moray Firth. It costs £13.50 for standard adult entry (cheaper for seniors, students, and children) to enter the castle, explore the museum and gardens, and view a falconry show.
See full prices and opening hours here.
Or you can walk around the exterior of the castle and along the beach for free.
In the afternoon, stop at the beautiful Whaligoe Steps.
Whaligoe Steps are a set of 365 man-made steps descending into a harbour between two sea cliffs. This now-deserted harbour provides a haven for terns, oystercatchers, and other seabirds nesting on the cliffs.
Arrive in Wick in time to visit Old Pulteney Distillery, famous for its maritime malt whisky. Wick’s harbor and castle ruins are also worth a quick visit before you settle in for the night.
Day 4: Wick to Thurso
- Distance: 58km
- Time spent driving: 1 hour
- Highlights/Stops: John O’Groats, Duncansby Stacks, Dunnet Head
- Accommodation 🏨: Thurso or Camp ⛺️: Thurso/North coast
From Wick, you can continue north towards John o’Groats. John o’Groats marks the start point of journeys across the length of the UK (though it’s not actually the most northerly point). There isn’t much to do at John o’Groats as it’s pretty desolate, though I found that pretty interesting itself. Snap a photo with the famous signpost and enjoy the views across the Pentland Firth.
A short drive from John o’Groats you will find Duncansby Stacks. Here you can hike to the spectacular sea stacks rising dramatically from the ocean, which make a great photo! You can walk from the car park along the coastline – you will see birds (including puffins) nesting on the cliffs and sea stacks so you may want to bring binoculars.
Further around the coastline is Dunnet Head, the true northernmost point of mainland Scotland. The cliffs here offer stunning views, and you might spot puffins during the breeding season. There is another sign here that you may want to take a photo with.
After Dunnet Head, continue along the coast to your camping spot.
Day 5: Thurso to Durness
- Distance: 115km
- Time spent driving: 2 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Ceannabeinne Beach, Sango Sands Beach, Smoo Cave, Balnakeil Beach
- Accommodation 🏨: Durness or Camp ⛺️: Balnakeil Beach
The drive along the northern coast is barren yet impressive. Driving over Kyle of Tongue is pretty unique, and we chose to stop and take some photos! Plus the drive around the imposing Loch Eriboll, with its steep hillsides and serene waters.
Along the northern road, you will drive past Ceannabeinne Beach, Sango Sands Beach, and Balnakeil Beach along with many others. Enjoy the white sands and turquoise waters!
Between Ceannabeinne Beach and Sango Sands, take the steps down to explore Smoo Cave. It’s free to enter, though you can take a guided tour for £15 (£5 for children) which heads deeper into the cave and doesn’t take too long! For this itinerary, I prefer to visit independently so you’re not bound by times. Either way, it’s a great place to stretch your legs for an hour before continuing on the NC500.
Balnakeil Beach is the furthest along the road and the most isolated so probably the best for camping. However, given the weather, we decided to continue onwards and camp by Loch Laxford to reduce driving on the way to Lochinver.
NOTE: If you have longer and want to hike. Ben Hope is not too far from this leg of the NC500 itinerary.
Day 6: Durness to Lochinver
- Distance: 95km
- Time spent driving: 1.5 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Kylescu Bridge, Almelvich Bay
- Accommodation 🏨: Lochinver or Camp ⛺️: Loch Lurgainn or Loch Assynt
From Durness, you will start making your way southbound. Today’s drive will take you through some of the most remote and scenic parts of the Scottish Highlands.
Go over the Kylescu Bridge and follow the coastal road through Drumbeg.
If you’re doing well for time, you can add a hike to Old Man of Stoer (not to be mistaken with Old Man of Storr). To reach this impressive sea stack, it’s a 1.5-hour walk overlooking the coast. If you’re lucky, you might even spot whales or dolphins from the cliffs.
Almelvich Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches (if not the most beautiful beach) in Scotland! With white sand beaches and blue lagoon waters, it’s worth the bumpy single-track road to get there. Since you’re on the west coast, it’s also a good place to watch the sunset if you fancy sticking around!
End your day in the small fishing village of Lochinver, known for its famous pies at Lochinver Larder (open 10am-4pm), which I would highly recommend!
You can either settle in for the night in Lochinver. Or, if you want an early start for the hike the next day, you can camp at the base of Stac Pollaidh. There’s a small car park beside Loch Lurgainn.
ALTERNATIVE: You could detour to check out the ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the shores of Loch Assynt, a castle with a dramatic history involving clan battles and betrayals. If you take this route (rather than following the coast), your driving distance will be 85km.
Day 7: Lochinver to Ullapool
- Distance: 50km
- Time spent driving: 1.5 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Stac Pollaidh
- Accommodation 🏨: Ullapool or Camp ⛺️: Ardmair
Today, you will have less driving as you tackle Stac Pollaidh, one of the most rewarding hikes in the region! Taking approximately 3 hours, the hike is relatively short, but the steep ascent will challenge you. The summit offers stunning panoramic views over the rugged landscape of Assynt and the surrounding lochs.
After your hike, continue driving south towards Ullapool for a well-earned meal and a relaxing evening by the loch. There are plenty of accommodation options here, though we stayed at a campsite which overlooked the coast in Ardmair, a few minutes before Ullapool.
ALTERNATIVE: If you want a longer hike, take on the infamous Suilven. Since there aren’t any roads nearby, Lochinver marks the start point of a long day hike to Suilven.
Day 8: Ullapool to Torridon
- Distance: 150km
- Time spent driving: 2.5 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Corrieshalloch Gorge, Mellon Udrigle Beach
- Accommodation 🏨: Torridon or Camp ⛺️: Loch Maree
Leave Ullapool and head south towards Torridon. But first, stop at Corrieshalloch Gorge where you can take a short walk to admire the dramatic waterfall plunging into a deep ravine.
Continue along the coastal road, stopping off at Mellon Udrigle beach. is one of the more isolated beaches, and in my opinion one of the most beautiful.
In the afternoon, head out onto the water on a sea kayak experience or canoe trip on Loch Maree. There’s a great canoe and kayak centre based in Gairloch, which run full-day and half-day options with knowledgable guides. I was on a budget, but this was one of the highlights of my NC500 itinerary.
Continue to Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve aside from the beautiful Loch Maree, a spectacular area of towering mountains and ancient pine forests. Take your time exploring the reserve’s trails and enjoying the breathtaking views.
Arrive in Torridon in the late afternoon, a haven for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Though we decided to camp beside Loch Maree which was pretty epic.
Day 9: Torridon to Lochcarron
- Distance: 80km
- Time spent driving: 2 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Applecross, Bealach Na Ba
- Accommodation 🏨: Lochcarron or Camp ⛺️: Lochcarron
You can drive directly from Torridon to Lochcarron in about 35km, but you’d be missing out!
Instead, take the stunning coastal road between Torridon and Lochcarron. With views over the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides, the scenery is unmatched!
Stop for lunch in Applecross, a remote village with stunning coastal views.
We stumbled across an epic beach (Applecross Sands) which I recommend checking out. We actually camped along this road before detouring to the Isle of Skye. It was so good we pitched up, grabbed some beers and played frisbee.
But for this itinerary, continue onwards to Bealach na Bà.
Bealach na Bà, is a famous road which (if you are comfortable) should make any itinerary. It’s one of the most thrilling drives in Scotland as you wind through the dramatic mountain landscape. Large motorhomes are banned on this road as it’s so narrow!
Day 10: Lochcarron to Inverness
- Distance: 105km
- Time spent driving: 1.5 hours
- Highlights/Stops: Rogie Falls, Blackwater Falls
Your final day will be spent completing the NC500 loop by heading back towards Inverness.
Stop off at Rogie Falls and Black Water Falls on the route back. Two stunning waterfalls where you might catch sight of salmon leaping upstream (season-dependent). Finish your journey back in Inverness to complete your epic 10-day NC500 adventure.
Many people start the trip with a visit to these falls, but I recommend them as a final flourish before returning to Inverness!
Potential Detours
With so much to do in the Scottish Highlands, some things will appeal to me more than you. So here are a few things that I’ve missed off this itinerary that you may want to swap in.
Orkney Isles: Since you’re so far north, it’s worth considering if you want to visit the remote Orkney Isles, which you can get a ferry to from Thurso. You probably want at least a couple of days to explore Orkney.
Isle of Skye: Just beyond Appletree and Torridon is the incredible Isle of Skye. You can extend your NC500 itinerary further to include it or do a completely separate trip! Home to my favourite hike in Scotland (Sgurr Na Stri), there’s plenty to see here, but even a day trip would be worth it.
Depending on how long you’ve got and how far you want to go, you may also wish to visit the Cairngorms National Park just south of Inverness or Fort William, Glencoe, and the Isle of Mull just south of Lochcarron. Though I don’t think this belongs in the NC500 territory once you start venturing out this far.
How to get around the NC500
There’s no ‘right way’ to explore the North Coast 500. I’ve seen people driving sports cars, renting campervans, motorhomes, motorbikes, and even cycling around the NC500, so it depends on your personal preference! You might struggle with public transport though!
Navigating the NC500 with a van was perfect as it allowed the flexibility to sleep anywhere we wanted and in some scenic locations. Though that doesn’t mean you can’t stay in AirBnBs or hotels as well!
NOTE: Large motorhomes aren’t permitted on certain roads, such as Bealach na Ba.
Which direction to do the NC500?
You can follow the Northcoast 500 in both directions, either clockwise or anticlockwise. The road and the views are no different in either direction!
I followed the route anticlockwise (as outlined above) because there is less to see on the east coast. Driving up there first took a lot of the mileage out at the beginning of the trip so it continued getting better and better!
That being said, I recommend you follow the weather wherever possible to avoid unpleasant conditions. Looking at the weather forecast and deciding whether to go north towards John o’Groats first or west towards Skye.
If it’s rainy in one direction and blue skies in the other, there’s no point being rigid with your plans. Of course, wild camping makes this considerably easier than if you have hotel bookings.
Where to stay on the NC500
Below are my top picks for places to stay on the NC500:
- Inverness: Moyness House
- Dornoch: Dornoch Castle Hotel
- Wick: MacArthur House NC500
- Thurso: Forss House
- Durness: Kempies Cozy House NC500
- Lochinver: Ardmore House
- Ullapool: Croft Cottage
- Torridon: Shieldag Lodge Hotel
- Lochcarron: Rockvilla Guest House
There are accommodation options in each of the main towns and scattered throughout the route. However, depending on your time of visit, you may have to be flexible with the exact location.
Of course, wild camping is an option in Scotland and gives you much more flexibility, plus there are campsites available too. I mentioned earlier where I chose to pitch, and I highly recommend you make the most of it on your visit to Scotland.
What to bring on the NC500
For 10 days in the Scottish highlands, you might think you’ll need to pack a lot. You’d be surprised!
This guidance will vary depending on the time of year that you go. In the depths of winter, it can get freezing; in the height of summer it may not be hot, but it will certainly be much warmer!
Here’s what I took:
- Technology
- Phone
- Camera
- Battery pack
- Torch (or head torch)
- Chargers (+ adaptor if not from UK)
- Phone mount for car
- Camping
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Pillow
- Cooking gear (stove, cutlery, crockery)
- Camp chair
- Blanket
- General
- Water bottle
- Hiking bag (day bag)
- Playing cards
- Binoculars
- Clothes
- Underwear
- T-shirts
- Joggers
- Jeans
- Thermals
- Swimming shorts (swimming costume)
- Waterproof jacket
- Socks (hiking + normal)
- Hiking shoes
- Casual trainers
- Flip-flops (for camp and beaches)
- Sunglasses
- Cap
- Hat, Scarf, Gloves
- Toiletries
- Towel
- Toothbrush + toothpaste
- Shower gel + shampoo
- Deodorant
- Medication
- Sun cream
- First aid kit
- Bug spray (insect repellant)
10 Day North Coast 500 Itinerary Summary
- Total distance: 853km (530 miles)
- Daily average distance: 85.3km (53 miles)
- Total time driving: 15+ hours
- Daily average driving time: 1.5 hours (though I spent nearer 2 hours per day)
Realistically, your numbers will likely be much higher than this given any detours (or wrong turns) you make.
There’s so much to see and do around the NC500. My main tip is to have a rough plan of things to do on your route, and be flexible while you drive round.
Remember, you could easily spend more the 10 days doing the Northcoast 500, so no matter what you squeeze into your trip, you’ll probably want to come back! I know I certainly do…
Before you go
Thank you for reading this 10 day North Coast 500 itinerary. If guides, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy travelling!
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