Journal
NC500 Stories
Guides, travel tips, itinerary write-ups, and seasonal advice for driving Scotland's greatest road.
Wild Swimming on the NC500: The Best Spots and How Not to Die
The water on the NC500 is cold. It is cold in May, cold in July, and cold in a way that makes you understand why Scotland invented whisky. Go in anyway — here's where.
Solo NC500: Why Driving It Alone Is Actually Better
The NC500 alone is a different route to the NC500 with other people. You stop when you want, talk to strangers, and have the kind of evenings that group travel rarely produces. Here's why solo is worth it.
NC500 Wildlife Calendar: What to Spot Month by Month
Puffins in May, rutting stags in October, dolphins year-round at Chanonry Point. A month-by-month guide to the wildlife of Scotland's North Coast 500.
Assynt: The Most Otherworldly Landscape in Scotland
Somewhere between Ullapool and Kylesku, the landscape stops looking like Scotland and starts looking like another planet. That place is Assynt — and this is why you need to go.
NC500 Packing List: What You Actually Need (And What to Leave at Home)
Everyone overpacks for the NC500. Here's the definitive list of what to bring, what to leave behind, and why midge repellent is the one thing nobody remembers until it's too late.
NC500 with Kids: How to Drive Scotland's Most Dramatic Road Without Losing Your Mind
The NC500 with children is entirely possible. It might even be better — as long as you pace it right, pick the right stops, and accept that someone will ask 'are we there yet' on the Bealach na Bà.
The NC500 in Autumn: Colours, Quiet Roads, and Zero Midges
October on the NC500 and the midges are gone. Here's why autumn is the route's best-kept secret — and how to make the most of it.
Smoo Cave: Scotland's Murder Cave (Probably)
At the far end of the NC500 near Durness, Smoo Cave hides a murder story that was reported as historical fact for centuries — and a few details that nobody has ever quite been able to disprove.
Where to Watch Scotland at the World Cup on the NC500
Scotland are at the 2026 World Cup for the first time since 1998, and you're going to be driving the NC500 when it happens. Here are the best pubs on the route to watch them.
The Highland Midge: A Survival Guide
Roughly 1.4mm long, weighing almost nothing, and responsible for more abandoned Highland campsites than all the rain in recorded history. Here's everything you need to know about Scotland's most effective border control.
The NC500 by Motorbike: Everything You Need to Know
The NC500 has been called one of the best biking routes in Europe. The corners are constant, the views are relentless, and the Bealach na Bà will test anyone who underestimates it. Here's how to ride it properly.
The Mystery of Loch Ness
The loch doesn't need a monster — it's extraordinary on its own. But the legend of Nessie, the ruined castle on the promontory, and the question nobody has quite managed to answer make this one of the most compelling stops near the NC500.
The NC500 in Spring: Why May Is the Secret Month
Before the campervans arrive and after the winter closes, there's a window in May when the NC500 belongs almost entirely to you. Here's why it's worth timing your trip around it.
Torridon: two nights in the oldest mountains on earth
The Torridon mountains were ancient before complex life existed. Here's why you should spend at least two nights among them.
10 Things to Know Before Driving the NC500
Fuel stops 40 miles apart, midges that can ruin a sunset, and single-track roads that demand patience. Everything we wish someone had told us before we set off.
The Applecross Peninsula: Scotland's Most Dramatic Drive
The Bealach na Bà is the highest mountain pass in the UK. Here's everything you need to know before you cross it — and what to do on the other side.
The NC500 in Autumn: Why September Is the Best Month to Go
Fewer caravans, golden light on the hills, red deer rutting in the glens, and accommodation that's still open. Autumn is the NC500's best-kept secret.
Five Days on the NC500: A First-Timer's Drive
I had five days, a hire car, and no idea what to expect. Here's the honest account of my first NC500 circuit — the highlights, the mistakes, and the moment I nearly ran out of fuel near Tongue.