Bikepacking the North Coast 500 Alone | Cycling the NC500

I went bikepacking in Scotland following the North Coast 500 alone. It's a world-renowned route with incredible scenery and breathtaking landscapes.

Feel free to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Strava.

What gear do I use?:

Routes here:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:

All music licensed with MusicBed

#bikepacking​ #northcoast500 #nc500

Time stamps:

0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Day 1 - Inverness to Applecross over the Bealach Na Ba
2:31 - Applecross Camping Hut
3:15 - Day 2 - Applecross to Laide
4:15 - Gruinard Bay Caravan Park
5:12 - Day 3 - Laide to Lochinver
6:06 - The Hideaway
6:44 - Day 4 - Lochinver to Tongue
8:04 - Kyle of Tongue Hostel
8:35 - Day 5 - Tongue to Bonar Bridge
9:32 - Wild Camping in Bonar Bridge
10:42 - Day 6 - Bonar Bridge to Inverness
11:32 - BTS and Route Summary

[Cycling]

Thanks very much for watching my film! I was SO lucky with the weather on this epic trip - Help me reach 10, 000 subscribers by year end! Please LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE 🚴🏕

[andymicklewright]

Jeez you have to really appreciate the number of times Tom filmed himself and went back to pick up the camera for each shot, bloody amazing

[rachelberney]

I am utterly mesmerised by every video you do. The mindfulness, the music, the noises along the way, and the scenery you capture. Perfection in film form - pure cycling therapy!

[ianaristotlethompson]

Incredible trip. Fantastic videography. Tips and tricks too. Thanks.

[pauledgerton]

Magnificent footage, with some great tips to boot!

[stevegatland]

Great video, this brought back so many great memories when I did the NC500 in 2023 over 7 days in July. The weather was perfect even with the odd few down pours that were torrential lol that would appear then disappear just as quick and you'd dry out within the hour. I did the same as you of not going to John O'Groats and cut down the middle. I did this solo, but had the lucky advantage of being able to book B&Bs for this trip. I would love to do this again sometime and get to John O'Groats this time. It was cycling heaven :)

[julesh]

Oh my word! Breathtaking footage. What an amazing trip. Great video yet again.

[marcselby]

Stunning piece of footage and not a midge in sight. Really enjoyed part 2 background… definitely inspires an attempt

[grahamhaines]

Epic trip! Looks like you amazing weather as well. Thanks for sharing.

[Charlie-srdv]

Great. Enjoyed that. Loved your indepth account of each day in the second part of the video.

[donaldross]

Been ill this summer, this gets my feet itchy for next summer.

Scotland is world class, and out of this world when blessed with good weather.

[seancowlam]

That road from Bettyhill to Bonar Bridge is one of the most beautiful in Britain IMHO. Great choice.

[phantomracer]

Brilliant video as always. The drone shots look stunning, especially with the sun out. You really pulled it off with the weather! Totally agree with you about missing out the section of the A9 on the East coast. The road down the middle is so much nicer to ride on a bike 🙂

[onemorecyclist]

Really nice video and like the way you've mixed the drone footage (wow!) into the edit - reminds me of some of the Matthew Norway videos. I think I pitched my tent in the exact same spot in Gruinard Bay when we did the route in 2021. We also amended the last bit and went from Thurso directly to Wick and jumped on the train back to Inverness, having done the A9 bit a couple of years earlier on JOGLE (once is enough!). Agree it's got to be up there with some of the best cycling routes in the world. Happy cycling!

[tonypaddler]

Another great video Tom, loving the drone shots 🚵‍♂️👍

[thebikepackingadventurer]

Just come across your channel as going to do the NC500 next year. A good insight here. Pray for weather like yourself, and I will 100% not be doing it in the school summer holidays 😂👌🏻. Just subscribed, look forward to seeing more of your adventures

[spectacularscotland]

You couldn’t have picked better weather to do the NC500. I remember a heatwave last June when it was 27c as I went up Ben Nevis. Great vid mate, love the drone footage.

[catcheside]

Inspired! Going to get planning this for next year, thanks for another fantastic film!

[Jboasman]

Great video on the NC500. Nice to meet you the other day.

[colinpayne]

I enjoyed the video and having done the nc500 I couldn’t work out where you carried your bike up some steps. Then realised where it is after your commentary. I thought it was familiar as I went the opposite way up to Lairg from Inverness and eventually onto Cape Wrath where I stayed a night at the lighthouse. What an adventure and would recommend going onto Cape Wrath but with off road tyres.