How To Do The North Coast 500 (Scotland NC500 Travel Guide)

Scotland North Coast 500 Road Trip Travel Guide

Video Segments:
00:00 - Start
02:04 - Trip Overview
04:55 - General Tips
07:58 - Gear
09:28 - Edinburgh
11:28 - Cairngorms National Park
13:57 - Inverness
17:31 - East Coast
21:10 - North West
26:02 - West Coast
29:22 - Sandwood Bay
35:30 - Applecross
39:38 - Home Time
40:56 - Future Changes?
43:43 - Summary

Useful Info:
My Google Map (places, hotels, food etc)

NC500 General Info

Cairngorms Snow Roads

Cairngorms Cairns

Sandwood Bay

Bruach Ard B&B

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[snapsbyfox]

Troll Disclaimer - This trip took place in the first few days of September when travel was allowed. A few days after returning to London the travel ban came into force.

[EwanMacNeilage]

As someone how grew up near Ullapool - thanks for pointing out about letting people pass, taking your rubbish with you, and supporting local businesses. It’s a fantastic route and everyone welcomes visitors but a lot of people don’t follow these rules. Glad you enjoyed it.

[richardturner]

Bloody hell Roman this is like a BBC travel program! Nicely done, must have taken a long time to put all that footage together 👍🏻

[williamsmiler]

Scots Highlander here. I was going to skip-watch this video, but instead stayed for the whole thing. Oh and I subscribed too pal 👍😀

[Numbr]

I'm from Italy and I can tell you that through this video I've felt the Scotland! Thank you, this video is simply great!

[petrkucera]

Thank you very much for being such a great guide, Roman! We’ve just returned from NC500 route, which we (according to your advice) went from the west to the east and I must really recommend it. We did it in 7 days with a hired car and we even made the Isle of Skye, because some days we slept in a car and that saved us a lot of time. We didn’t visit every place in your video, but we did lot of hikes instead.
There is still a lot of places, that I would like to visit one day, so at least I am motivated to visit Scotland again. Keep going on making videos like this one, it’s super-helpful and entertaining! :)

[Victor-wtvi]

I wouldn't normally watch videos on here that are this length but I watched the whole of this one!! Am heading to Scotland in September and plan to do the nc500 route in a motorhome and this video gave me loads and loads of helpful tips so thank you for making it👌

[DanOehlsen]

Thanks for a great video tour. Glad you are expanding your repertoire to include travel and landscape. Loved that your mom was taking pics with her phone. Shows that photography is about capturing the moment, not the equipment you use. Love your down-to-earth narrative style. Keep up the wonderful work.

[brodiesandison]

Nice video Roman! Great tips on how to use passing places, allowing traffic past from behind as well as in front is very important in the busier Summer months. Looks like you had a great trip!
I’m from Northern Sutherland, if anyone reading is planning a visit I’d just add that make sure you have a bin bag in your car. Littering was a huge problem in 2020 and bins are sometimes too full to be used in the Summer. Highland Council can only do so much in terms of emptying them. Also, I've seen a lot of used tissues in passing places and on shorter paths close to the road. Ziplock bag in your jacket pocket, done! Handkerchiefs may be out of fashion but actually, in the Highlands they’re very useful. Bad weather can strike quite suddenly and tissues will probably turn to mush in your pocket if you get soaked. Not fun to clean. Bring a handkerchief instead, much better for wet weather exploring.
I’d also just add that plan your stops well in advance. Roman makes a great point about having multiple spots to stopover at on your way along the route rather than using one central base. It’ll help reduce road traffic, you’ll enjoy your days far more and you'll save money on fuel (it's not cheap in remote areas). Don’t camp by the roadside or beaches and lochs that are close to the road, instead try to use campsites and get to know the locals. They’re really friendly and you’ll pick up some great tips. Enjoy the NC500!

[alanewart]

What a great video. Thank you for the time and effort that you put into it.
I was delighted to see that you took your mum on the trip and paced it to suit her. I found the pace perfect as I am planning to do the NC500 later this year. We are moving to Scotland at the end of March and will be travelling in our camper for a couple of months before moving into our new house. One thing I would love to have seen: Your mum's view of the trip, it would have been nice to hear from her. :) Some really nice images and I really liked your drone footage. Nice work (Y)

[lancechinnian]

Love this guy's voice! Could listen to him all day.

[goatmototours]

Absolutely incredible! Exactly the information I needed. Great job on the drone shots. Will be there the first week of June 2023 on four motorcycles and was planning on dismissing the NC500 altogether and just settle on Edinburgh and Glasgow but after watching your video I am changing plans and adding extra two days to the trip just so we can do the NC500. Thank you very much and continue the great work!. Cheers from this side of the pond.

[Michael-wktf]

This video was very useful thanks. The pandemic as long gone and since then been to Scotland a handful of times. Now with your help we are staying 15 minutes from the Skye Bridge and going up part of the west 500. For us it will be September. It will be cafe to cafe with the excuse we are pensioners. Thanks again 👍

[johnquigley]

Thanks very much, really enjoyed your video. Hoping to do the NC500 soon, so was good to hear your comments very helpful

[christiegoodlet]

Thanks mate, Hubby and I are doing a self drive in a year or so. Appreciate your info, cheers from the Sunshine state of Queensland, Australia 🇦🇺 👍

[HanadiVlogs]

YES ROMAN! Love this Video! Worth every minute, amazing Videography, Photography and incredible edits. Keep it up 💪🏽❤️

[Brightsparks]

Simply the best and most informative video I have seen on the NC500. A great balance of super images and very useful information all in a structured package

[stephencooper]

I cycled this with my dad in 2013 - he passed away this Winter. Good memories!

[gillianyeaman]

Love your photography Roman. Interesting video. Thank you

[septormusic]

Aye aye Roman, i enjoyed your whistle stop tour, as a Scot i am fortunate that i can visit these places easier than yourself but probably dont often enough. where to go and when?? middle of summer deff be the best time for you as you are spot on about the daylight hours and if your lucky maybe some better weather. after Loch Ness, i would head down to the Kyle of Lochalsh, just beautiful, once you are there spare a day or two to visit Skye, base yourself near Portree, a smashing wee town and a great place to kick back and enjoy a nice meal and a beer in the evening, and go see some of the most amazing scenery of which there is loads to see all over the island, Niest Point, Old Man of Storr, The Quiraing and Elgol too name a few, its busy in summer but you wont be disappointed. Well done for pointing out the litter, that drives me crazy. pleased you and your Mum enjoyed your wee visit and, Haste ye Back ; 0 ]