The North Coast 500 is one of the most popular road trips in the UK, combining stunning coastal views, jaw-dropping mountain scenery, fascinating history and amazing food into one epic adventure. Winding its way along the northern part of Scotland, the NC500 is a circular route that begins in Inverness and takes you on a 500-mile trip through some of Scotland’s most stunning scenery.
Before you set off on your North Coast 500 road trip, there are a number of things you will need to know about this rugged and barren part of the UK to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. These include how to get around the NC500, what to expect along your trip, where the best places to shop are and how much does it cost.
All of these North Coast 500 planning tips are discussed in the following article.
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North Coast 500 Planning Tips
With so many beautiful sights along the North Coast 500, as well as delicious restaurants, fascinating museums and breathtaking landscapes, you will want to make the most of your time on the road. In order to help you do this, we have put together this short list of North Coast 500 planning tips containing everything from petrol station locations to phone signal on the North Coast 500.
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
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RENT YOUR MOTORHOME HERE
NC500 Motorhome and Campervan Scheme
The NC500 Motorhome Scheme, officially known as the Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme, was launched by the Highland Council on July 1, 2024. This innovative initiative is designed to address the growing number of motorhomes and campervans traveling along the popular North Coast 500 (NC500) route, ensuring that their impact on the local environment and communities is managed sustainably.
The scheme offers a voluntary seven-day pass costing £40, inclusive of VAT. This pass grants motorhome and campervan users access to 12 designated overnight parking locations along the NC500 route, including scenic spots like Torvean Car Park in Inverness, Nairn Harbour, Dunnet Head Car Park, and Ullapool Latheron Car Park.
These parking spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 PM to 8 AM, with a 72-hour no-return policy at each location. This ensures that the facilities are used responsibly and that a larger number of travellers can benefit from them.
Overall, the NC500 Motorhome Scheme provides a structured and sustainable approach to motorhome travel in one of Scotland’s most scenic and popular areas. We think this is a great idea and encourage everyone to take advantage of it if you are looking to explore this road trip soon.
Read all about this new scheme in our complete guide to the NC500 Motorhome Scheme here.
For more information or to purchase a membership, travellers can visit the Highland Council’s official website.
Where to Stay in on the North Coast 500
There is a wide range of accommodations around the NC500 route, so you will not be short on options. Depending on how long you are spending in each area will depend on how long you spend in that location. It is worth bearing in mind that some accommodations will require you to stay a minimum number of nights so it is worth researching this when you are planning your North Coast 500 itinerary.
Our new book North Coast 500 Where to Eat and Stay shares the best places to eat and stay around the NC500 and includes whether places are dog friendly, accessible, have wifi and EVC ad whether they cater to dietary requirements.
Phone Reception on the North Coast 500
As you may have guessed, phone reception is very scarce throughout the majority of the North Coast 500. The best networks for signal along Scotland’s northern coast and the more remote parts of the country are reportedly EE and Vodafone. Although phone signal is not guaranteed along the entire length of the NC500, you can expect to get good coverage on these networks for the majority of your trip.
In order to prepare for this trip and the lack of cell reception, we highly recommend you download Google Maps to work offline for the area of the NC500. This will mean you can follow the directions from spot to spot without getting lost or relying on mobile data.
We also recommend either downloading your favourite music playlists or even go “old-school” with a good old CD player!
Farr Point has produced this complete interactive map of the mobile coverage across the NC500 route that is perfect for planning your trip. It details all of the UK networks reach along the North Coast 500 road trip at each point, showing you where the dead zones are.
Tips for Driving the NC500
When it comes to the North Coast 500 driving the route is half of the fun, with stunning coastal views, breathtaking mountain ranges and beautiful wildlife to look out for. With all of this beauty to take in, it is especially important that you TAKE YOUR TIME whilst driving the NC500.
A major cause of accidents and deaths along this part of the world is the result of distraction and haste, as people do not pay attention to the winding, narrow single track roads and rush between spots to see as much as possible. The best way to stay safe is to follow the road safety guidelines, drive slowly and don’t rush.
The North Coast 500 is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace. One that allows you to truly soak up the beauty of the land around you, coming to terms with how lucky we are to witness this paradise, rather than simply driving the NC500 just to get it over with.
Roads along the North Coast 500, especially on the western side, are narrow and winding, only allowing access for one car at a time in some places. On these roads, there are spots called “passing places” at the side of the road that you are meant to pull into to allow oncoming traffic to pass you.
This is part of the culture in this part of the world and by giving way to those in front of you will always be rewarded with a smile and a wave from a local, so do the right thing! Follow the outdoor access code and park appropriately to maintain safety on the roads.
There have been a LOT of issues with these passing places in recent years with people parking in these places and preventing the flow of traffic. When you are driving the narrow, beautiful roads and see a sight you want to stop and check out, DO NOT park in these passing places.
When is the Best Time to Tour the NC500?
It is no secret that the weather in Scotland is a rather fickle thing. On average, the wettest parts of Scotland experience 5 rainy days a week, while the driest experience 3 days a week. This means that choosing the right time for a road trip as epic as the NC500 requires some care and consideration.
As a general rule of thumb, the months of the year that experienced the best weather in Scotland are April, May and June. These months tend to be drier, with cooler mornings and clearer skies than later in summer. As the summer months go on, the humidity returns to the air and the rainfall begins once again, with July and August tending to be much wetter.
The additional perks of the early summer months is that (especially in April) the biting insects that are known as “midges” have not yet woken up. These bugs tend to come out when the warm rain begins and they have lots of water to lay their eggs in. It might seem crazy to base an entire trip on the absence of some bugs, however, midges are a fierce, unformidable force in the highlands that are enough to make the hardest Northman cry.
How to Travel the North Coast 500 Responsibly
Over the past few years, popularity for the North Coast 500 road trip has grown exponentially, bringing about a new problem with the local areas. The small, isolated towns and villages along this incredible route are not equipped for the large influx of visitors that the NC500 brings every year.
As a result of the huge number of people exploring this remote part of Scotland, the natural landscape is faced with a new threat of litter, human waste and soil erosion from walking off of paths. As with any trip into nature, it is important to remember that we are only a temporary visitor to this beautiful part of the world and that we must leave it as we found it for future generations to enjoy as we have.
leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories
Where are the Best Shops on the NC500
As for buying food and supplies around the NC500, choosing the right location to shop will save you a LOT of money during your trip. There are a number of large, cheap shops spread along the route, in between which you will find smaller, local shops that charge almost 2x the price for necessities.
The main shops that you want to aim for are Morrisons, Tesco, Aldi and Asda, most of which are located on the Southwestern part of the NC500. Once you head north of Dornoch you will only pass two more Tesco superstores, one in Wick and one a the end of the trip in Ullapool.
Due to the lack of shops along the route, we highly suggest you stock up in Inverness with tinned dried food, as well as plenty of snacks for the road trip. This will mean you will not need to worry about stopping at small, expensive shops along the route.
Where to Get Petrol on the NC500
Petrol stations are quite evenly spread out along the NC500, however, you should know where each of them is and how far between they are to avoid running out of gas on the road. Below is a list of each of the petrol stations on the NC500 going counter-clockwise along the route.
- Inverness (distance to next – 15miles)
- Dingwall (distance to next – 24miles)
- Tain (distance to next – 23miles)
- Brora (distance to next – 46miles)
- Wick (distance to next – 16miles)
- John O’Groats (distance to next – 20miles)
- Thurso (distance to next – 30miles)
- Bettyhill (distance to next – 40miles)
- Sango Sands (distance to next – 25miles)
- Scourie (distance to next – 53miles)
- Lochinver (distance to next – 37miles)
- Ullapool (distance to next – 56miles)
- Kinlochewe (distance to next – 37/42miles)
- Applecross
How Much Does it Cost to Tour the NC500
This unforgettable road trip on Scotland’s famous NC500 worked out a LOT cheaper than we were expecting, without us sacrificing any of the good bits. When we toured the NC500, we camped the majority of the time in the wild and drove our car the entire way, which saved us a LOT of money.
The total cost of the trip for both of us ended up being £420. If you are considering this then you should also add on any rental costs you need, plus the equipment that you do not have.
As you can see, the two largest areas of spending are food and petrol, the rest is very low. This is again due to our choice of accommodation (wild camping), as well as how much fun Scotland can be without the need to spend any money. Another reason why we love it so much!
Read the full breakdown of our budget on our complete NC500 budget guide.
North Coast 500 Guidebooks
Check out these recommended guidebooks for your road trip!
Destination NC500 is the most in-depth, relatable, and picturesque guidebook to the North Coast 500 on the market, this is Destination NC500 (now with detailed maps of each section)
It is paired perfectly with North Coast 500 Where to Eat and Stay to complete your NC500 road trip planning.
Get the ultimate Nc500 road trip combo here.
Before You Leave on the North Coast 500
Before you head off on your trip around the NC500, there are certain things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth trip. These include how to get around the route, including being aware of single track roads, etc., what to pack for Scotland, where to stay along the route and what travel insurance to book.
How Do I Get Around?
Given the remote location of the NC500 and the majority of the sights along the route, the best way to get around this road trip is by driving. There are of course other methods that are still popular, such as cycling and hiking, however, if you have a short amount of time on the route, neither of these are very suitable.
As for public transport, the use around the NC500 is understandably difficult due to how remote each location is, however, with the increasing problem of congestion along the route, this is a good option to research if you have time. If it is something that interests you, you can read a public formed itinerary of how to get around the NC500 by public transport over here.
If you are looking to rent a cosy, reliable and luxurious campervan for your trip along the NC500, we highly recommend hiring through Bunk Campers. We toured with these guys around the up-and-coming Heart 200 road trip in Scotland’s central highlands and could not believe the comfort and customer service we experienced with their vans.
Browse the full range of vehicles on offer at Bunk Campers over here.
Where to Stay on the NC500
There is a wide range of accommodations around the NC500 route, so you will not be short on options. Depending on how long you are spending in each area will depend on how long you spend in that location. It is worth bearing in mind that some accommodations will require you to stay a minimum number of nights so it is worth researching this when you are planning your North Coast 500 itinerary.
Our new book North Coast 500 Where to Eat and Stay shares the best places to eat and stay around the NC500 and includes whether places are dog friendly, accessible, have wifi and EVC ad whether they cater to dietry requirements.
The remoteness in the highlands of Scotland will leave you with little choice of accommodation in each location along the NC500, however, there are still enough options to choose from to ensure a comfortable trip. These are mostly in the shape of B&Bs, Airbnbs, converted cottages and other quirky accommodations.
Depending on how adventurous you are, there may be more accommodation choices than just the above, often with an even better view. Caravan and camping sites are abundant along the NC500, drawing camping enthusiasts from all over the world. For some of the most spectacular bedside scenery along the North Coast 500, we recommend packing a tent and getting in touch with nature for the week.
As we travelled along the North Coast 500, camped in our trusty Vango tent on a mixture of campsites and wild sites. Wild camping is a fantastic way to enjoy the beauty of the highlands, however, it must be done respectfully. Read our full guide to Wild Camping if you wish to give it a go so you know everything you need to for a comfortable and sustainable trip.
What Should I Pack?
When it comes to packing for a trip to Scotland there is one item of clothing that you are going to need all year round: a waterproof. It rains in Scotland on average 250 days a year, meaning that during your 5-day Heart 200 road trip you will probably experience at least a drizzle of rain. Due to this, the number one item on any Scotland packing list is a good waterproof jacket.
As for the rest of the year, the temperature in Scotland and the central heartlands is reasonably mild for most of the year. During the winter months, you will most likely experience snow, however, temperatures usually sit around freezing, so it is not too cold. For your reference, the average temperatures in Scotland are listed below during each season.
Spring (March, April, May) – 5-10 degrees C
Summer (June, July, August) – 15 degrees C
Autumn (September, October, November) – 5-10 degrees C
Winter (December, January, February) – 0-5 degrees C
As you can see, the weather never really gets above the teens, with anything over 25 degrees C considered a heatwave. The best way to pack for your trip to the highlands is with layers that can be added and removed as you need them. You will definitely need a hat and gloves during the colder months and will most likely need sunscreen to protect you on the long days in the open.
We would also recommend taking our NC500 guidebooks with you on your journey. This will help you plan your itinerary and ensure that you don’t miss out on any of the best places to go on the NC500. Our Destination NC500 guidebook is well paired with NC500 Where to Eat and Stay and you can buy the combo here.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around Scotland, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for the North Coast 500
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, planning tips for your North Coast 500 adventure.
As always, sharing is caring so make sure to share this guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head off on their own North Coast 500 adventure. If you are planning the trip for yourself, make sure you have a look at the rest of our Scotland content for more inspiration to our beautiful home country.
When you set off on your own adventure, be sure to tag us in your photos on Instagram and we will share them with the rest of our community. In the meantime, why not follow us over there to see what we are currently up to and keep up with us on our Instagram Stories.
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This is excellent! Exactly what I need to plan this road trip, something I’ve been wanting to do since we got home from Australia! Hopefully it won’t be too much longer and we’ll have a fully functioning van and can do this!
Thanks for all the tips this is really helpful!
Glad you found it useful Jamie and thanks for reading! Only slightly jealous of you getting to tour this in your own van haha! One day we will do the same
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