Your NC500 Guide: Why Use a Campervan?
You’ve read the maps, you’ve watched the stunning drone footage, and you’re ready to tackle a North Coast 500 road trip – Scotland’s answer to Route 66, but with more kilts and fewer cacti! But the moment of decision has arrived: how will you travel?
You could hop between B&Bs, book hotels months in advance, or wrestle a massive RV-sized motorhome around single-track roads. But, if you want the authentic, agile, free-spirited NC500 experience, there is only one true champion: the trusty campervan.
This isn’t just about transport to-and-fro; it’s about freedom, flexibility, and unlocking the very best of the Scottish Highlands. Here’s a detailed, factual, and fun look at why a compact campervan (we’re talking VW Transporter size, not a double-decker bus) trumps every other option for this iconic Scottish journey!
Ready? Let’s go.
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
1. Why a Campervan? You Beat the Bookings!
If you’ve ever tried to book accommodation along the NC500 route during peak season (Summer, and increasingly, September), you know the itinerary headache. Rooms in popular spots like Ullapool, Durness, and Applecross are often reserved a year in advance and come with a hefty price tag!
The freedom and flexibility of a campervan mean your bed is always with you.
A campervan allows you to be utterly spontaneous. Did you find a stunning wild beach just past Lochinver? Stay for the sunset, then simply pull into the nearest designated campsite or safe, approved overnight parking spot. Did the weather turn grim in one village? Pack up and chase the sunshine around the coast without losing a prepaid deposit!
This flexibility is non-negotiable on a route where the weather and your mood can change direction faster than a Highland stag.
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2. Agility Over Luxury: Mastering the Roads
The NC500 is not a motorway; it’s a challenging, rewarding series of winding coastal roads and steep mountain passes. This is where the size of your vehicle genuinely matters!
The Motorhome Menace
Large, cumbersome RV-sized motorhomes are often a nightmare on the crucial, narrow sections of the route, especially the infamous Bealach na Bà pass near Applecross. Drivers in these vehicles frequently struggle to find passing places, causing delays and annoyance for locals and other drivers.
The phrase ‘vanxiety’ was surely coined on the Bealach’s hairpin bends!
The Campervan Cruiser
A mid-sized campervan drives and handles much like a large car. This makes navigating the single-track roads, which account for a significant portion of the route, easy. You can easily pull into passing places, maintain a decent pace, and genuinely enjoy the driving experience rather than constantly worrying about the wing mirrors.
Travel Tip!
Always use passing places correctly (pull left to be passed; pull right to let oncoming traffic pass, where appropriate). Wave a thank you – it’s the unspoken Scottish law of the road!
More From The NC500!
3. Culinary Creations: Self-Catering and Savings
Eating out in the Highlands is a pleasure – the seafood is incredible – but it is also expensive, and booking dinner tables can be as tricky as finding a room!
A campervan, even a basic one, comes equipped with a small hob, fridge, and often a sink.
Feature | Campervan Benefit | Hotel/B&B Limitation |
|---|---|---|
Breakfast | Cook your own full Scottish breakfast at a scenic viewpoint. | Must adhere to B&B breakfast hours. |
Lunch | Pull over and make a sandwich or some hot soup mid-drive. | Requires purchasing an expensive lunch at a roadside café. |
Dinner | Prepare a simple pasta or stew and enjoy it outside. | Requires booking a table and paying restaurant prices. |
Savings | Significant savings on daily food costs. | Costs can quickly escalate. |
Travel Tip!
This ability to self-cater not only saves you a substantial amount of money but also means you can eat when and where you want – no 6:30pm dinner reservations strangling your schedule!
Stock up at supermarkets in Inverness before you set off, and top up at local butchers and shops along the way to support the local economy!
4. Wake Up, Shoot Off: A Seamless Experience!
This is the big one. When you stay in a hotel, you wake up in a car park (or near a car park) and then drive to the view. When you use a campervan, you wake up to the view!
Imagine this: you draw the curtains (or lift the pop-top roof), and you are looking directly out over the West Coast: the turquoise waters of Achmelvich Bay, the silent mountains of Assynt, or the rugged cliffs of Stoer. You can make a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise without putting on your shoes!
This intimate connection with the landscape is the core reason people fall in love with the North Coast 500 route. A campervan allows you to truly immerse yourself in the environment, not just cruise through it!
5. Practicalities and Preparation: Packing Smart
Travelling in a campervan forces you to be pragmatic and minimalist – a key skill for enjoying the NC500!
Essential Campervan Gear (Beyond the Basics)
- A Good Heater: Scottish nights can be chilly, even in summer. Ensure your van has a fully charged leisure battery and a functioning auxiliary heater.
- Midge Repellent: The infamous Scottish midge is a summer scourge. Having a secure, bug-free living space (with net screens on the windows) is a sanity saver. Smidge is the essential repellent!
- Waterproof Storage: Space is always at a premium. Invest in small, stackable storage bins.
The Campervan Ethos: Responsible Tourism
With great freedom comes great responsibility. The increase in NC500 traffic has led to issues with irresponsible ‘wild camping.’
Travel Tip!
You cannot legally park and camp anywhere you please. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code applies primarily to non-motorised access (e.g., tent camping, walking). Always use designated campsites, official overnight parking spots (often operated by community groups for a small fee), or private land with permission.
Use the ‘Leave No Trace’ principle – take all rubbish with you and use appropriate facilities for waste disposal. Be kind to the communities you visit!
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Your NC500 Summary: Campervan Benefits
Category | Campervan | Hotels/B&Bs |
|---|---|---|
Flexibility | Maximum: Stay anywhere (responsibly). | Minimal: Must adhere to rigid pre-bookings. |
Cost | High initial rental, low daily operating costs (food, low camp fees). | Low initial booking, high daily running (food, luxury rooms). |
Access | Excellent: Handles single-track roads easily. | Good: Limited by car size only. |
Immersion | Total: Wake up in the view. | Limited: Wake up near the view. |
Stress Level | Low (once settled): Focus on driving and views. | High: Stress of booking and timing all meals/stops. |
The NC500: That’s Why You Need a Campervan!
Forget the rigid schedules, the stressful bookings, and the fear of missing out on that perfect moment. The campervan is your ticket to an NC500 defined by spontaneity, panoramic views, and true Highland adventure.
So, choose the wee home on wheels, pack your waterproofs, and get ready for a journey where the road is the destination and every morning is a new, breathtaking postcard.
Happy travels!
Useful Links
- The Official NC500 site – for local info!
- CalMac Ferries – book well in advance!
- Met Office – check the weather!
- Traffic Scotland – for route changes and updates.
- WalkHighlands – the best hiking trails and tips.
- Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) – be informed!
- Highlands2Hammocks (That’s us!) – for our online shop, other blogs, and brand-new campervan rental service.
