NC500 - North Coast 500 route in Scotland launched

This is a tourism initiative to encourage visitors to explore the outer reaches of the Scottish coast

They are about to launch the website:

www.northcoast500.com

I expect they will promote accommodation historic sites etc plut the photographic opportunities

Would be a great 2 / 3 day tour giving time to stop and enjoy it

Route here: https://goo.gl/maps/zwBd8

I'd love to ride it mid summers weekend but you would need to watch your fuel stops on a Sunday - ridden 'most' of it, but never given it enough time to enjoy it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/t...rip-past-fairytale-castles-beaches-ruins.html

 

With the right weather it's awesome....

Would def love to do that route someday!

 

Few images from the west coast area

 

Lol! I stopped at that very beach when I went on my own a couple years back....

Loved it on west coast, Skye etc

 

Would love to ride this in the summer. One to suggest to my mate as a possible weekend away

 

You lot don't need to come up here.

It's full of traffic and police, and it would just waste it for you

 

That looks awesme.

Al, Col- June 2016?

 

The photos look amazing. I would love to do the route, the only issue is... the weather.
Almost all my friends which risked the tour to Scotland... got home soaked ;-(
So, given that it is 600miles to Inverness from Surrey vs. 550miles to Switzerland... so far, I have always opted for 'South'
But... if there would be a forecast of 5-6 days of sun in Scotland (I know, it is a long shot!), I'd be up for a trip.

 

So far the last 3 years in Scotland for us has been bloody great, dry and best of all....midge free . Already booked cottage for Sept 5 th this year for another fun packed,midge free, seat of your pants week

 

loks amazing and if the weather is right, biking nirvana! Id be up for a meet and try this in the summer if possible

 

would love to do that route! the only problem is i wouldn't want to come back.

 

Cracking route there Al. So when are we going

 

did that last year with some mates ,hope to do it again this year.
my mate got a £100 fine for a small reg number up there ,so put yer big plates back on.

 

Added route to first post - but here is too: https://goo.gl/maps/zwBd8

 

I've done the whole of the Scottish coast and also took in Skye, Harris and Lewis, awesome roads and a beautiful country with some of the friendliest folk you could meet. I did it in June a few years back 9 days and weather was a bit mixed but you dont get lochs and moutains without rain! Been to Switzerland 5 times on all but 1 occasion got soaked thats the risk with Alpine conditions. Applecross is fantastic and the road around the top of Scotland from Cape Wrath to John O groats is awesome. Loch Maree, Ullapool and then on the other side the A9 also good. But you have to do Glencoe and Rannoch Moor biker heaven, watch the deers!.....and the bloody midges

 

I guess the website will cover it once it goes live, but if anyone has any recommended places to eat/drink and bike friendly B&Bs on route, then post them up!

 

Ullapool has good selection of stuff, also Gariloch great little place

Applecross is becoming expensive, but a possible option are the camping 'pods' at applecross campsite where you just need to take a sleeping back. (they provide matresses and the huts are secure and have electricity. Its a great place to watch the sunset over Skye with a pint in hand on the benches out the front, then good food and wander the 5 mins to the campsite up the hill.

 

Rode this route a few times, thought the route along the top from west to east wasn't the greatest, same with the A9 down from John O groats to Inverness, all the roads up the west coast tourist route are fantastic, beware the midge though.

 

Tour of Scotland next year may be on the cards next year.

I'll be back down the road again and have more time on my hands to organise things.

 

Count me in dude I've been counting the seconds since the last one