The North coast 500 Route / Scotland

With a motorhome, you can enjoy the freedom of the road and choose any direction to head to during your next motorhome holiday trip! In this article, Touring Cars has thoroughly planned and developed a route for the North Coast 500 that you can take for your next motorhome adventure.

The North Coast 500 (NC500) is a 516-mile (831 km) scenic route around the northern coast of Scotland that starts and ends in Inverness. It offers breathtaking views of Scotland’s marvellous landmarks and untouched natural beauty, which you have the chance to experience when booking a motorhome adventure from our Glasgow/Edinburgh rental station.

The Scottish Highlands, offering unique experiences and stunning views in all seasons, can be visited throughout the year. However, please take precaution and pack some warm clothes as Scottish weather can be unpredictable.

We recommend booking spots from camping grounds well in advance when planning to travel during the high season (June-August) as they fill up quickly during this time. For more information regarding camping grounds, you can visit: Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club.

The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only. Touring Cars does not make warranty of any kind, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, or availability of the roads. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL TOURING CARS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE SUGGESTED TRAVEL ROUTE. YOUR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS SOLELY YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY.

For more information on the weather forecast in this destination, please, visit the website of the national meteorological institute of the UK.

After relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere of the city life, it is time to hit the road again! Whilst we hope that you will get to experience the entire beauty which the North Coast 500 has to offer, there are some places we want to highlight that are by the official route. One of them being the Black Isle.

The Black Isle is a peninsula located 30 minutes away from Inverness

During your visit, you can spend your whole afternoon enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of it. We recommend first visiting the town of Fortrose, where you can park your motorhome before heading to the city centre to see ruins of the Fortrose Cathedral. Afterwards, you can walk towards the Fairy Glen waterfalls to marvel at impressive waterfalls surrounded by green scenery. Stroll along the Rosemarkie beach and spot bottlenose dolphins that live in the waters of Moray firth by either reaching the Chanonry point or by taking a private boat tour from Cromarty town.

Visit a prominent place featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet Fire

After spending your afternoon at the beautiful Black Isle, you can hit the road again to enjoy unparalleled views whilst driving through seaboard villages and hidden gems such as Dingwall and Evanton. Stop at Evanton to take a break from driving, stretch your legs and walk to the Flyrish monument located on a hill. At this height you can experience the stunning views Easter Ross has to offer and even visit the Black Rock George – a narrow canyon which was featured in Goblet Fire, a Harry Potter movie. Then continue your journey to Invergordon and Portmahomack.

Taste Scottish cuisine

Park at a camping ground in Portmahomack for the night and enjoy your evening by visiting a local restaurant to experience national Scottish cuisine. Order Haggis or Scottish and please your sweet tooth with a dessert such as sticky toffee pudding or shortbread.

Start your day with a traditional Scottish breakfast from one of the local restaurants close to the camping grounds. Then continue your journey towards Sutherland county which makes up a large part of the North Coast 500 route. It offers awe-inspiring scenery with its scattered fishing communities, peaceful harbours and fairy tale looking castles.

Immerse yourself into the fairy tale atmosphere

With a 40-minute drive from Portmahomack you can reach the Golspie village. Park your motorhome and head to the fairy tale like Dunrobin castle. A hike through the forest area of Big Burn is perfect for when travelling with a dog.

A goodnight’s sleep by the sea breeze

After a short exploration of a Golspie surroundings, you can set off towards the Brora beach to watch sea wildlife and continue your journey towards Helmsdale – a fishing port with a picturesque harbour. Drive towards Lybster, located in the Northern British county Caithness, which offers vast open landscapes and spend a night at one of the beautiful camping grounds there.

Day 5 (Approx. 100 miles/161 km)

North West Sutherland

A road trip around northwest Sutherland offers views of the untouched natural landscapes and will create unforgettable memories. Catch amazing sights on camera whilst driving through this area. On the fifth day of your road trip pass impressive locations such as Bettyhill, Tongue and Durness.

Whilst in Durness, visit the limestone sea cave, Smoo Cave and stop at one of Durness’ beautiful beaches such as Ceannabeinne Beach, Sango Sands or Balnakeil Beach for a picnic or a walk along the coastline. Then continue towards the most northwestern point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath, which offers more breathtaking views.

Astonishing Kylesku Bridge

On your way to Kinlochbervie make sure to stop by the Sandwood Bay Beach. It was named as one of the most beautiful and remote beaches in Europe and on multiple international lists. After your visit, hit the road again towards Kylesku and pass by one of the local famous landmarks – Kylesku Bridge.

You can find a nearby camping ground to stay a night before continuing your journey.