NC500 Self Drive Tour – Spirit Journeys Worldwide

Arrive in the Highland Capital in time for Lunch. We hope you have enjoyed your trip to Inverness. Pick up your car or campervan and head towards your hotel for check-in, after check-in, why not enjoy the Highland Capital? Stroll around the city center, take a trip to Culloden, or enjoy the shops of Inverness – the choice is yours.

Overnight Inverness Hotel or Guest House.

Now the adventure begins. Follow the NC500 from Inverness, passing through the villages of Beauly and Muir of Ord. First stop Beauly, thought to be named after Mary Queen of Scotland commented on her visit in 1564. It comes from the French beau lieu or “beautiful place”. If you are an Outlander Fan there are three must-stop of places. Wardlaw Mausoleum, Lovat Hotel, owned, and Beauly Priory.

Carry on to Robertson Farm shop to see the Highland Cows, and buy some local crafts. Then onto Glen Ord Distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. Make sure you pre-book your tour and experience the distillers creating a magical malt whisky that is sweet, fruity, and subtly spicy and maybe purchase a bottle of Singleton Glenord in the distillery shop.

Head off again, driving along the Cromarty Firth (a narrow inlet of the sea), a great spot to watch seals basking on the rocks along the shoreline. Spend the latter part of your afternoon exploring the charming, Royal Burgh of Tain before arriving at the historic town of Dornoch, which also has a golden beach and championship golf course, Royal Dornoch.

Overnight Dornoch.

After an enjoyable night’s stay in Dornoch, it’s time to carry on the journey along the coast North to John O’Groats.

On route why not stop at Dunrobin Castle? This castle dates back to the early 1300s home to the Earls and later, Sutherland’s Dukes of Sutherland.

Carry on the north, and we will find ‘Carn Liath’, one of the most enigmatic and complex prehistoric structures – the broch. Built during the Iron Age Brochs were massive, drystone towers. Some of these could reach 40 feet high. Most brochs are now in ruins, but Carn Liath is one of the prehistoric highlights on the North Coast 500.

Carry on the north, and we will find ‘Carn Liath’, one of the most enigmatic and complex prehistoric structures – the broch. Built during the Iron Age Brochs were massive, drystone towers. Some of these could reach 40 feet high. Most brochs are now in ruins, but Carn Liath is one of the prehistoric highlights on the North Coast 500.

There are many other castles on the way to John O’Groats, Old castle of Wick and Castle Sinclair are both worth a stop if time allows. Also, one other stop we recommend is Whaligoe Steps. These steps are built into the cliff face and lead down to the harbour area below.

Overnight John O’Groats.

After a hearty Scottish breakfast, you can now explore the most northerly point of the Scottish Mainland. But first, get your photos taken by the famous John O Groats signpost.

Visit Duncansby Head. Duncansby Head has two spectacular sea stacks, the largest being 60 metres high. Enjoy the beautiful views and the sea air at the most North Easterly tip of Scotland. Wander along the coast and enjoy the views.

If you wish to see another castle, how about adding in a private tour and lunch at the Queen Mother’s Pad? Britain's most northerly castle with beautiful views across the Pentland Firth over to Orkney. Once the home of the Queen Mother. Enjoy walking in the walled garden, around the Animal Centre, and enjoy the Castle Shop for some beautiful gifts.

Carry along the coast to your overnight stop in Durness.

On the eastern edge of Durness, be sure to take the 20-minute cave tour of one of Britain’s largest sea caves, set into limestone cliffs. Smoo Cave was formed over many thousands of years and was originally a small swallet cave, carved along a weak fault line. Then head for some “Chocaholics Heaven” with a visit to Cocoa Mountain. It is one of the best reasons to travel to Durness to taste their amazing hot chocolate served at Cocoa Mountain cafe. You will never have a better mug of hot chocolate. Probably the most geographically remote chocolate producer in Europe! Spend some time exploring Balnakeil Bay, looking onto Cape Wrath admiring Sango Sand’s sights before taking the loop south to Ullapool. On this route, the scenery is impressive. The area may lack prehistoric and historical sites, but it certainly makes up for it with magnificent panoramas and landscapes, so take your time driving and enjoy the views.

Overnight Ullapool

Get ready for another epic day and some spectacular scenery and incredible roads. Enjoy some of the best scenery in Scotland and maybe spot a deer or two.

Stop at Inverewe Gardens, a pretty and extensive estate and gardens, instigated by Osgood Mackenzie in 1862. Inverewe House is now a museum with a twist, where you are encouraged to interact with a variety of objects, play games and even take a piece of Inverewe home from our seed bank. The Sawyer Gallery hosts exhibitions throughout the year that reflect the characteristics of Inverewe and the surrounding environment.

Driving around the coast, we pass through the villages of Poolewe, Gairloch, Badachro (great gin distillery here), and Shieldaig before driving along the Applecross peninsula. On this stunning peninsula is a small “Shangri la” village called Applecross, a beautiful little fishing village. Visit the Heritage Centre, the Smoke House, Walled Garden TeaRooms, walk along the shore. Maybe visit the award-winning Applecross Inn and try their specialty of Pasta with Squat lobster (My favourite). Visit the old church, which is reputed to be the site of the first Christian Church. The settlement is linked with St. Máelrubai (Old Irish form) or Maelrubha, who came to Scotland in 671 from the major Irish monastery of Bangor, County Down. He founded Aporcrosan in 672 in what was then Pictish territory and was the monastery’s first abbot, dying on 21 April 722 in his eightieth year.

Overnight Applecross.

On the Road back.

Today is the last leg of your journey, and we head back to Inverness, but not before you experience the Beallach! Leaving Applecross, you will find yourself at the spectacular Bealach na Bà. “Bealach na Bà” is Gaelic for ‘Pass of the Cattle’. This route will take you along one of the most dramatic mountain roads in mainland UK, rising to 626 metres(2,054ft) above sea level; the third-highest Road in Scotland. The rest of your journey will take you through Strathconnon, Lochcarron, Achnasheen, and Achanalt on Garve and after that, you are back into Inverness.

I hope you have enjoyed the NC500 as much as we do.

Drop off your vehicle and start your journey home

Gur math a thèid leibh! agus Slàinte mhath!