North Coast 500 - anyone done it?

[Kamikaze Bob]

After my first proper tour a week and a bit ago - which me and a mate sampled some of the Highlands and enjoyed everything except a day of rain and an unexpected tyre emergency leading to a 400 mile route home - we have spent the past few days pondering where to go next year.

We both live close to Glasgow, but really want to get to the continent before the Tories make it impossible without having to go through manned border patrols. Original thought was BSB at Assen next year via the Newcastle ferry, coupled with a couple of days thru Belgium and France before ferry/train back across the water and up the road. But that kind of time away for both of us just now is out of the question; me due to having 2 autistic kids who are still young, and him due to having a couple of big dogs and a missus working shift patterns that he has to plan around.

We're restricted to 5 days, and will be camping. North of Scotland is easy for us to get to, and while having a drink (or 5) at our annual NFL Fantasy Draft Party last night, we came up with an idea. We could do the North Coast 500 in that time, including travel to Inverness for the official start/finish point. We also (again, drunkenly) roped in my dad as "support crew" to carry the tents and stuff, as one of the only hassles with our recent trip was getting on/off the bikes while laden with tent, sleeping bag, etc. strapped on.

It makes the trip close to 900 miles in a week, and given we did 400+ in a day last week that doesn't put much fear in me. We're looking at doing it in 3 days, plus a day each for up and down to Inverness. But reading up on the trip today there seems to be a lot of it single-track roads with passing places, especially the western half. Me and my mate will be travelling a helluva lot quicker that my dad, which could mean we get to the rest points and campsites a shitload faster that he would, and possibly waiting for quite a while at the end of the day.

I did see a few parts of the route where he would be able to take a different route and get ahead of us, but it would mean him missing some nice views and stuff. And part of me wouldn't mind the luggage so much - now I've done it once I have a couple of good ideas how to streamline things. But for my dad to come along it would mean hiring a car - he doesn't have one, and the missus needs ours for the kids - plus extra fuel too. Not to mention more planning to make sure he keeps up.

Anyone got any experience on the route? And any ideas on how to do the trip with our "transport manager" in tow? We're looking at late July-early August next year, so plenty of time to get everything in order.
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2001 Honda VFR800fi

[B5234FT]

Did it over the summer in 5 days from Aberdeen, could have spent a lot longer.

You wont be travelling as quick as you think as a lot of it is very stop/start.

It's a great trip, but personally I'd keep the routes the same for you and your dad and meet for lunch, as youll need/want longer breaks than he will and it'll come out in the wash.

[stinkwheel]

My advice, presuming you are talking about motorcycling and not cycling, MTFU and do it unsupported.

My 8 stone wife did it with all her camping gear, starting and finishing in York, taking in Orkney and Shetland, up via Braemar and carrying on back down the West coast through Fort Bill and on down Loch Lomond side then through Dumfriesshire, on a GPZ305.

So what's your excuse?

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/summer%202009/dscn0128.jpg

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/summer%202009/dscn0137.jpg

From Glasgow, you could easily do that as a 2-nighter. Applecross day 1, somewhere East of Durness day 2, home day 3.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Kamikaze Bob]

Not a case of not manning up, the idea came from some drunken talk after finding out the plan for Assen was a no-go. Roping in my dad gives him something to do, as he's retired and needs things to help him keep busy (I've tried to convince him to take his test, flat out refusal). And he'd get a kick out of the trip anyways. Or he could decide it was all drunk talk!

With my Kriega pack and dry bag, I had to wrap my sleeping bag in a bin bag to keep it dry and carry that with a cargo net on top, with me squeezing in front of it all. Not the most comfortable, but my mate was worse, with a massive not-so-dry backpack from his brother being moved about by what was lashed to the back of his ZZR1400. A few lessons learned tho, I think we can streamline things a bit on that front if needed.
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2001 Honda VFR800fi

[ebo]

Hey dude

ive just started looking into doing this aswell theres a facebook page and a app for it 😉

I reckon i need to look into apropriate packing to last a week on the bike if the mrs is involved ill need a suppor van too hahahah
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Srad 600 - 750 fitted, big carb upgrade, swona exhaust, k1 wheels, k2 usd's & triangle swing arm, 45t rear sprocket, k1 tail end, K1 clocks, r1 throttle mod. Future plans include a turbo and k8 speedo, stubby levers and a radial mc.

[Tdibs]

100% do the applecross pass.

100% dont go at the height of midge season.
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[Enduro Numpty]

The Bealach na Ba route to Applecross is ok if it's not heaving with camper vans otherwise it's not worth the hassle. Also the road between Kinlochewe and Applecross (Wester Ross Coastal Trail) has beautiful scenery but can be ruined by fuckwits that won't use passing places. I did it recently under protest with a mate who hadn't done it for 30 years and wanted to do it. Bealach na Ba was ok but getting to Kinlochewe was just a drag.

As for your time frame - easy. Have you considered not camping? Makes life so much easier.

[ebo]

Turns out ive got three days off in october so may chin the mrs dependin on the weather 🏍🏝
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Srad 600 - 750 fitted, big carb upgrade, swona exhaust, k1 wheels, k2 usd's & triangle swing arm, 45t rear sprocket, k1 tail end, K1 clocks, r1 throttle mod. Future plans include a turbo and k8 speedo, stubby levers and a radial mc.

[Enduro Numpty]

Me and the wife have 3 days on the bike over on the West coast in a couple of weeks, hope the sun keeps shining. What's the chances

[ebo]

Fingers crossed buddy.

Right just had a though atm its getting darker earlier... so what time will it be dark in october?

I reckon if we leave after her work on the friday we will get to inverness for about 5pm and itll proberely be dark. That may add a day onto the trip either that or weve gotta do 250 miles a day sat and sun then the remainder home in the dark which isnt the end of the world i guess but hpw likley do you think it is to manage that?

Cheers ebo
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Srad 600 - 750 fitted, big carb upgrade, swona exhaust, k1 wheels, k2 usd's & triangle swing arm, 45t rear sprocket, k1 tail end, K1 clocks, r1 throttle mod. Future plans include a turbo and k8 speedo, stubby levers and a radial mc.

[Enduro Numpty]

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/inverness

Sunrise and sunset times.

250 miles a day is no bother and by October hopefully most of the tourists will be gone. Me and the wife do a couple of 400 - 500 mile day trips from Aberdeenshire every year. The key to it all is decent weather.

The NC 500 is just marketing and it is working - lots of cafes, hotels etc.. are doing well out of it which is fair enough. If time is tight don't stick rigidly to the route. Like I said previously, the Kinlochewe to Applecross to Lochcarron route is very slow and time consuming. If you're looking to save time I'd miss this out and head to Achnasheen directly from Kinlochewe.