Scotland - NC500

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Towards the end of August i'm planning on going up to the far north of Scotland, i'll be using the NC500 route as a basis.

What weather should i expect & how friendly are the locals? I'd be guessing rain for weather but i've not been that far north since i was a very little'un.

At the moment I've got an idea of what i want to do on day 1:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Inverness/Applecross/Kenmore/Torridon/Kinlochewe/Talladale/Kerrysdale/57.7731187,-5.5958725/57.8354346,-5.5796195/58.050972,-4.9349177/@57.7084921,-5.4400188,8.5z/data=!4m47!4m46!1m5!1m1!1s0x488f715b2d17de2b:0x624309d12e3ec43d!2m2!1d-4.224721!2d57.477773!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e810ba82c3f4d:0x9e1276b3016162ed!2m2!1d-5.809727!2d57.4319012!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e7dc90a525793:0xa0c681c77df88d0!2m2!1d-5.750724!2d57.551088!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e618b4e88b1f1:0x61bb8e8840f4772e!2m2!1d-5.5133569!2d57.5468767!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e5eb7521fb751:0xa0c681c77df7cc0!2m2!1d-5.299226!2d57.604025!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e664ff33bda43:0xa0c681c77df9000!2m2!1d-5.502167!2d57.673691!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e655f3153cd9f:0x79170c9c6070113b!2m2!1d-5.656357!2d57.6974166!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

Staying over at the "The Altnacealgach Inn"

Then on day 2 being mostly a recovery day:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Bettyhill+Hotel/@58.5247176,-4.2247801,17.5z/data=!4m75!1m69!4m68!1m6!1m2!1s0x488fcd1f597e60e1:0xedc2e01dbbfbadda!2sLoch+Borralan,+Lairg,+Highland!2m2!1d-4.9472959!2d58.0527792!1m6!1m2!1s0x488e26f5440e65ad:0x809a696085cbf6a2!2sClachtoll!2m2!1d-5.331837!2d58.193948!1m6!1m2!1s0x488e29991a2be971:0x189d4c2c0a90ca41!2sDrumbeg!2m2!1d-5.202242!2d58.243211!1m6!1m2!1s0x488e2ab34e973031:0x14961c07c1584915!2sUnapool!2m2!1d-5.009297!2d58.250026!1m6!1m2!1s0x4891d41cb00fc467:0x8ee8495476ea1b52!2sScourie!2m2!1d-5.1520634!2d58.3517726!1m6!1m2!1s0x48902dedae18cd11:0xa2aded1e0045da0a!2sRhiconich!2m2!1d-4.9891!2d58.42476!1m6!1m2!1s0x4890395fe0758cdd:0x6e45ef344b056e4a!2sDurness!2m2!1d-4.7468816!2d58.5685565!1m6!1m2!1s0x48903c905447e57d:0xa0c681c77df7810!2sHeilam!2m2!1d-4.6537456!2d58.50285!1m3!2m2!1d-4.4175532!2d58.4761677!1m6!1m2!1s0x4890092d2a23b333:0x6e3b60f4bc81766b!2sBettyhill!2m2!1d-4.222343!2d58.525222!3e0!3m4!1s0x0:0x590d3d48ff9221ff!8m2!3d58.5245121!4d-4.2238831

B5234FT · Brolly Dolly Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Karma :

I did it last week and thoroughly recommend it!

For weather, expect/prepare for EVERYTHING. You should be just about safe from snow, but on our trip we had everything from blazing sunshine to pouring rain and lots of wind.

Locals are as friendly as most places, which means they're individuals! As a general rule, Scotland is pretty friendly and the NC500 route is well used to people touring, including bikers.

How many days are you going for? Where are you coming from? What do you want from the holiday?

For just riding, fine, but if you actually want to see anything then your first day is far too long imho.

We were ruled by late notice hotel bookings, but we did the following:

Day 1 - Laurencekirk to Wick We stopped at Balintore/Shandwick and again at Dunrobin Castle, probably half an hour each. That was a fairly long day.

Day 2 - Wick to Bettyhill - lots to see in this corner, so slow going, but we could have gone a little further, aim was Durness, but everywhere was full.

Day 3 - Bettyhill to Poolewe - saw Smoo Caves and the gardens at Inverewe - lots of single track along the North coast and slow progress.

Day 4 - Poolewe to Kyelakin - A shortish day, we did the Applecross loop for lunch, checked into the hotel and then did Eilean Donan Castle before going to Plockton for dinner

Day 5 - Kyleakin to Inverness - did a lap of the island, the fairy pools, old man of Stor etc and then back accross to Inverness, we cheated and took the A97, which is a good way to cover the ground more quickly.

Day 6 - Inverness home. Did inverness city and then Culloden on the way.

You wont have the extra day in Skye, and you can skip some of the 'sights' but dont expect to cover ground in Google maps style with no stops.

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

I thought day 1 might be a bit too much, i reckon if i split that up into two days that would be best.

I've got the 22nd of Aug up till the 1st of Sept off work so i can go as slow as a need.

I'll be going up from Blackburn/Darwen, looking at le google it's a six hour ride up to Inverness using the boring M6 thing.

B5234FT · Brolly Dolly Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Karma :

With time on your side, I'd spend less time riding I think. Our longer days were 4-5 hours on google maps and that was plenty.

Like I say though, if it's just for the ride then more might be fine, but it's easy to lose an hour stopping to see something interesting and you dont have that luxury if you need to be somewhere.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Awesome roads. You will not be disappointed. Two decent days riding there on some of the very best motorcycling roads the UK has to offer.

I went up there from Cumbria at the weekend. Stopping at Roy Bridge on the Friday night (went up after work) and going up to Ullapool, Durness and Loch Hope on Saturday then back down via Althnaharra, Darva Moor, Tomintoul and Glenshee on Sunday.

That was a bit of an epic run though, the run back on Sunday took about 8 hours of constant high-speed hooning.

Route here

Top tips.

1) Midge repellant.

2) Do NOT underestimate how grippy the roads are up there. High friction surfaces and protracted high speed riding with lots of hard cornering and braking. Make sure you have a good pair of tyres with LOTS of tread left on. The roads will chew up your tyres and spit them out easily twice as quickly as "normal" roads.

3) Be aware of fuel stops. The more bothersome places way up North now have pay at pump which removed some of the Sunday opening problems but do be aware of your tank range and be prepared to do a "splash and dash" to top-up.
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B5234FT · Brolly Dolly Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Karma :

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

What Stinkwheel said regarding tyres ..............and midges .............. and fuel.

I live in Aberdeenshire and seem to spend my life changing tyres. I wouldn't camp if you can avoid it as no matter how good your defences are the midges will get through Wink

Some major avoids are A90 from Dundee to Aberdeen, A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness and the daddy of all the shit roads is the A9 from Perth to Inverness - Average speed cameras and heavily policed the full length.

To get to the good bits:

West coast take A82 to Inverness, the Loch Lomond road was ruined years ago but the run through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe is awesome.

There's no decent East coast route so given Perth as a starting point take the A93 (scenic route) heading for Aberdeen. After Glenshee (superb road but watch for sheep) and Braemar head for Tomintoul then Aviemore but take the Carrbridge exit. This will take you onto the last section of the A9 to Inverness - less than 30 miles.

Enjoy!!

B5234FT · Brolly Dolly Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Rather than making a new post I might as well update this one, I didn't end up going for reasons.

However, I am 100% percent going next weekend, hotels already booked way in advance & routes planned. I've changed my routes to include some more rest stops & photo opportunities, I'll be needing to fill up just over once a day but I'll stop for fuel more than I need too just to be on the safe side. All in it'll be a 6-day trip: 1 up then 4 around the coast & some of the nicer A roads & 1 day coming back down.

Once I've figured out an easy way (read lazy) to export the routes from my-route over to google maps so you lot can have a nosey I'll post some links.

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

Me and my wife and my mate and his missus did many of the roads on the route a couple of weeks ago. 1 night in Thurso and a night in Ullapool. Weather was variable but ok. I've ridden these roads for all my adult life and they never cease to impress. I tend not to visit the "attractions" as I've pretty much seen them all before but the landscapes just seem to get better the older I get.
Enjoy your trip.

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

As mentioned above the A9 is crap. The A93/939 is a good alternative. I rode that for the first time the other day (I regularly ride the west coast) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Got back just before 5pm after setting off at 9.30 ish, as you said fuck the A9 & all its bull shit.

Will upload pics soon (TM)

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Sunday & Monday.

Sunday

So Sunday I used as a day just to get up into Scotland, my hotel was the Tullie in which is in Balloch on the south shore of Loch Lomond.

The first picture of the tour was outside Gretna, I had to correct some chaps sign as he appears to have forgotten what happened to the Jacobites:

https://i.imgur.com/6awNUWo.jpg

Once I got to the inn I de-kitted & went for a wander up to the shore:

https://i.imgur.com/rSGQGk1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/lXKifSm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LK1fqCF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kvx895g.jpg

& on the way back a few guys on Jet ski's decided to show off:

https://i.imgur.com/LtESYZY.jpg

Monday

This was the only day I got shit weather, I didn't fancy doing my original route in heavy rain so I cut the route short.

This was the original route I planned on doing:

https://i.imgur.com/FxnLm5B.png

But I cut it down to this:

https://i.imgur.com/lNsI3vs.png

Got caught up in quite a few stretches of roadworks along the Loch shores so couldn't make much progress, not that I complained when I could look across the loch up to Ben Lomond.

First stop was at the Green Welly Stop just on the outskirts of Tyndrum:

https://i.imgur.com/Wx4kHEw.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xoGs7uZ.jpg

Once back on the road I stopped within five minutes:

https://i.imgur.com/PsQRCCc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/svZgkWT.jpg

& watched a train off in the distance which I didn't take a picture off for some silly reason.

However, I did snap someone else enjoying the road:

https://i.imgur.com/P0s3tdR.jpg

I followed the same road & stopped about 30 mins later to this:

https://i.imgur.com/OnK3lzp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Rw6opn3.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/t2Ja7TA.jpg

Didn't stop again till just after the Glencoe ski resort, not because I didn't want too, believe me I did but all the parking spots had been taken by camper vans & coaches full of tourists.

Not sure what mountain this is but google tells me its Buachaille Etive Mor:

https://i.imgur.com/EJJVCXw.jpg

Looking back from where I'd just come from:

https://i.imgur.com/4rSEcqg.jpg

I believe this is Loch Garry:

https://i.imgur.com/crObD8G.jpg

Or just a load of trees with a generous helping of mist:

https://i.imgur.com/wGKH2kZ.jpg

After about 40 mins of travel, I arrived at Kintail lodge where I was staying for Monday night.

https://i.imgur.com/oA1DtV9.jpg

Looking towards Inversheil & Ratagan:

https://i.imgur.com/QZEq3vx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/r9Z7CXR.jpg

Across Loch Duich.

https://i.imgur.com/cFyOG9U.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kq7IDaT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nCdA7an.jpg

And the hotel i stayed at:

https://i.imgur.com/D10mzMB.jpg

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Thursday.

Outside Tongue:

https://i.imgur.com/A3ijDvM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OxDdcbB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hTYm97v.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/IVBRj13.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7SOYg29.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bf0OTSZ.jpg

Dunnet head lighthouse:

https://i.imgur.com/prOR2hq.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OECX0SW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gxWTSo2.jpg

& lastly John'O'Groats (yawn)

https://i.imgur.com/2NkrSiP.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fjKaaeS.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QQYfacI.jpg

Howling Terror · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

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Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Loui5D · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :

Pics are up.

in total I did just shy of 1200 miles:

https://i.imgur.com/mA6RXAe.jpg

Got decent MPG out of it as well:

https://i.imgur.com/qDJ0C8Z.jpg