Are we mad?

[gwyntaxi]

I genuinely don’t understand why it is that on so many forums and social media people comment on threads when they have nothing to say which is of value. It’s a waste of their time and potentially irritates others. I just don’t get it.

I think my questions are clear and reasonable. Does anyone who has travelled the route in August have information or views that would be helpful to us?

Thanks
Chris

Well said

 

[Vipar]

How influence people and win friends.
‘‘Tis the season to be jolly. Ho ho ho.

I love a bit of lighthearted humour. Ha ha ha

 

[gwyntaxi]

We did it five years ago with a 7.40m 'van as part of a bigger Scotland trip before anyone had ever dreamed of the NC500 and it was superb. I'm sure it's a lot busier now but I would think it's still eminently do-able and the scenery will make up for any other frustrations.
As someone else has suggested, it may be an idea to do it the 'wrong way round' i.e. anti-clockwise. You will then finish with the best of the scenery.

Hi Beltie, I am hoping to do the NC500 next year in a 7m A-class so a similar size van to you, what I want to ask is did you do the Applecross route, ( Belach na Ba), I have reason various forums that this route around Applecross is not advisable to anything bigger than a VW T5/6 but to be honest that sounds a little dramatic to be honest, I have done a similar route around the west coast and across the top from Thurso to John O’groats and down the East coast and never found any part to be a challenge. Many thanks, Gwyntaxi.

 

[TinaLes]

Kinlochbervie MH Harbour aire, £15 per night, pay at the local Spar shop apparently.
We didnt use it as we found better wilding spots ourselves.
Warning though, any where wilding is popular will be on Park4Nite, or campercontact, so expect some very close weird almost parking with people arriving sometimes quite late at night, as we did discover when we thought we had the place to ourselves.
We didnt do Skye, even though it was April as it was packed out with rental MH's even that early in the year, but we did go over the bridge to get the LPG tanks filled up, and use the great CO-OP supermarket.
Best advice would be to do anti clockwise, you should meet less oncoming traffic that way round, East to westerly direction.
Would we do it again but this time in August? I dont think so, as its busy and pitch fees go up (Sango Bay) and others, but I appreciate your holiday time constraints.
Have Fun.
LES

 

[Beltie]

Gwyn,

I'm afraid we didn't get to Applecross, which is a regret. I probably paid too much attention to the warnings! You can of course go the long way round to Applecross without doing the Bealach na Ba.
I agree, the rest of the route is fine if you're sensible.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[JJ20]

We done the NC500 in Oct 2016 and there was a couple of camp sites that turned us away even then from being totally full.
I'd 100% book campsites in plenty of time for August if it's campsites that you want. Wild camping in Scotland is pretty amazing though.

 

[stevewagner]

I genuinely don’t understand why it is that on so many forums and social media people comment on threads when they have nothing to say which is of value. It’s a waste of their time and potentially irritates others. I just don’t get it.

I think my questions are clear and reasonable. Does anyone who has travelled the route in August have information or views that would be helpful to us?

Thanks
Chris

Some people are just happy to pour scorn!

 

[BusyBuilder]

Lorries and snow ploughs do Applecross so don't see a problem, unless in a 8m van.

 

[555 FRY]

We’re thinking of doing a 3 week trip to do the North Coast 500 in August. We live in Nottingham so thinking 3 days to get up and back and a couple of weeks to do the circuit. We know it will be peak season but it’s the only time we can get away for a long enough period due to work.

I’ve read that it gets very busy. Does that mean we have to book sites way in advance? We’re happy to wild camp a fair bit. How easy will it be to find places that aren’t chocca at that time of year?

We can and will research the route generally ourselves - but is there anything else we ought to know specifically about doing it at that time of year (other than the midges)?

Thanks
Chris

 

[555 FRY]

Hi

We’re thinking of doing a 3 week trip to do the North Coast 500 in August. We live in Nottingham so thinking 3 days to get up and back and a couple of weeks to do the circuit. We know it will be peak season but it’s the only time we can get away for a long enough period due to work.

I’ve read that it gets very busy. Does that mean we have to book sites way in advance? We’re happy to wild camp a fair bit. How easy will it be to find places that aren’t chocca at that time of year?

We can and will research the route generally ourselves - but is there anything else we ought to know specifically about doing it at that time of year (other than the midges)?

Thanks
Chris

Hi there,
We have done the NC500 every year since 2010, both clockwise and anticlockwise. Obviously busier in July and August but we’ve never had a problem, always found a hook up. We travel from Preston Lancashire and allow 10 days. We do however make Ullapool our first stop and finish in Inverness travelling south from there to Silver Meadows in Edinburgh. Can’t wait for next year, last week in August again! Go for it and enjoy the magic of the Highlands. ???

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ber090]

Next year may be the first time in 40 years we will not go to Scotland. The NC 500 has changed a fantastic part of the UK to a level that spoils it for us. Change is essential but there has been no increase in infrastructure to cope with the massive increase in visitors. The issues for us: Hire M/ Hs with many drivers never driven m/h before and not on single track roads, lack of adequate number of sites, wild camping becoming unacceptable to many locals. We are continuously amazed how many car and motorcycle clubs try to do the 500 in as short a time as possible. A great idea for Scottish Tourism but a victim of its own success sadly. The only way for you is do it and make up your own mind. ?

 

[Pekepal]

Always book sites in U.K.

 

[george w menzies]

we did it in august 2015 not a lot off traffic not bad for midgies iether we stayed three days in thurso the nheaded west spent a night at auchultibue then down t

Next year may be the first time in 40 years we will not go to Scotland. The NC 500 has changed a fantastic part of the UK to a level that spoils it for us. Change is essential but there has been no increase in infrastructure to cope with the massive increase in visitors. The issues for us: Hire M/ Hs with many drivers never driven m/h before and not on single track roads, lack of adequate number of sites, wild camping becoming unacceptable to many locals. We are continuously amazed how many car and motorcycle clubs try to do the 500 in as short a time as possible. A great idea for Scottish Tourism but a victim of its own success sadly. The only way for you is do it and make up your own mind. ?

there is not enough money in the coffers to improve these little roads all at once its much more important to carry out the improvements to the A9 in some very hostile conditions.
the single track roads is what gives the NC 500 its character.

 

[Ber090]

we did it in august 2015 not a lot off traffic not bad for midgies iether we stayed three days in thurso the nheaded west spent a night at auchultibue then down t

there is not enough money in the coffers to improve these little roads all at once its much more important to carry out the improvements to the A9 in some very hostile conditions.
the single track roads is what gives the NC 500 its character.

I think you may be surprised by the increase in numbers over the last 4 years. I think I read in some Scottish paper that 2018 was 60% up on2017. I didn’t say improve the single track roads. The A9 is still poor! Infrastructure means sites, parking, toilets, rubbish disposal. The only increase I have seen is the number of Hire Companies.

 

[TUCANO]

Known about this route for years and possibly should have done it before it became tooooo popular, tough, l retire next year and we will be spending a month, or two, doing it, no rush.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[CWH]

we will be spending a month, or two, doing it, no rush.

We did roughly the same route before the marketers named it NC500. We spent 3 months and still plenty more to see.

 

[555 FRY]

Have to add to my earlier reply and say that I wouldn’t support any changes at all to the roads or infrastructure, it all adds to the character. May it always stay the same.

 

[Grianan]

We have a house just of the NC500 and travel along part of the route quite often. There have been a number of excellent points raised already.
Personally July and August would be my least favourite months because of increased numbers of visitors and midges.
However, if it’s a case of going then or not going at all stock up on Smidge (silver cans) and get either midge hoods or midge jackets. The blighters can get through any gaps (even closed double glazed windows) so watch out when you open windows and doors - if it’s windy you’re usually ok.
Scottish school holidays make little difference as most visitors are from south of the border. Cafes open according to the English holidays rather than the Scottish ones.
Do be careful to use single track roads properly and watch out for hired MHs with inexperienced drivers and convoys of touring bikes/sports cars/converted ambulances etc.
There’s a new campsite at Shieldaig with beautiful views worth a look, there’s one at Applecross too. Most sites are on the popular apps. Wild camping is possible and tolerated if you are careful, courteous and discrete.
I wouldn’t worry about doing the whole tour ... exploring round an area is probably more fulfilling.
enjoy!

 

[Potty]

One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is how far it is between shops and most are small village shops. There is a supermarket in Ullapool but you won’t see another one until Wick. Gairloch has a very good butcher but parking could be a problem. The Sands caravan site just north is right on the shore.

 

[ShaKen]

will there be any scottish people in scotland in August or will they all be in Blackpool?

I‘m afraid there’s little room for Scottish people in Scotland in August due to the masses of southerners heading our way for some clean air, outstanding views and awesome food.

Thankfully the specially bred and trained midges soon detect and weed out the haters and obnoxious and send them home with millions of throbbing bites never to return!

It is for that reason that Scottish people tend to take holidays in May/June/July - to avoid the onslaught of both southern tourists and to stay out of the way of the midges at work.
;-)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ShaKen]

Duplicate post deleted.

 

[Viennese]

We did it in 2017 in May. I would always go to Scotland in May as there are no midges and the weather is usually good. We went round anti-clockwise as I wanted to save the west coast till last. I have done the Applecross cattle road 3 times now (in a 6m PVC) but only going downhill in order to get the amazing views. We actually found a road we thought more demanding than that one, further north. I would be reluctant to do the route now as it is obviously more crowded.

 

[BusyBuilder]

Midges will also get through mozzie blinds/screens, we have found that in our Hymer, the small holes are not small enough.

 

[Captain Lloyd]

I did it in October last it was fantastic traffic free in parts didn’t see a car for 50 miles, we were told by locals in the summer can get so busy the single track roads can get gridlocked.

 

[Mike Rivers]

I agree re useless comments. Have you viewed the ‘Herman the Hymer’ (Herman Hits The Road as it is now) YouTube channel where they documented their experience earlier this year of their NC500 trip. Might be useful if only in terms of what roads are navigable by motorhome and where they stopped off overnight. Good choice for a holiday btw.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Duckato]

20-30 years ago i.e. long before there was the tourist magnet aka the NC500, we did the route regularly. Even the midges were respectful then, and if you have done the Brochs at Glenelg at that time of year recently you will know what I mean!

Would I do that particular route in August now, absolutely not, I have no interest at all in having my holiday spoilt by the sheep like actions of others.
If I want to queue all day the M25 is more than adequate thanks.

Would I go to Scotland in August though, absolutely yes.
The interior is gorgeous and its being ignored by Tourists thinking Scotland is only the NC500!

I have no interest in sharing my valuable time queuing with the great unwashed
I would be inclined to do the lesser known parts of the interior or stay East.

In fact that is what we have always done, if the weather is bad we go East typically sticking in the Cairngorms area, but if the weather is good we go West doing a bit of the West cost before diverting back to safety inland as soon as we encounter too many tourists!

 

[Terry Sweet]

Hi Chris we did the 500 in mid to late August. If you can drive ie happy to reverse up or down hill you wont have a problem. when we do it again we will do it anti clockwise, you have the best at the end. We got the book The north coast 500 guide book by Charles Tait. lots of good info. there is a great overnight stop at the top of Bealach na Ba. Take your time keep each days travel short and enjoy