NC500 on TV CH 4 tonight 8pm (3 Viewers)

[CWH]

Sounds great, what time of year would you recommend doing it?

Many amenities around here don't open till Easter (or later) and close mid to end of September, so research is needed around those times.

 

[JulianC]

We are new motorhomers this year and just completed a 16 week tour down to Greece via Italy, and back via the Balkans. Quite unbelievable. Trip of a lifetime.

But although we travelled in April, May and June, places like Kotor in Montenegro and Dubrovnik were just too overcrowded and unpleasant, especially when cruise ships pulled in. Last year we experienced the same at Sintra queuing up for ages.

As the Sunday Times reported 2 weeks ago, the news reports tell us about protests against tourists on the Spanish islands and we all know from the complaints re the NC500, overcrowding is becoming a MAJOR problem.

We'd love to do the NC500, but won't with the crowds or hostility. Just not worth it. Forget the top 10, or whatever, we now want to explore the roads less driven, off the beaten track, the hidden spots. Our world is too overpopulated. The cause of nearly all social problems. Sorry.

 

[HugoBNB]

I just came on to add this. We're hoping to go to Scotland in September, so will be watching this with interest. Do we have Jon & Sue in our midst

Going to catch it up tonight. We may well bump into you (hopefully, not in a collision sense) as we are planning to start it in early September with the hope that the midges have all gone on holiday. Safe and happy travels.

 

[enark]

Sounds great, what time of year would you recommend doing it?

Avoid school holidays, and midge season. Then winter dosent give you much light, so Mar/April or Sept/Oct…

 

[IRHP]

We'd love to do the NC500, but won't with the crowds or hostility. Just not worth it. Forget the top 10, or whatever, we now want to explore the roads less driven, off the beaten track, the hidden spots. Our world is too overpopulated. The cause of nearly all social problems. Sorry.

Go for it don't believe all you read. You definitely won't find hostile crowds.

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[cyberyacht]

Having encountered the midge on a boating holiday on the West Coast once, I have no wish to do the NC500 anytime soon!

Just the one?

 

[The general]

The power of marketing.

Hit the nail on the head !!!

 

[The general]

But it seems far too popular at the moment.

It wont return to precNC500 , only way is doing it a certain time of the yr ?

 

[CWH]

It wont return to precNC500 , only way is doing it a certain time of the yr ?

..... or a bit at a time and fully explore an area

 

[Gizmouk]

It really is hilarious how a route on existing roads that have been available for anyone to go and drive round for decades...has become like the Holy Grail of 'adventure'. The power of marketing.

We absolutely love it - but only as it keeps all the tourists away from the decent driving routes

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[BusyBuilder]

Anyone who wants to travel around the Highlands (NC500 or otherwise) should come up. The Highlands is a beautiful part of the UK, the people in general are nice too. In my view....and we go all over at various times of the year ....come in October, the weather can be fantastic, the light is best as you see a lot more without blazing (blazing ?) sunshine, and less people about.

Please ignore Facebook and other troll type infested sites, but do come prepared in case you can't sort your vans waste out. Although it is a lot better this year and there are now quite a few waste disposal points about, some charge, others want a donation. We travel with 2 toilet cassettes.

 

[InvictaMoto]

Can't be Channel 4. No barrel scraping nudity...

 

[Mclouis700]

We have.

Always have the Litter picker in the locker, and always leave a stopover cleaner than when we arrived plus lunch stops of cause!

 

[VXman]

We'd love to do the NC500, but won't with the crowds or hostility. Just not worth it. Forget the top 10, or whatever, we now want to explore the roads less driven, off the beaten track, the hidden spots. Our world is too overpopulated. The cause of nearly all social problems. Sorry.

Yet another duped by believing everything you read online or in sensationalist newspaper reports. As said before, we went just over a year ago and saw no overcrowding or hostility. Had a beautiful relaxing, interesting 3 weeks. Wales, Ireland, Cornwall is worse.

I too, like you, enjoy the road less travelled but I'm not going to miss out on some of the most interesting places either.Example, in the Balkans, Kotor was nightmare when the cruise ships came in but early morning, late evening it was beautiful.

Don't miss out, learn how to do it well.

 

[angusboy]

There are no rangers anymore just heard

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[Bonsaiman]

There are no rangers anymore just heard

Think I read the 20odd rangers that were on the route were cancelled earlier this year due to lack of funds but Sutherland have since appointed 4 rangers just for their bit of the route

Edit: Apparently the show was filmed in 2022 so already a bit out of date

 

[HugoBNB]

We watched this last night. We enjoyed it and will be watching the rest to get tips and hints ahead of our visit up there in September.

 

[HugoBNB]

Think I read the 20odd rangers that were on the route were cancelled earlier this year due to lack of funds but Sutherland have since appointed 4 rangers just for their bit of the route

Edit: Apparently the show was filmed in 2022 so already a bit out of date

Have you any idea what month it was, please?

 

[Bonsaiman]

Have you any idea what month it was, please?

Quick google search

Fears of motorhome mayhem as NC500 rangers to be axed

Ranger patrols to deter litter louts on 'Scotland's Route 66' will be axed at the end of the month due to a lack of cash. Highland Council's set up seasonal access ranger team

www.dailymail.co.uk

Outdoor access rangers start patrolling NC500 in Sutherland after funding found for posts

Sutherland councillros agreed to grant £100,000 from the Community Regeneration Fund to support the ranger posts.

www.northern-times.co.uk

Looks like they were axed in March and Sutherland brought them back in June

 

[coroner]

Beware the devil's in skirts at the top of the pass.

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[Ridgeway]

Have to say that all the times i saw NC500 i thought it was a thread about motorbikes

Looks pretty stunning from the program linked here, thanks for the tip about that. Will add it to our list of tours to do, i guess it’s a 3 weeker to do it justice ?

 

[jumartoo]

Always have the Litter picker in the locker, and always leave a stopover cleaner than when we arrived plus lunch stops of cause!

My litter picker has broken in transit. I'll order a new one the next time we order something to be delivered from Amazon.

 

[Mike59]

We are on our 3rd week touring the Nc500 at the moment, it's our first time up here and can't believe it's the same place that I've been reading rubbish about on different forums. The roads are very quiet, sometimes driving for 20minutes or more without seeing another vehicle, giving you time to stop and admire the view. All the locals we have met are happy and friendly to meet us. Some of the single track roads are badly rutted/corrugated making everything rattle and bang in your cupboards for miles. I would advise anyone to come up and enjoy it now while the days are long.

 

[CWH]

There are no rangers anymore just heard

They were only funded for 2 years and they had a huge impact. The one featured on the show covered Durness - the role removed and now look at the place

 

[The general]

Durness

Imagine! John lennon went up there as a child , NOW that must have been an adventure !

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[G-RMPS]

I lived up there as a child

 

[The general]

John lennon visited , his family drove with family up there must have took them days

 

[Langtoftlad]

They were only funded for 2 years and they had a huge impact. The one featured on the show covered Durness - the role removed and now look at the place

How so?

 

[CWH]

How so?

Tents, car campers, m/hs have invaded. More than the local population. Some dug in for the summer.

 

[IRHP]

We are on our 3rd week touring the Nc500 at the moment, it's our first time up here and can't believe it's the same place that I've been reading rubbish about on different forums. The roads are very quiet, sometimes driving for 20minutes or more without seeing another vehicle, giving you time to stop and admire the view. All the locals we have met are happy and friendly to meet us. Some of the single track roads are badly rutted/corrugated making everything rattle and bang in your cupboards for miles. I would advise anyone to come up and enjoy it now while the days are long.

Haven't done the whole route but did part up to Durness in 2021. It was the same time we were reading in the papers about tailbacks and congestions and unfriendly locals. It was complete bullocks

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