North Coast 500

[JamboDave]

https://www.northcoast500.com/home.aspx

 

Has anyone toured the North Coast 500, I am thinking about doing it beginning of next month.
What campsites do you recommend.

Edited 7 May, 2016 by JamboDave

[benbissett93]

i stay in wick and know the guy at the campsite well .. great site !! wicks quite nice aswell 

[vRSRobT]

Im hoping to do it before the summer is finished  (im sure that was last week some point lol)

[Graffiti]

Hey bud,

Not sure of campsites, but near every wee village has a site with facilities. Worth a stop in Durness, it's magical, and smoo cave is there. There's a really unique shop there to which sells things you can't get elsewhere, like fair trade crafts. Best village on the coastline.

Might add the camera van is patrolling and hiding up that way regular up NW. Take care and have a good run.

G

[benbissett93]

Yh If your defo going up pm me Il add you ti the police watch page up here on fbook hsha.. Recommended dunrobin castle in Golspie...

[JoseDB]

I did his route a couple of weeks ago showing the hotels we lunched/stayed at. Was amazing!! https://goo.gl/maps/fyPE4bE4DdU2

Video I put together here, we had 23 Audi's, an Aston and a Porker

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ColinD]

If you truly want the adventure...

 

You can wild camp in scotland. Be more than 50yards from the road, pack it in, pack it out, avoid open fires.

 

Be camped before sunset, that's sunset of the spot ( campsite ) ground, not your head. The midge will get you as soon as there is shade.

 

Wash with a morning dip in the rivers & lochs

[Wardy]

It's definitely on my 'to do' list - this year would be good as well

 

Have a plan to take my Mazda - just a fair trek of motorways to get there first! Might plan a non-motorway route to get me up there

[Wardy]

I did his route a couple of weeks ago showing the hotels we lunched/stayed at. Was amazing!! https://goo.gl/maps/fyPE4bE4DdU2

 

Thanks for the map link too - will come in handy. And Loch Fyne for a bit of food would be an ideal starting place!

[expostmanpat]

Been planning on doing it on the push bike for a while. It is just getting the right opportunity when the sun is out and the midges not.

[ColinD]

It's definitely on my 'to do' list - this year would be good as well

 

Have a plan to take my Mazda - just a fair trek of motorways to get there first! Might plan a non-motorway route to get me up there

 

Avoid Glasgow/Stirling band any time between 3pm and 7pm. I caught it at 3:30 the other day and took a 2hour hit to my day. Caught it at 6:15 the day before and took a 1hr hit. It's crazy, made some of it up once north mind Watch out if zipping up the A9 and if coming back down as you head to cumbria on the m-ways.

 

Really M-way and cruise at 70, the goal is north of the flatlands, relax till you need to focus

[ColinD]

Been planning on doing it on the push bike for a while. It is just getting the right opportunity when the sun is out and the midges not.

 

Any time after May The midge can't keep up in a breeze or above 4mph. Although some seem to.

 

Would be really nice on a bike too. Prob harder than the alps though as many many more indistinct hillocks.

[Wardy]

Avoid Glasgow/Stirling band any time between 3pm and 7pm.

Oh yeah, know what you mean - I know it well! Have family up that way.

[expostmanpat]

 

 

Would be really nice on a bike too. Prob harder than the alps though as many many more indistinct hillocks.

 

Yeh the French very kindly seem to keep Gradients constant and pegged at app 10%!! 

 

Most of my training these days is in the Dales or Forest of Bowland so constant undulations are pretty common place

[benbissett93]

drove from Wick to ullapool via durness 

the ullapool to wick via lairg on saturday !!

 

absolutley beautiful day .. 23 degrees all day ! 

views and the roads are unbelievable ! will be doing this regularly i think !!

[WeirdKerr]

Beautiful roads.... I've done the route at various times over the years... just not all in 1 trip and before it was known as NC500

[ColinD]

Anyone want to do this, this weekend/early next week?

 

I have a vRS230 on loan as of tomorrow for the week. Need to be up and back to Sheffield thu/fri to wed/thu.

 

I can get you on the press insurance etc Will be a bit quicker than the 5day camping itinerary plan... can discuss.

 

I'll be going clockwise and grabbing some of the outlier Munros too I think for one of the days. Got to get some video too

[benbissett93]

whats the route your taking as im in wick !!??

[ColinD]

Was going to follow the 500 map; roughly, with a diversion to Ben More Assynt. The road passes the base

 

https://www.northcoast500.com/interactive-map.aspx

[benbissett93]

Ok colin... What day u planning heading to wick?

[ColinD]

Done some planning today, it's around 1300 miles.

 

A lot of driving, not too much, but getting close to it.

 

Then I've got to do the video/story bit... after a bit more planning I'm not sure I can do it, not with a few other things I must get done this week.

 

I still want to do it all and I reckon we should firm something up for later in the year. Given sep/oct is ideal weather too. I can be up there to see a client and kill two birds, or 700 miles on business

[benbissett93]

Yh defo mate... U get me a date... Preferably a weekend I'll meet u out west in my octavia and tour back in?

[StevesTruck]

Done some planning today, it's around 1300 miles.

 

A lot of driving, not too much, but getting close to it.

 

Then I've got to do the video/story bit... after a bit more planning I'm not sure I can do it, not with a few other things I must get done this week.

 

I still want to do it all and I reckon we should firm something up for later in the year. Given sep/oct is ideal weather too. I can be up there to see a client and kill two birds, or 700 miles on business

 

45p/mile off the tax bill?

[ColinD]

Definitely off the tax bill but also out of my own pocket... robbing colin to pay colin.

 

I like the idea of meeting up along the way and enjoying the sections. I've got a few ideas for spots to film/camp (50m off road) from a quick run around on google maps.

[benbissett93]

if we can organise one for next summer get a big group planned ?? more the merrier and potter round it in like 4 or 5 days ?