Write Up Driving Scotland's North Coast 500

[Mint]

We're now back home after driving the NC 500. A great driving holiday with the top (mostly) down. We completed just over 1,900 miles from home > home. We broke the journey up North by staying near Pitlochry for the first night and then driving through the Cairngorms up to Inverness the following day.
We then stayed at Tain, Thurso, Lochinver and Poolewe. Great scenery on the West coast and most of the motorhomes played the game and let us pass on the single track sections.
We changed the route slightly as we wanted to stay on the Isle of Skye for a few days, so after going over Applecross rather than returning to Inverness we went over to Skye. We've previously done Applecross three times, twice in pretty bad weather and once in not so bad. But this time it was superb, who knew you could see so far from the top. A great trip thoroughly recommended.
We went in the 3.0 Zed. It was its first trip out for three years and we used 56 gallons of fuel in total and my average was 33.7 MPG, pleased with that as there was a fair bit of 'spirited driving' involved. A few pics...

 

[t-tony]

Some great views there Dave, thanks for sharing mate.

Tony.

 

[Toby]

Nice Dave, pleased your sacrifice to the weather Gods paid off. Looks to have been a great trip

 

[Robert Hill]

Thanks for sharing this I should be ashamed as I live in Scotland and haven't done this run
Hats of to you weldone

 

[petecossie]

Some great views, a few potential POTM candidates among them. A great trip to do which I'd like to do myself sometime. How long did you take as a matter of interest?

 

[Mint]

...Some great views there Dave, thanks for sharing mate...

Always keen to show off where we've been

 

[Mint]

...pleased your sacrifice to the weather Gods paid off...

Not totally Toby, as on one day on Skye it p**ssed it down all day. Some fun on the roads in the wet

 

[Mint]

...I should be ashamed as I live in Scotland and haven't done this run...

Cheers Robert, it would be much easier for you, it took us four days just to get up to the start and back from Skye.

 

[Mint]

...A great trip to do which I'd like to do myself sometime. How long did you take as a matter of interest?..

We made it more of a holiday TBH Pete so we allowed time for tea rooms photographs, exploring off the route etc. We were away for 11 days. If you just drove the route without all the stops for views, tea rooms, waterfalls, you'd do it easily in three days. Plus getting from your home to Inverness and back at the end.

 

[andyglym]

Excellent Dave, most Excellent. Nice to see Child No.2 getting a good run out Great pics

 

[Mint]

...Nice to see Child No.2 getting a good run out ...

She'll be out again next week, I'll have to be careful she'll think I'm spoiling her. Then Child #1 will get a strop on and throw some codes

 

[Z Victor 1]

Beautiful scenery up there Dave, nice to see you gave the old jalopy a bit of a rest for a change. Lovely photos.

 

[Lee]

Such a nice place to drive! I've not been since Covid really need to book another road trip up there. Wonder if the coupe could fit a baby seat in the boot.

 

[t-tony]

Roof rack ................. ?

Tony.

 

[Mint]

...Such a nice place to drive! I've not been since Covid really need to book another road trip up there...

You definitely need to do it again......but a bit slower next time

 

[Mint]

...Wonder if the coupe could fit a baby seat in the boot...

I'm sure where there is a will, there's a way

 

[Stevo7682]

Great write up and great pictures Dave.
You just can't go wrong with the north west of Scotland a beautiful part of the British Isles.
Looking forward to our next trip up that way to recce the September Scottish run in just over 2 weeks.
Stephen.

 

[Nodzed]

You definitely need to do it again......but a bit slower next time

does he do slow? ..............................

 

[abh29]

Come to Wales all 30mph being reduced to 20mph.

 

[Mint]

... does he do slow? ..............................

Actually, thinking about it............no