North Coast 500: How to Plan by Private Car

The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile loop around the far north of Scotland, starting and finishing in Inverness. It takes in mountain passes, white-sand beaches, sea stacks, castles and some of the emptiest roads in Britain. It's also a lot of driving, much of it on single-track roads with passing places, which is exactly why more people now do it with a private driver.

This guide covers how long to allow, a day-by-day plan, where to stop, and how travelling by private car changes the trip.

How long do you need for the NC500?

You can drive it in three days, but you'll spend most of that time behind the wheel. Here's how the options compare:

Trip length	What it feels like
3 days	Fast. One or two main stops a day and long driving days
5 days	The pace we'd suggest for most people. Time for beaches, short walks and a distillery
7 days	Relaxed. Room for hiking, photography, boat trips and bad-weather days

If you're starting from Edinburgh or Glasgow, add half a day at each end to get to and from Inverness. Edinburgh to Inverness is about 157 miles on the A9.

A 5-day NC500 itinerary (anticlockwise)

Most people drive the route anticlockwise, heading west from Inverness first, so the west coast scenery comes early.

Day 1: Inverness to Applecross

Head west through Achnasheen towards Lochcarron, then take the Bealach na Ba, one of the steepest roads in Britain, over to Applecross. On a clear day the view from the top reaches across to Skye. The pass is narrow, twisting and not suitable for large vehicles, and in snow or thick fog the coast road via Shieldaig is the sensible alternative.

Day 2: Applecross to Ullapool

Follow the coast road north to Shieldaig and Torridon, some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. Carry on through Kinlochewe and along Loch Maree to Gairloch, where there are beaches and boat trips, then up to Ullapool for the night. Ullapool is a proper working harbour town with good seafood.

Day 3: Ullapool to Durness

This is the day most people remember. Stop at Ardvreck Castle on the shore of Loch Assynt, then take the minor road to Achmelvich Beach, a small bay of white sand and clear water that looks like somewhere much further south. The road then winds north through Scourie and Kylesku to Durness, where you can walk down into Smoo Cave.

Day 4: Durness to John o' Groats

The north coast is quieter and more exposed. You'll pass the long beaches at Tongue and Bettyhill before reaching Thurso. Make time for Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain, which is usually more impressive than John o' Groats itself.

Day 5: John o' Groats to Inverness

Head south down the east coast past the Duncansby Stacks and through Wick. Dunrobin Castle near Golspie, with its formal gardens, is worth a stop, and the Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain makes a good last visit before the run back into Inverness.

Why do the NC500 with a private driver?

Single-track roads are tiring. Large parts of the west and north coast are single-track with passing places. It needs constant attention, pulling in for oncoming traffic, and plenty of reversing when a campervan appears round a bend. A driver who knows the roads takes that stress away.

Everyone gets to see the view. When you're driving the Bealach na Ba or the road above Loch Assynt, you're watching the road. As a passenger you actually see the scenery.

Distilleries without a designated driver. Scotland's drink-driving limit is lower than in the rest of the UK. With a private driver, everyone in the group can try the whisky.

No car to return. You can start in Edinburgh and finish at Inverness Airport, or go straight on to your next stop, without one-way hire charges.

Local knowledge. Where the passing places are, which beaches are worth the detour, and which roads to avoid in bad weather.

What a private NC500 tour costs

The NC500 is a multi-day trip, so we price it on the number of days, the miles and the vehicle. For a sense of scale, our 10-hour private day tours from Edinburgh start from £500 in a saloon, for the whole car rather than per person. Send us your dates and group size and we'll come back with a fixed quote.

Where to stay

Accommodation on the NC500 is limited and books up months ahead for June, July and August. Book rooms before anything else, then plan the driving around them. Ullapool, Durness, Thurso and Dornoch are the usual overnight bases.

Best time to go

May, June and September usually offer the best balance of long daylight, fewer campervans and fewer midges. July and August are busiest. Winter trips are possible but some accommodation closes, days are short and the high passes can close in snow.

Planning an NC500 trip with a driver? Tell us your dates and group size and we'll put together a fixed quote. See our private tours or get in touch. For a shorter Highland trip, try the Edinburgh to Fort William scenic journey.