Graham Posted May 23, 2019 Report Share Posted May 23, 2019 Anybody done the north coast 500 ? thinking about a trip in BUO now she's all finished and run in, the blurb on the web looks fantastic but wanted to find out if the substance livid up to the advertising ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 23, 2019 Report Share Posted May 23, 2019 Hi Graham, have done the NC 500 many many times before it was the NC500. With a dash of sunshine it is quite stunning. Sadly because everybody and their uncle know about it it can get busy. If you want a little less traffic - go up the East coast to JoG across the top to Cape Wrath and then down the West Coast. Stopping at Fort William for a day out on the Jacobite 'Harry Potter' steam run. - book tickets in advance. Investigate AppleCross - pop in for some very decent food. The run down the middle from the North coast is beautiful but can be busy. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TorontoTim Posted May 23, 2019 Report Share Posted May 23, 2019 Graham - this might fit better in the "Epic Drives" section. Any objection to moving it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted May 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2019 27 minutes ago, TorontoTim said: Graham - this might fit better in the "Epic Drives" section. Any objection to moving it? Tim no problem Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harlequin Posted May 23, 2019 Report Share Posted May 23, 2019 Graham A few of us from the Cambfollowers have just go back (15th of May) and it was a really cracking run, I really recommend giving it a go. We took nine days for the 1500 mile trip which was just about right. As Roger said it is best to head up the East coast and back down the West that way the scenery becomes more rugged as you go on. If you pm me your email address I will send our route and hotels etc George Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulAnderson Posted June 15, 2019 Report Share Posted June 15, 2019 (edited) Just found your post. Like Roger, I did it many years ago before it became a thing and in the TR with a couple of Northumbria Group members in 2017. Some of my photographs can be see at https://flic.kr/s/aHsksjiaC9 or if that folder link does not work then the first photo is at the link below (the photo itself is shown so could be clicked on ) where you can cycle through the rest. Our route is also shown in photos. I took an extra day or two at the start in Inverness plus more at the end, bypassing the official return to Inverness and instead coming down through the isle of Skye, Kintyre and via the isle of Bute. An eventful trip in terms of weather and my own TR's reliability but we managed it - speedo, overdrive and hole in the radiator issues. I support the anti clockwise route instead of the normal clockwise one. It gets better as you go along anti clockwise so you end on a high. I could also send you our accommodation list if you want it. Edited June 15, 2019 by PaulAnderson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted July 14, 2019 Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 Thank you Paul for sharing, viewing your nice pictures was a virtual roadtrip in itself. We plan for the real one once my TR6 is finished and has prooven reliable. Best regards, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oddball Posted July 15, 2019 Report Share Posted July 15, 2019 On 7/14/2019 at 12:39 PM, Waldi said: We plan for the real one once my TR6 is finished and has prooven reliable. I’ve been trying to reach that point for the last 20 Years, nearly there,I think. Cameron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted July 16, 2019 Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 Keep your head up Cameron:) Many of us have been there. For me it is important to have regular progress, big or small doesn’t matter. Yesterday I painted the inside of a wing and 2 doors. It awakens the little boy that is still inside of me:) Is it just me, or do others feel that too? Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 One and a half year later... We are now ready (well, almost) to visit Scotland, likely end of April or early May this year, a 17 days round trip (including 2 days of ferry from/to Holland). We will go by ferry from Ijmuiden to New Castle, and then drive the NC500 counter clock wise. Places we would like to visit: Roslyn Chapel, Boat trip to Bass Rock (bird watching), Edinburg botanic garden, Morray Motor museum, John o'Groats, Melvin Beach, Smoo Cave, Scourie (thank you Paul Anderson), Handa Island, Isle of Skye, Jacobite steam train, Apple Cross Pass, Talisker desillery and hike a small section of the WHW, probably from Kingshouse Hotel to the south (I walked the WHW twice when I was younger, in harsh winter weather) Does anyone know if we need to make reservations for each night/stay in advance? We prefer to travel without a strickt schedule, and will be just 2 people (and our TR6). B&B's would be fine for us. Thanks, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Hi Waldi, the NC500 has becoome very popular and thus accommodation is interesting. I would book in advance. Or have a tent handy. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveB66 Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Waldi You will need to book any accommodation you need in the Scottish highlands, it gets very busy in places like Applecross where accommodation and camp spaces are limited. The last time we were in Fort William, in the autumn before covid, there were signs on all the main roads not to travel to Skye unless you had confirmed bookings. You can blame Game of Thrones for a lot of that. I suggest that you get hold of a NC500 guidebook which will help in planning you itinerary. I don't think it makes much difference which way round you go, above all take your time and enjoy it, April May is a good time to go before the midge season really takes hold. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 At AppleCross there is a nice camp site on the hill above the pub. They have pods that are quite cosy. There is a cafe at the bottom of hill for breakfast. They also have a community Fuel pump that can be a life saver. Roge Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Thanks Dave and Roger m for your quick replies, not what I hoped for (but somehow feared). Why does it have to be so complex nowadays… AppleCross was a tip from you Roger;) I will order the NC500 Guide, preparation is half of the experience. Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 If you can keep your accommodation to the larger towns you may well get a good deal from Travellodge and PremierInnHotels. Contact the AppleCross Inn sooner rather than later as it can get busy. But it is all rather stunning. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod1883 Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 If you can, visit Loch Ewe (a little ~WSW of Ullapool) where the Arctic convoys gathered. There is a small museum in Aultbea which is worth a visit, as are the Inverewe gardens a little further South at Poolewe. There are a couple of small hotels in those villages too that might be convenient for a stop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted March 1, 2022 Report Share Posted March 1, 2022 Thanks for the tips again, I will book this weekend. Think I need to shorten the western route a bit;) Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted March 1, 2022 Report Share Posted March 1, 2022 The section John O Groats to AppleCross via Smoo can easily be done in a day JoG does not have a lot to offer but there are views along the north coast that will slow you down as they are worth looking/enjoying. If you attack AppleCross from the north then you can take the south bound route - this is brilliant in the TR as it is a single carriageway that switches up/down/sideways Be careful. Then exit Applecross down the pass - this gives the best views. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Misfit Posted March 1, 2022 Report Share Posted March 1, 2022 We were looking a familyTR trip to Scotland during April/May. While it’s was not the NC 500 round trip, we looked at Dornoch Castle hotel, as a base it looked good with reasonable access to Ullapool, lochinver, Durness, Wick, Inverness. It had availability then so you could include that as one of your stays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulAnderson Posted March 2, 2022 Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 (edited) Hi Waldi, We communicated by PM in 2019 and 2020 over routes and accommodation with me suggesting that places along the official route accepting one night’s stay only might be challenging to find, though some obviously do provide that service. It can be popular so booking ahead is advisable. If you’re arriving in the UK to the east of Newcastle then you’re in the heart of the Northumbria Group area. Unless you want to see Newcastle with it’s beautiful streets https://flic.kr/p/2mZRhci and riverside https://flic.kr/p/236crLt and https://flic.kr/p/cNe7Cy https://mailchi.mp/ngi/whats-on-march-1983789?e=f5116c215e then I’d suggest following the spine road north instead of using the main A1 road. That’s the A19 and A189 signed as ‘coastal route’ and easy to get to from the ferry terminal. That way you’ll get the chance to see some nice coastal places on the way north instead of just traffic. The county of Northumberland which is just north of Newcastle has the largest number of castles of any county in England so if you’re interested in history then it’s a great place to visit. If not, they’re still good to view and take some photographs of. Some suggestions are made here that you can pass on the way without slowing your route north down too much. https://chillingham-castle.com/ https://www.ford-and-etal.co.uk/ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/norham-castle/ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/etal-castle/ https://www.ford-and-etal.co.uk/ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hall-castle-and-gardens/ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/edlingham-castle/ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/ and many more. If hungry or thirsty when you arrive you pass quite close to Seaton Delaval Hall which has a tea room. I’d recommend passing through Amble and then Warkworth to see the lovely castle there and then continue north. You pass Alnmouth on the right with the pretty village being voted the best view out of a train window and it has miles of golden beach, but several miles of lovely beaches have already been passed by now. At this point you could turn inland and visit the town of Alnwick where there’s plenty to see in what was once voted the best place to live in England but the star attraction is Alnwick Castle home of the Duke of Northumberland. He owns several castles. I would suggest heading back to the coastal route after Alnwick, and while you probably don’t have time to visit Dunstanburgh Castle if you drive to the car park at Embleton golf course you can get a closer look at it from the north side. The south side is more impressive but requires a long walk from Craster, though they do the most amazing smoked kippers there. Between Alnwick and Craster you pass and could stop off at Howick Hall for refreshments in their tea room, it being the home of Earl Grey who blended the famous tea and who have a famous monument dedicated to them in Newcastle. If you continue further north you pass lovely Beadnell with its miles of beach and on to Seahouses . Here is a great attraction as (apart from the great seafood) you can take a boat trip to the Farne Islands. They’re a nature reserve filled with bird life and seals. Just north of Seahouses, past yet more lovely beaches is one of the most photogenic castles in the country at Bamburgh Castle It’s well worth taking the coastal route just to see this one attraction alone. From Bamburgh you can see northwards to the island of Lindisfarne or Holy Island where the Vikings first invaded in 793. You probably won’t have time to visit it but if you did then you would need to check the tide timetable in order to get there and back safely at Further details of Lindisfarne could include https://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/ The main attraction should be the ancient Priory but many people visit for the photogenic but relatively modern (only around 120 years) castle You can then get onto the A1 northbound for Scotland. Personally I’d recommend driving through Berwick upon Tweed instead of taking the modern bypass. Lots to see there but the least you can see is to drive through and see impressive town defensive walls, the second best preserved medieval town walls in Europe https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-castle-and-ramparts/ after Lucca in Italy. See also https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/berwick-upon-tweed and http://www.berwick.org.uk/ Northumberland has plenty more to offer such as http://www.visitkielder.com/ home to the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe and, at over 250 square miles, the largest working forest in England. And a dark skies area. There’s plenty to see in the Scottish borders as well that you pass including https://www.mellerstain.com/ or https://paxtonhouse.co.uk/ but I suspect you’ll be short of time. Have a great trip. If you’re interested in ancient history and have some time on your return journey you could consider visiting one of more Roman sites in Northumberland, some of which are listed at Seeing Roman Britain by TR2 Paul Drat, many of the inserted links don't work after posting. If I get time later I'll try to investigate and fix them. Edited March 2, 2022 by PaulAnderson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted March 2, 2022 Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 Hi Paul, many thanks for the above information! The amount of places to visit in Scotland is simply overwhelming. I feel we should come over more often; last time I visited Scotland is almost a decade ago, when we hiked a part of the WHW with a couple of colleagues. Yes, I still have the information you kindly sent to me in 2019, the planned stay in Scourie is a direct result of that. And I will definitely consider a couple of places you have mentioned above. What a great forum this is! All the best, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblenk Posted March 2, 2022 Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 Waldi just a bit south near Durham you can stay at Lumley Castle it has its own ghost ??? check it out David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2long Posted March 3, 2022 Report Share Posted March 3, 2022 (edited) Edited to remove misplaced post Edited March 3, 2022 by 2long Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 We have finally booked our trip! It will not be the NC500, but from Newcastle to Oban, Mull, Skye, Fort William, Mallaig and Glenco. We are looking forward to this 2.5 week trip (slow pace with several longer stays). On the 1st day on our way from Newcastle to our next stay in Oban we are looking for a small town to sleep, somewhere half way. Any suggestions? We want to avoid Edinburg etc. because we do not want to park/drive our car in a busy town. On the way back (from Glenco to Newcastle) we plan to sleep in Seahouses, as recommended by Paul above. Is that a doable distance in one day (some 200 miles)? Thanks, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 Hi Waldi why not aim for Carlisle via the the Lake District. Keswick is the centre of the lakes but there are so many beauty spots in all directions. From Carlisle it is straight up the M6 and into Scotlandshire. Up the side of Loch Lomond and on towards Oban. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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