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Scrabster Harbour– walk from the harbour to Holburn Head to see the blowholes with views of Orkney. John Lennon Memorial Garden – Durness was a favourite spot of John Lennon and there is a small memorial garden in Durness just past the Smoo Cave. We also have a guide to whisky distilleries on the North Coast 500 if you’re interested in visiting more distilleries along the route. Hike the Golspie Big Burn to Ben Bhraggie– At Golspie make sure you visit the beautiful waterfalls at the Big Burn, and if you are feeling energetic there are mountain bike trailson Ben Bhraggie – or you could climb to the top for a view!
After a visit to the beach, you have one more chance to sample the “best hot chocolate in the world” at the Cacao Mountain Cafe in Durness. This cafe is sister to the one in Dornoch and is a good stopping point before you head south to your next destination.
Thurso– a good wee town for lunch. Walk along the river to the beach to watch seals. Read more – Things to do in Thurso RSPB Nigg Bay – take a pause to visit this RSPB wetland home to pintails, pink-footed geese and in winter, wigeons. If you would prefer to wild camp, there are many remote areas around this part of the North Coast 500 road trip where you can take your tent out into the wilderness for a night of serenity. Please remember to leave no trace.
The castle itself was built between 1566 and 1572, with additional structures being added later in the 17th and 18th centuries. The name of the castle was also changed during this time to Barrogill Castle. For the past 450 years, the castle has remained inhabited, which makes it especially unique. The Falls of Shin is a small collection of cascading steps of waterfalls, rising about 15m from bottom to top and stretched over about 300m of the river. The main spectacle at this sight is the natural phenomenon of the leaping salmon, an annual display of the resilience and power of nature.Gairloch is a fantastic place to visit and for exploring Wester Ross and the north west Highlands . Situated on the shore of Loch Gairloch amongst the awe-inspiring scenery of Wester Ross, Gairloch offers a wealth of spectacular scenery and activities for visitors. There are several good sandy beaches in the area, such as the Big Sand and Redpoint, which offers lovely views to Raasay, Skye and the Western Isles. Inverness is also fairly easy to reach by car, with a good road running between Edinburgh and Inverness, with a driving time of just over three hours. Inverness makes for a great base for exploring nearby attractions, including Loch Ness.
On the very northeast corner of mainland Scotland, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation options. The best hotels and holiday homes that you can stay in are all within close vicinity of the stunning sunset spot of the Duncansby Lighthouse. For affordable and comfortable accommodation, you can choose from the Seaview Hotel, Puffin Cottage, the Anchorage B&B and Hamnavoe. How long you take driving the NC500 is up to you. If you just want to experience one of the world’s best roads you could just about manage it in a day – but then you’ll miss everything the route has to offer. Starting off the day in Durness, if you haven’t already paid a visit to the famous Sango Sands then now is the time to do it. If there is one part of Scotland that catches most people by surprise, it is the number of stunning beaches that it has. Most of the pictures of the beaches along the northern coast of Scotland could be mistaken for the Caribbean, and Sango Sands is no exception.Suilven –At 731m Suilven might be considered a wee hill in Scotland (Ben Nevis is nearly twice its height) but once seen, Suilven (pronounced Sool-ven) is a hill never to be forgotten – it is one of Scotland’s most iconic mountains. Looking for the ultimate in NC500 tours? This four day group NC500 tour can be completely tailored to your needs. Castle of Mey– previously the home of the Queen Mother in Scotland, you can now tour this royal palace.
Waligoe Harbour– climb down 250 metres to the tiny Waligoe Harbour. Watch out for the weather – descending the 250 steps into sea haar can feel very spooky indeed. Your second day on the North Coast 500 will have you actually driving along Scotland’s northern coastline, and visiting the most northerly point in mainland Britain. The above pricing does not include stays over Christmas or New Year from 23 December to 8 January . If you are interested in taking a holiday across these dates, please get in touch for a bespoke quote. If you are looking for a history lesson with a view then the Ceannabeinne Village Trail is one for you. Sitting outside the village of Durness, the ruins of the old Ceannabeinne (meaning “end of the mountains”) township can be found along a guided boardwalk. With views over one of Scotland’s most spectacular beaches, the Ceannabeinne Village Trail tells the story of how locals lived through the 18th century in this remote village. Drive further north, now entering Sutherland and some of Scotland’s most dramatic coastal landscapes, passing Durness and crossing the Kyle of Tongue before entering the area of Caithness at Scotland’s northeastern tip.Inverness Castle– sitting on the banks of the River Ness, Inverness castle was built in the 1800s and now houses Inverness Sheriff Court. You can visit the castle grounds and the north tower which has a great viewpoint of Inverness. If you visit here during the summer, there is a possibility of seeing these migratory salmon in action, leaping metres into the air to ascend the falls. This migration takes place as the salmon return from the sea and begins to travel inland to mate and lay eggs. This is the first time we have seen this and it is a spectacular sight!
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