North Coast 500

Duncansby Stacks

Duncansby Head (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Dhunngain[3] or Dùn Gasbaith[4]) is the most northeasterly part of both the Scottish and British mainlands, slightly northeast of John o' Groats. It lies approximately 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of both the Scottish and British mainlands. Duncansby Head is located in Caithness, Highland, in north-eastern Scotland.[5] The headland juts into the North Sea, with the Pentland Firth to its north and west and the Moray Firth to its south. (from wikipedia)

Dunnet Head

Dunnet Head (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Dùnaid) is a peninsula in Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland.[1][2] Dunnet Head includes the most northerly point of both mainland Scotland and the island of Great Britain. (from wikipedia)

The view from Dunnet Head

Dunnet Head (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Dùnaid) is a peninsula in Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland.[1][2] Dunnet Head includes the most northerly point of both mainland Scotland and the island of Great Britain. (from wikipedia)

Glencoe

Glencoe or Glencoe Village (Gaelic: A’ Chàrnaich[2]) is the main settlement in Glen Coe in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. It lies at the north-west end of the glen, on the southern bank of the River Coe where it enters Loch Leven (a salt-water loch off Loch Linnhe). (from wikipedia)

Durness Beach

Durness (Scottish Gaelic: Diùranais) is a village and civil parish in the north-west Highlandsof Scotland. It lies on the north coast of the country in the traditional county of Sutherland, around 120 miles (190 kilometres) north of Inverness. The area is remote, and the parish is huge and sparsely populated, covering an area from east of Loch Eriboll to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of the Scottish mainland.[2] (from wikipedia)

Kylesku Bridge

The Kylesku Bridge (officially known since 2019 by its Gaelic name Drochaid a' Chaolais Chumhaing[1]) is a distinctively curved concrete box girder bridge in north-west Scotland that crosses the Loch a' Chàirn Bhàin in Sutherland. It is listed as category A, the highest grade. (from wikipedia)

The View from Bealach na Bà

Bealach na Bà (pronounced [bjaLəx na baː]) is a winding single track road through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula, in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. The Bealach na Bà is just one feature on this road, being its highest point and site of several corries. (from wikipedia)

The view from Kylesku Bridge Car Park

The Kylesku Bridge (officially known since 2019 by its Gaelic name Drochaid a' Chaolais Chumhaing[1]) is a distinctively curved concrete box girder bridge in north-west Scotland that crosses the Loch a' Chàirn Bhàin in Sutherland. It is listed as category A, the highest grade. (from wikipedia)

Bealach na Bà

Bealach na Bà (pronounced [bjaLəx na baː]) is a winding single track road through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula, in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. The Bealach na Bà is just one feature on this road, being its highest point and site of several corries. (from wikipedia)

Near Kylesku Bridge

The Kylesku Bridge (officially known since 2019 by its Gaelic name Drochaid a' Chaolais Chumhaing[1]) is a distinctively curved concrete box girder bridge in north-west Scotland that crosses the Loch a' Chàirn Bhàin in Sutherland. It is listed as category A, the highest grade. (from wikipedia)

Durness Beach

Durness (Scottish Gaelic: Diùranais) is a village and civil parish in the north-west Highlandsof Scotland. It lies on the north coast of the country in the traditional county of Sutherland, around 120 miles (190 kilometres) north of Inverness. The area is remote, and the parish is huge and sparsely populated, covering an area from east of Loch Eriboll to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of the Scottish mainland.[2] (from wikipedia)

Duncansby Stacks

Duncansby Head (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Dhunngain[3] or Dùn Gasbaith[4]) is the most northeasterly part of both the Scottish and British mainlands, slightly northeast of John o' Groats. It lies approximately 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of both the Scottish and British mainlands. Duncansby Head is located in Caithness, Highland, in north-eastern Scotland.[5] The headland juts into the North Sea, with the Pentland Firth to its north and west and the Moray Firth to its south. (from wikipedia)

Applecross

Applecross (Scottish Gaelic: A' Chomraich) is a peninsula north-west of Kyle of Lochalsh in the council area of Highland, Scotland.[1] The name Applecross is at least 1,300 years old and is not used locally to refer to the 19th century village (which is correctly called 'Shore Street', or simply 'The Street') with the Applecross Inn, lying on the Applecross Bay, facing the Inner Sound, on the opposite side of which lies the Inner Hebridean island of Raasay. The monastery of Applecross was established by St Maelrubha, in the 7th century. A sculptured stone is the only remaining relic of Maelrubha, who built a chapel there.[2] The Applecross peninsula (Scottish Gaelic: A' Chomraich, 'The Sanctuary') is a peninsula in Wester Ross, Highland, on the north west coast of Scotland. (from wikipedia)

Durness Beach

Durness (Scottish Gaelic: Diùranais) is a village and civil parish in the north-west Highlandsof Scotland. It lies on the north coast of the country in the traditional county of Sutherland, around 120 miles (190 kilometres) north of Inverness. The area is remote, and the parish is huge and sparsely populated, covering an area from east of Loch Eriboll to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of the Scottish mainland.[2] (from wikipedia)

Kylesku Bridge

The Kylesku Bridge (officially known since 2019 by its Gaelic name Drochaid a' Chaolais Chumhaing[1]) is a distinctively curved concrete box girder bridge in north-west Scotland that crosses the Loch a' Chàirn Bhàin in Sutherland. It is listed as category A, the highest grade. (from wikipedia)

5 out of 5 stars

North Coast 500

a budget-friendly road trip with epic views

A video of highlights from a 2019 North Coast 500 trip made by Sarah Foubert @ foubography

“…just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages, hidden gems, and a wealth of unforgettable experiences; the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips.”

This trip, which we took in the summer of 2019, remains my favourite holiday to date. While it wasn’t perfect (juggling the stress of house-hunting while on holiday certainly added some pressure), the journey itself was unforgettable. The landscapes were breathtaking, the people incredibly friendly, and around every corner, there was a new view to marvel at.

Although I had visited Scotland many times before, I was astounded by the sheer variety of its landscapes, particularly as we ventured north. Approaching the most northern part of the trip (if you’re travelling clockwise from the south), the vast, desolate landscapes were nothing short of spectacular. The mountains were spread far apart, with immense stretches of uninhabited space between them. It was easy to imagine getting lost in this wilderness, far from civilisation, and for a city dweller like me, it was a poignant reminder that such untouched places still exist.

One of the most surprising sights was the stretch of white sandy beaches with azure blue waters, framed by towering red cliffs flecked with green. It was something I never imagined I’d see in the UK.

There are plenty of must-see stops along the way. I particularly enjoyed visiting the Castle and Gardens of Mey, the most northerly inhabited castle in Scotland, which boasts beautiful gardens overlooking the ocean.

Another highlight was Bealach na Bà, a winding single-track road in Wester Ross. Despite its tight hairpin turns and steep incline, this road is the third highest in Scotland and boasts the steepest ascent of any road climb in the UK. After navigating the pass, you’ll find a car park with spectacular views in both directions.

You’ll also have the chance to visit John O’Groats, famously known as one end of the longest distance between two inhabited points on the British mainland (the other being Land’s End in Cornwall). However, it’s not the northernmost point of mainland Great Britain, as commonly believed—Dunnet Head, which is nearby, holds that title and is definitely worth a visit, as shown in one of the photos above.

Accommodation options are varied, from beautiful campsites to luxurious stays, such as The Inn at John O’Groats, offering stunning views of the Orkney Islands. This range allows you to tailor the trip to your budget, with many people even opting to cycle the route to cut costs further. We stayed in a mix of places: a couple of Airbnbs, a luxury flat for one night, an old hotel, a rustic wooden hut, and even a glamping caravan. It’s also entirely possible to complete the entire trip with just a tent.

I couldn’t recommend this journey more highly and would love to do it again with our son in the future, as it’s definitely a family-friendly adventure.

All photos are available for purchase here. Download them instantly as a digital file or have them printed and delivered to your door.