North Coast 500
Scotland's answer to Route 66 loops the Highlands from Inverness: single-track roads over the Bealach na Bà pass, beaches that impersonate the Caribbean until you touch the water, castles, distilleries and stags in the mist.
- Best forRoad-trippers · Walkers & hikers · Photographers
- In May15°C · 15 rainy days
- Ideal stay5–7 nights
- Approx. flying time~10h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyGBPPound sterling
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time13:09same time as the UK
- PlugsType GUK plugs fit
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+44
Why go
This is a 500-mile loop from Inverness around the far north of Scotland, and the driving is the holiday. Single-track roads climb over bare passes, drop to white-shell beaches and thread past lochans, sea stacks and mountains that stand alone rather than in ranges. Villages are tiny and far apart. The weather changes every twenty minutes, which is why the light here is so good and so frequently photographed.
Five days is the minimum and a week is better, because rushing it defeats the purpose. Late spring gives long daylight and fewer midges than high summer; September brings colour and quieter roads. Beds and campsites need booking well ahead between June and August, when the route is genuinely busy. Nervous drivers should think carefully, as passing places and blind summits demand constant attention.
- Ideal stay
- 5–7 nights
- The vibe
- Wild, windswept, gloriously empty
From our guides
Five days minimum, campervan optional but thematic. Book beds ahead in summer — the secret is thoroughly out — or go in May and June for the light.
Featured in Ten epic road trips for your someday list
Things to do
-
Bealach na Bà
A steep hairpinned pass to Applecross, climbing to over 600 metres with views to Skye from the top. Not for caravans or the faint-hearted.
-
Achmelvich and Clachtoll
Small white-sand bays on the Assynt coast with water that looks tropical until you get in. Both have easy parking and short walks.
-
Sandwood Bay
A remote two-kilometre beach reached by a four-mile walk from Blairmore, with a sea stack at its southern end and no facilities whatsoever.
-
Smoo Cave
A huge sea cave near Durness with a waterfall pouring into an inner chamber, reached by a short boat trip when water levels allow.
-
Duncansby Stacks
Sandstone pinnacles rising from the sea beyond John o' Groats, with a short clifftop walk from the lighthouse and puffins in early summer.
-
Dunrobin Castle
A turreted country house on the east coast near Golspie, with formal gardens above the sea and falconry displays through the season.
Getting there
-
Fly to
Inverness (INV)
Nearest airport to North Coast 500, about 13km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Inverness
About 20 minutes by car or bus from Inverness airport (INV) into the city, where the loop begins and where most hire cars and campervans are collected.
-
On the ground
Getting around
The route is a 500-mile loop of mostly single-track roads with passing places; five days is the sensible minimum, and the Bealach na Ba over to Applecross is the one stretch to take slowly.
Public transport: Sparse: a few coastal bus services and the scenic Kyle and Far North railway lines exist, but the loop is designed around driving or cycling.
Flights
Los Angeles North Coast 500, Scotland
Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.
Roughly 10h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 6°C in January to 18°C in July. Wettest in October, with rain on about 19 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
May15° · rain 15 daysCool and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small hotels, B and Bs, bunkhouses, hostels and campsites, plus self-catering cottages. Chains are confined to Inverness, and stretches of the route have no beds at all.
-
Best base overall
Inverness
The start and finish of the loop, with the airport, the trains, hire cars and the last big supermarket. It is a functional city, so treat it as a bookend rather than a destination.
Find stays in Inverness -
Best for couples
Ullapool
The prettiest overnight on the west coast, with a working harbour, seafood and music in the pubs. Beds are limited and the ferry traffic makes it busier than its size suggests.
Find stays in Ullapool -
Quietest
Durness and Tongue
The far north, with beaches, caves and almost nothing else. Places to stay are few and far apart, so book before you drive rather than hoping on arrival.
Find stays in Durness and Tongue -
Best with children
Dornoch and Tain
The gentler east coast, with sandy beaches, a cathedral town and distilleries. Easiest driving of the route, and the most choice of family rooms.
Find stays in Dornoch and Tain
Worth knowing before you book: Summer accommodation on the north and west sells out months ahead, and campervans must use proper sites, as wild parking is increasingly restricted.
Search everything else in Inverness by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Single-track roads
- Passing places are for passing and for letting faster traffic through, not for parking. Pull in early, and give a wave when someone waits for you.
- Fuel
- Filling stations are sparse in the north-west and many close on Sundays or in the evening. Refuel at half a tank rather than a quarter.
- Book ahead
- Accommodation between June and August fills months in advance, and wild camping in a campervan is restricted in places. Plan your nights.
- Midges
- They are at their worst from late June to August in still, damp conditions. Repellent and a head net are worth the small humiliation.
- Timing
- May and September give long light, fewer insects and quieter roads. Winter brings short days, closed cafés and real risk of ice on the passes.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Cairngorms
Scotland · 60km away →
Red squirrels and ospreys
the Cairngorms, Scotland · 63km away →
Bealach na Bà
Scotland · 86km away →
Ben Nevis
Scotland · 89km away →
Old Man of Storr
Isle of Skye, Scotland · 115km away →
The Fairy Pools
Isle of Skye, Scotland · 124km away →Elsewhere in Scotland
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit North Coast 500?
Daytime highs run from about 6°C in January to 18°C in July. Wettest in October, with rain on about 19 days.
How long should I spend in North Coast 500?
Our suggestion: 5–7 nights.
How do I get to North Coast 500?
About 20 minutes by car or bus from Inverness airport (INV) into the city, where the loop begins and where most hire cars and campervans are collected.
Do I need a car in North Coast 500?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Sparse: a few coastal bus services and the scenic Kyle and Far North railway lines exist, but the loop is designed around driving or cycling.
What currency and language are used in North Coast 500?
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP). Language: English. Plugs: type G.
Who is North Coast 500 best for?
Best for road-trippers, walkers & hikers and photographers. In a phrase: wild, windswept, gloriously empty.