NC500 Route Planner

Head north on the A9, crossing the Beauly and Cromarty Firths. Pass through the Black Isle and Easter Ross with long views over the Dornoch Firth.

Follow the A9 up the dramatic east coast. Pass Dunrobin Castle at Golspie. The road hugs the coast with sea views all the way to Helmsdale.

Continue through Caithness. Pass the cliff-top stacks at Duncansby Head for the finest coastal scenery on the east coast.

Head west along the dramatic north coast. Detour to Dunnet Head — the true most northerly point of mainland Britain.

The north coast proper begins here. The Kyle of Tongue causeway is a highlight — a thin strip of road across a stunning sea inlet with Ben Hope behind.

Head south into Strath More then back north to Durness. The landscape becomes increasingly wild. Smoo Cave is 1 mile east of Durness.

Head south along Loch Eriboll then west through Assynt. Some of the wildest landscape in Europe. Lochinver is a worthwhile detour for fuel.

South through Assynt past Stac Pollaidh. Ullapool is a lively fishing port on Loch Broom with good shops, restaurants and a CalMac ferry.

South through Corrieshalloch Gorge then west via Beinn Eighe. The Wester Ross coastline is arguably the most beautiful in Scotland.

South through Lochcarron. AVOID the Bealach na Bà — use the A896 coast road via Shieldaig instead. Equally beautiful and motorhome safe.

Cross to the mainland and head east along Loch Duich. Eilean Donan Castle appears around a bend — one of the most photographed buildings in Scotland.

East through Glen Shiel with the Five Sisters of Kintail, then north through the Great Glen past Loch Ness back to Inverness.