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Driving the North Coast 500: A Travel Video

April 12, 2017 By Katie MacLeod 6 Comments

Caithness Flag

The North Coast 500, Scotland’s answer to the USA’s Route 66, stretches more than 500 miles around the north of the country.

The drive takes in everything from beaches to mountains, cliffs to castles – and I experienced them all during a long weekend in Caithness this winter.

While I wasn’t driving myself (that role fell to my brother, as it usually does), I was able to take it all in from the passenger seat. During our time in the north east of the country, I saw clouds scurrying across the sky, tractors making their way through fields, and mountains looming in the distance.

When we stopped, we found good food, good company, and centuries of history. I was still in Scotland, yes, but it felt different, almost like discovering an unknown side to someone you’ve known all your life. And that was just the eastern stretch of the road; we’re planning to tackle the west coast in the (not too distant) future.

So is driving the North Coast 500 worth it?

The answer is a resounding “yes!” Visitors to Scotland tend to focus on Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the southern parts of the Highlands, but I can’t recommend the North Highlands – the farthest reaches of mainland Britain – enough.

If you want to get a visual taste of what the north east section of the drive has to offer before making the journey, simply press play on the video, and see what driving the North Coast 500 is really like…

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Have you driven the North Coast 500 route, or would you like to give it a try? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!

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Want to read more?

Visiting Dunnet Bay Distillery: Spirits and Stories from the Far North of Scotland

My Weekend in the North of Scotland: Caithness, Sutherland, and the NC500

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Comments

  1. Nigel Jennings says

    April 12, 2017 at 2:40 am

    Nice video Katie. If you’ve not experienced the west coast of the NC500, then you’ve still got the best to come! We did it last year for the first time and were blown away by the other-worldliness of the area. A departing highlight was intended to be the Bealach na Ba pass but the summit was in cloud. Nevertheless, breaking through the cloudbase coming down the other side was ethereal!

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      April 12, 2017 at 7:42 am

      Thanks Nigel, glad you enjoyed it! I’ve heard lots of good (and slightly nerve-wracking!) stories about Bealach na Ba. I’ve done parts of the west coast route on other trips (like the wee bit near Ullapool) but never the north west, so it’s definitely on my travel “to do” list!

      Reply
  2. Cathie Macleod says

    April 12, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    Goodness me! Just as wild as walking over the moor from Shader to Bayble. Haha. Joking aside, what a wonderful trip you had and great to have your brother driving so you could enjoy the scenery.

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      April 25, 2017 at 8:58 am

      Maybe even a bit wilder Cathie, haha! It was a wonderful trip though – and so nice to spend some time with my brother 🙂

      Reply
  3. Alison says

    May 11, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    I loved it all from anything north of Isle of Skye up to Durness and over towards Tongue and John O Groats and down again. Just a beautiful country!!! The one ways, one ways were a bit of a killer sometimes but still fun! oh and the BEST Beaches.. sometimes on beautiful days so turquoise almost Caribbean in color! I will definitely do that drive again! Just watch out for all the sheep!

    Reply
    • Katie MacLeod says

      May 16, 2017 at 9:35 am

      I totally agree Alison, it’s a really beautiful part of the world! The roads are definitely a bit of a challenge, but that’s part of the fun 🙂 I hope you get to do the drive again – I really want to see the west coast now, too!

      Reply

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I'm Katie, an expat Scot in the States, and the journalist behind Stories My Suitcase Could Tell, the travel blog which inspires you to explore the world. Read More…

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