Dunnet Bay beach lies not too far from John O’Groats and offers another unbelievable, mile-long stretch of sand to enjoy and unwind on. Sitting right on the side of the road, this beach is slightly busier than some others, however, it is huge so you won’t be fighting for space. North Coast Watersports run surf lessons from Dunnet Bay which is a really fun experience. We would highly recommend looking into the different experiences that they offer and booking onto one during your trip. Thurso Town Centre You can visit the Smoo Caves at any time of the day, with the main cave remaining open to the public 24-7. If you wish to explore deeper into the cave system, which is only accessible by boat, you will need to take part in an organised tour. The tour is subject to the local weather, as even a little rainfall can make the cave inaccessible. Due to this there are no advance bookings. 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.

Of course, it is possible and it can be done if you are confident in your driving. The only legal restriction I’m aware of is an 18 tonne weight limit.Today you’ll be finishing the North Coast 500 and returning to Inverness. Of course, if you have more time and want to continue exploring, you could also head to the Isle of Skye at this point. If that sounds good, see our tips for visiting the Isle of Skye to help you plan. I’ve put together some of my favourite photography spots on the NC500, as well as some of our highlights of the NC500, to help make sure you see everything you want to see. If you want to extend the route, you could do so from Inverness with the North East 250 driving route – see our 3 day NE250 itinerary for ideas. You could also visit the Isle of Skye or the Isle of Raasay. Alternatively, why not base yourself in Inverness and do some day trips from Inverness?

Old School House B&Bin Gairloch – This relatively new B&B is run by Sarah and Rob who have spent many years in the area. Turning south, you will then travel through the otherworldly mountain landscapes of Lochinver and Assyntand then drive along a coastline pepper-potted with incredible white sand beaches with turquoise blue seas toone of my favourite regions in Scotland, Wester Ross. The last location you’ll pass on the first day of our itinerary is the Whaligoe steps, a series of steps carved out of the cliff face here which lead down to the sheltered Whaligoe Bay. This was once a popular harbour for local fishermen due to its natural protection, but when artificial harbours were built nearby, it fell into disuse.Whale Cruise– Take a Hebridean Whale Cruiseto spot otters, seabirds and even dolphins and sharks in the waters off Gairloch. From Ullapool you head south a short way on the A835 before turning right onto the A832 and heading out to the coast. The first attraction you’ll come to is the Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve. The next major village you’ll come to is Tongue, where there’s a small shop and a gas station, as well as various accommodation options. This is where we suggest you spend the night. The next town along is Durness if you would prefer to keep going, but we often struggle to find availability in Durness. There used to be an official printed map produced by the NC500 themselves which was freely available in tourism offices. However, this has now been discontinued in favour of a digital app.

The remoteness in the highlands of Scotland will leave you with little choice of accommodation in each location along the NC500, however, there are still enough options to choose from to ensure a comfortable trip. These are mostly in the shape of B&Bs, Airbnbs, converted cottages and other quirky accommodations. How Long Does it Take to Drive the NC500? 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. At the time of its construction, the Kings of Norway dominated this area of Northern Scotland. It is believed to have been built Earl Harald Madadson, the earl of Orkney, with intention of the castle being his chief seat on the mainland.

In the town centre of Durness, you have a few options to choose from for comfortable accommodation for the night. This varies from guesthouses to bed and breakfasts, however, all of the options are sure to be clean, comfortable and affordable. Options for accommodation in Durness include Transvaal House, Aiden B&B, Glengolly B&B, and the Wild Orchid Guest House. Your first destination is in one of the most scenically beautiful and secluded locations in the whole of Scotland in the wild and rugged area of Wester Ross. Your route today could include Loch Ness and the famous Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle), with its series of exhilarating hairpin bends. As such, we highly advise booking your accommodation in advance if you are travelling in the busier months. There are not a huge number of options, especially in the more remote sections of the route, and just turning up in a town without reservations might result in you having to drive significant distances to find the next available room.

Next head further north, following the coast road as it traverses deeply set lochs, and pass more soaring mountains. Plenty of time today to explore as you tour. Your next stop is the colourful harbour village of Ullapool. Nowadays, it is open as a visitor attraction and attracted more than 27,000 visitors in the first year of opening in 2007. The visitor centre is open every year between May and September, 7 days a week, apart from 10 days in summer when it is used as accommodation. Strathy Point Beach/Strathy Point Lighthouse– a great spot to see dolphins and whales in the summer months. To help with your route planning we’ve put together a map of this 5 day North Coast 500 itinerary. You can also see this on Google Maps here.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! For some options see our guide to our favourite B&B’s along the NC500, as well as our overall guide to NC500 accommodation. These tend to be some of the more popular places along the route, so booking well in advance is required. In terms of your question, assuming travel is permitted again in September (fingers crossed!), September would be a lovely month for this trip. It’s up with with May as our favourite month to travel in Scotland. The days will be slightly shorter, and I can’t comment on whether this is too ambitious without knowing how long you are planning to travel for.