5 Day North Coast 500 Route Planner

AD. One of the best things my husband and I have done (minus the children and the wedding of course) is travelling the North Coast 500 up in the Scottish Highlands. The NC500 is a 500 mile round trip starting and finishing in Inverness touring the most Northern Scottish coastline. You can make the trip as long or as short as you need to. For us however we only had five days to complete the route. Because of this we had to be smart and pretty meticulous with our itinerary. Here's what we did. This is our 5 day North Coast 500 route planner.

_{Originally published March 2022. Updated January 2026 to reflect current route planning tips, recommended stops, and travel trends}

Why the North Coast 500 Continues to Be One of the UK’s Most Recommended Road Trips

The North Coast 500 (NC500) has grown beyond a scenic route. It’s become a cultural phenomenon in UK travel planning. Here's what sets it apart for visitors year after year:

• Diverse landscapes in one loop: From rugged coastal cliffs to serene lochs and rolling highland greenery, the NC500 delivers dramatic contrasts within a single itinerary.
• Flexible pacing for all travellers: Whether you have 3 days or 10, the route is easily broken into manageable days with meaningful stops. A key reason it’s popular among both first-time explorers and repeat visitors.
• Local experiences over sightseeing alone: Artisan food producers, hidden beaches, and small-town hospitality have made this more than a drive. It’s now a cultural journey that appeals beyond traditional tourism.

Across travel forums, social groups, and UK adventure planning sites, these elements consistently come up as the reasons the NC500 keeps being recommended by seasoned travellers. We travelled back in 2022, however this year we're hoping to experience it again with our children.

Traveling the North Coast 500 route in Scotland offers breathtaking views, charming villages, and unforgettable experiences. As you journey through the rugged landscapes and scenic coastlines, you might find yourself wanting to relax in the evenings with some of your favorite shows. To ensure you can access all your preferred content while abroad, remember to access Hotstar VPN, allowing you to enjoy a bit of home entertainment no matter where your travels take you.

Hiring a camper.

We decided to hire a campervan during our trip and get the full North Coast 500 experience. We used Go Boony which works in a similar way to Air B&B in the sense that you're hiring motorhomes from local owners. It was great for us, as at the time we weren't sure whether van life was for us. Me, more so than my husband. Using Go Boony was a great way for us to dip our toes in the water and experience what it'd be like living from a van. Turns out, it's amazing!

We hired a Mazda Bongo which is in terms of vans is one of the smaller campers out there. This was mostly down to me being too nervous to drive a large vehicle. At the time I was driving a VW polo, so the size difference was huge to me. I found the Bongo super easy to drive though and it didn't take long to get used to it at all. Our first campervan trip was such a huge success that we've actually since bought our own. If we manage to get up to the North coast 500 again this year in our own campervan it'll be a full circle moment!

If you own a campervan, consider buying some decorations yourself to dress up your vehicle as well! It will make your trip even more enjoyable and wonderful. Custom Neon Signs are a great choice because they not only make your camper more aesthetically pleasing but also serve as an illumination. And you can customize your own neon sign with your favorite design or slogan at a great price!

North Coast 500 route planner

_{[North Coast 500 route Day 1]}

NC500 Itinerary 5 Days

Day 1 | Inverness to Wick.

The first leg of the 5 day North Coast 500 road trip covers 100 miles travelling the East coast of Scotland from Inverness to Wick. It's a really easy drive which starts on the A9 leading onto the A99 with plenty to see and do along the way.

Our first stop off was Dunrobin Castle, a large stately home situated along the coastline. This was a quick stop off for us as we hadn't originally planned on visiting the castle. Admission is chargeable although it's been said to be well worth it.

The second stop, and our first experience cooking in the camper was Brora beach which was every bit as dreamy as it sounds. We parked up in the local golf club before heading down to the beach for a wonderfully beautiful, scenic walk. I love the beaches here in the North East of England, but there's just something about the ones in Scotland. They really are stunning!

_{[Whaligoe Steps]}

Our next visit (and one I absolutely urge you to do, whilst doing the NC500) was to Whaligoe steps. Just off the A99, Whaligoe steps lead down to the most stunning Scottish cove. It's really not one to be missed. We actually saw a mama seal and her pup whilst we were there. It was a really special moment.

From here we headed back along the A99 into the little village of Wick which was to be our home for the night.

_[Wick]

Camping in Wick.

If epic sunrises are you're thing, you're going to want to stay in Wick. We parked up on the old coastal road, just past Tinkers cave. As this was our first night camping in the van we were a little nervous, but the location couldn't have been more perfect. It was the best place to start our van life sleeping experience. Still to this day I'd say this was the very best sunrise I think I've ever seen!

_{[North Coast 500 route Day 2]}

Day 2 | Wick to Skerray.

Waking up in Wick to such a beautiful sunrise was epic! It was definitely the best way to start our North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. Whilst in Wick we headed out for a walk along the coastline to Old Wick Castle. It was only a quick trip for us but it was enjoyable and definitely worth doing while we were there.

The first port of call for us on day two was John O'Groats. This was more of a novelty for us being at the tip top of the country and starting point of the humongous cycle ride to lands end. It's definitely somewhere I'm glad I've been (to say I've been) but there wasn't a massive amount for us to do there.

From John O'Groats we drove along the A836 to Dunnet Head. We travelled here again more for the novelty, as this was the furthest North we could go. We we're quite literally at the tippety-top of the country. Although very blustery there were some fabulous views from this point. It's a great location for looking out onto the Orkney Islands. You'll be surprised how much of them you can see up there.

I mentioned before about the beaches in Scotland being absolutely incredible and our next destination was our absolute favourite. There was something magically jurassic about Farr beach. It's a wonderful little cove which oozes relaxation. Something you most definitely need doing the North Coast 500.

_{[Farr beach]}

After the beach we headed over to Skerry to settle down for night two on our North Coast 500 route planner.

Camping in Skerray.

We picked Skerray Bay for night two and boy it didn't disappoint. We parked the van up on the side of the pebbled beach a mere ten meters or so away from the sea. It was perfect! It was super secluded here too, it struck me as one of those places not many people knew about. Which for us, was ideal!

_{[Skerray Bay]}

We met a couple here who were also doing the NC500 in a camper, but they were doing it over the space of three weeks. It really goes to show you can make as much out of the trip as you'd like. If we'd had more time we'd 100% have spent longer on our road trip.

_{[North Coast 500 route Day 3]}

Day 3 | Skerray to Knockan Crag.

Waking up a stones throw away from the beach was incredible! We had a lovely morning that day exploring the cove, walking around the harbour into the highlands.

Our first stop that day was a really exciting one for me. We were visiting Smoo Cave, which if you've ever even just remotely looked at a North Coast 500 route planner you'll have no doubt seen this natural beauty pop up. The cave itself is stunning and a must if you're doing the NC500. It's a tough walk up and down the steps, but if you're able to, I'd really recommend visiting. You can also walk along the top into the headlands which give the most stunning (and slightly scary) views.

_{[Smoo Cave]}

From Smoo Cave we drove along the A838 towards Kylesku bride stopping off at a number of different locations along the way. We didn't have that much planned for day three as we were advised from the get go that the left hand side of the country would be the most beautifully scenic and that we'd want to be able to stop off wherever and whenever we wanted to.

Our advisers weren't wrong. The left hand side of the Scottish highlands is like nothing we've seen before. We had a couple of different tea breaks which turned into full on expeditions of the Highlands.

_{[Kylesku Bridge]}

We followed the road down until we saw signs for Unapool and Knockan Crag national nature reserve. At the nature reserve walks were easily signposted and we took the most beautiful walk up through the mountain side.

_{[Knockan Crag]}

To make the journey more portable, some personalised equipment can help you. For example, custom lanyards. You have the option to include your preferred words and designs as well as personalised touches in the custom lanyard design. Such custom lanyards can be used to hang a water cup, so that you can always get the water cup to replenish water; it can also be used to hang a camera, so that you can record the beautiful scenery along the way at any time; in addition, it is also very convenient to hang a mobile phone, releasing your hands to let you immerse yourself in the journey thoroughly. If you also want to add some convenience to your camping trip, you might as well click Custom Lanyards UK to customise your own lanyards.

Camping in Knockan Crag.

We actually camped in Knockan Crag that night and after two nights of being totally remote, the nature reserve felt like somewhat of a luxury!... There were toilets! And sinks! I felt like a new woman being able to brush my teeth in front of a mirror.

_{[North Coast 500 route Day 4]}

Day 4 | Knockan Crag to Balgy.

The views from the nature reserve the next morning were second to none and although camping here felt a little less rural, I'd 100% recommend it for the breakfast views.

_{[Corrieshalloch Gorge]}

Next on our North Coast 500 in 5 days route planner was Corrieshalloch Gorge... And although amazing, it's not for the faint hearted! The gorge sits in the Corrieshalloch nature reserve and sits at 150 feet high. A crashing waterfall runs through the gorge and you can walk around the nature reserve via a hanging suspension bridge. I hadn't considered myself scared of heights before, but because the bridge was moving, there were parts which were really quite scary. Amazingly breathtaking, but scary!

If one waterfall isn't quite enough for you, do what we did and head to Victoria Falls. These waterfalls are much smaller in comparison, but still really beautiful.

From here we drove through the Torridon Hills and were really luck to catch a deer with her babies roaming free. This took us to Balgy which was to be our final nights camp on our NC500 journey.

_[Balgy]

Camping in Balgy.

We went a little rogue on our final night. We had no plan and just parked up at the side of the A896. In hindsight this wasn't our best idea as it was really windy and high up in the mountains. It was a really rough nights sleep that night which fortunately had the edge taken off the next morning by waking up to the most breathtaking hazy views.

_{[North Coast 500 route Day 5]}

Day 5 | Balgy to Inverness.

Day five was the final day for us on our North Coast 500 route. It was a day of heading back to real life and heading back to a little bit of luxury in the form of a nice hotel room at the end of it.

We headed along the A832 making a couple of stops, one of which left us settled under the mountain peak Fionn Bheinn. It was a really lovely, really easy drive to finish off our NC500 in 5 days route.

Our stay that night in a Hotel Du Vin was well deserved!

Digital Prep for the NC500

Before setting off on your NC500 adventure, it’s worth sorting your digital needs ahead of time. Having internet access makes it easier to navigate, find fuel stops, or book accommodation on the fly. If you're flying in from outside the UK, an eSIM for UK is one of the easiest ways to get connected. It activates in minutes and removes the need to hunt for SIM cards on arrival. You can even set it up before you land, so you're ready to go as soon as you hit the road. It’s a simple travel hack that makes a big difference in remote areas.

Every day of the Scottish North Coast 500 road trip is filled with moments to cherish. To make these memories last longer and more personal, consider some unique souvenirs, such as Custom Keyrings. 

You can incorporate the iconic pattern of the North Coast 500 or the name of your favorite attraction and some elements representing your personal travel story into the design of custom keyrings. Such personalized keyrings are not only a beautiful decoration, but also a souvenir that carries deep emotions and unique memories. 

Whether it is a souvenir of this trip or a gift for a friend, custom keyrings are a good choice.

20 Must See Stops On The North Coast 500

This was my personal expeirence back in 2022, however like I say the NC500 is very much on the cards again for this year. After researching with other travellers and taking a look at other North Coast 500 articles, here are 20 must see stops that we'll be incorporating into our next North Coat 500 road trip.

1. Bealach na Bà (Applecross Pass)
2. Applecross Peninsula
3. Eilean Donan Castle
4. Duncansby Stacks
5. Dunnet Head
6. Smoo Cave
7. Ardvreck Castle
8. Achmelvich Beach
9. Balnakeil Beach
10. Sandwood Bay
11. John o’ Groats
12. Whaligoe Steps
13. Corrieshalloch Gorge
14. Inverpolly Nature Reserve
15. Loch Assynt
16. Kylesku Bridge
17. Ullapool
18. Torridon Mountains
19. Falls of Shin
20. Clashnessie Falls

Have you done the North Coast 500 before? Would you ever fancy something like this? I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would.