I've biked the west coast of Scotland many times which is basically the "NC500".....there are no alternative routes for most of it and with all the publicity this is receiving(Pistonheads,etc,etc) then I'd expect it to be busy all summer.Accomodation and fuel stops might be problematic depending on the range of your car and what it likes to drink.
For example,last Sat in March we're in Aultbea hotel and as far as I know there are no rooms left......I know it's easter but we're taking remote scottish hotel here,should be tumbleweed blowing down the street outside!!
I've also heard that "NC500" route is on the radar for traffic police,not sure who covers what area but the guys from Dingwall certainly cover as far north as Caithness and at all hours and random places.I've often seen camera vans in the twilight on a Friday night near Inverness and have been pulled over in the dark near Invergordon for a "routine check" with breath test!!
If it was me going then I'd look at the route and plan what I wanted to see,build the photo ops into the timescale and food/fuel stops,go out of main tourist season(scottish summer!!....school hols) and go as a smallish group.
The scenery is awesome,the roads north of Ullapool are great all the way to Reay and in my opinion the A9 south from Caithness is boring.........Thurso's my home town so it's a route well travelled by me and you have to be vigilant for traffic cops if you intend to exceed 60mph.
I'll take another look at the official site for NC500 as I can't remember the route but seem to recall there were "better" roads to drive nearby.....think this whole NC500 thing was dreamt up by Scottish Tourist Board!!!
For example,last Sat in March we're in Aultbea hotel and as far as I know there are no rooms left......I know it's easter but we're taking remote scottish hotel here,should be tumbleweed blowing down the street outside!!
I've also heard that "NC500" route is on the radar for traffic police,not sure who covers what area but the guys from Dingwall certainly cover as far north as Caithness and at all hours and random places.I've often seen camera vans in the twilight on a Friday night near Inverness and have been pulled over in the dark near Invergordon for a "routine check" with breath test!!
If it was me going then I'd look at the route and plan what I wanted to see,build the photo ops into the timescale and food/fuel stops,go out of main tourist season(scottish summer!!....school hols) and go as a smallish group.
The scenery is awesome,the roads north of Ullapool are great all the way to Reay and in my opinion the A9 south from Caithness is boring.........Thurso's my home town so it's a route well travelled by me and you have to be vigilant for traffic cops if you intend to exceed 60mph.
I'll take another look at the official site for NC500 as I can't remember the route but seem to recall there were "better" roads to drive nearby.....think this whole NC500 thing was dreamt up by Scottish Tourist Board!!!
