Full fat NC500 trip 2nd October - 5th October 2024

If this on your bucket list of drives I'd heartily recommend it. I did the forum run with B21 and others in September 2021 and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I don't recall the roads being that bad and I didn't do any damage. I would say that although the daily hours are not that long you do need to maintain a high level of concentration - especially on single track sections and/or where you're "making good progress" :wink: The scenery was fantastic and the weather quite obliging
 

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Vornwend said:
If this on your bucket list of drives I'd heartily recommend it. I did the forum run with B21 and others in September 2021 and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I don't recall the roads being that bad and I didn't do any damage. I would say that although the daily hours are not that long you do need to maintain a high level of concentration - especially on single track sections and/or where you're "making good progress" :wink: The scenery was fantastic and the weather quite obliging
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I was impressed with how your ‘progress’ changed over the trip.. :thumbsup: :driving: :rofl:
 
B21 said:
Vornwend said:
If this on your bucket list of drives I'd heartily recommend it. I did the forum run with B21 and others in September 2021 and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I don't recall the roads being that bad and I didn't do any damage. I would say that although the daily hours are not that long you do need to maintain a high level of concentration - especially on single track sections and/or where you're "making good progress" :wink: The scenery was fantastic and the weather quite obliging
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I was impressed with how your ‘progress’ changed over the trip.. :thumbsup: :driving: :rofl:
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Haha, either that or it would have been a very lonely drive :rofl: Seriously though, it really helped having some experienced road trippers to follow.
 
We have two spare hotel slots available for this trip….we’ll release them in about 4 weeks time if no interest…

Going

B21 yellow E89
Mike Silver E89
Keith Orange E89
Colin Black E89
 
Sladester100 said:
Aw man. I’d love to do this but typically busy early October. Will watch from a far with jealousy and wonder .
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No worries..4 to 6 are a good number for a NC500 trip..big groups are hard work in so many ways..
 
Sadly we both work in education so the dates preclude us from joining. Have done these routes a couple of times in a defender with roof tent so would have liked to compare the experience in the Z, maybe next time.
 
Easytiger said:
Sadly we both work in education so the dates preclude us from joining. Have done these routes a couple of times in a defender with roof tent so would have liked to compare the experience in the Z, maybe next time.
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No worries..I'll be cancelleling the balance of the slots next week.
 
Just as an fyi, there’s a 4 part series on channel 4 called Britains Most Beautiful Road. It’s all about the NC500.
Haven’t watched it yet, so can’t comment on it.
 
Going

B21 aka Peter yellow E89
CherryM aka Mike Silver E89
Keith Orange E89
Colin Black E89
1536Z4 aka Tony Z4M +Pax
Cerbera aka Nick white G29 +pax

Gate now closed
 
In the end 5 cars made it…

In my opinion , this being my 10th NC500 trip in the last 8 years this was the best one yet.

Clearly having the 3 main days all dry, mostly blue skies and sunshine made a big difference. Of course when you book a trip like this months in advance who knows what the weather is going to be like..

For me this is the first trip done in October..the rest have been May through September..

It was a revelation to have almost all the roads almost empty..the climb up to Applecross encountered no cars coming the opposite way!

A lack of camper vans, almost no motorcyclists, no cyclists and pretty few cars made the whole trip a joy..

As those who have done the trip know, being bogged down following an Arnold Clark stickered Peugeot or a lumbering 5m camper van is no join especially when the twats don’t obey the big blue police signs telling them to move over for faster traffic..

Similarly the lack of traffic coming the opposite way meant progress could be rapid, smooth and pretty stress less..

The roads were in pretty good condition, hardly any potholes ..people who winge can’t appreciate these are mountain roads in a remote part of the UK.

Sure if you drive off the edge of the road then it may hurt..

Cars with lowered suspension will suffer both on the bumps if you travel at speed and potential grounding …any car with stock ride height should be fine.

Hotel wise it’s more of a struggle…the demise in quality and increase in room rates means for next year Premier Inn will not be my go to option.

The Royal Hotel in Ullapool was pricey but reasonable with a great restaurant…the Ulbster Arms in Halkirk near Thurso was both reasonable price and excellent accommodation..plus great food…the Whitehouse in Fort Augustus was reasonable price and OK..the PI at Inverness West pricey and disappointing with unhappy staff as they restructure…

Everyone was pleased with the optional diversion off the A9 after Helmsdale through the UNESCO world heritage hinterland through to Altnahara and then to Lairg then Bonar Bridge down to Dingwall then to Drumnadrochit

For me starting in Scotland it was over a 1000 miles..our version of the NC500 was well over 600 miles but well worth it..

I think anymore than 6 cars is just too much on logistics, pace and just faff..

Thanks to Keith for setting a pace on the middle day that the Porsches couldn’t keep up…

Not sure how to better it next year..

A few pics in no great order…
 

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A few more pics
 

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It sounds like you all had a great time Peter. Now I'm regretting not signing up for it, but I'm on your next trip and couldn't really justify 2 trips to Scotland from Surrey within 2 weeks! And after doing your NC500 trip last year I wanted to try different places this year.

Maybe October is the best time to do it? If you do clockwise again next year, maybe ideally in October, I'd be up for that. :thumbsup:
 
Mr Tidy said:
It sounds like you all had a great time Peter. Now I'm regretting not signing up for it, but I'm on your next trip and couldn't really justify 2 trips to Scotland from Surrey within 2 weeks! And after doing your NC500 trip last year I wanted to try different places this year.

Maybe October is the best time to do it? If you do clockwise again next year, maybe ideally in October, I'd be up for that. :thumbsup:
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There will be at least one NC500 trip next year but the format not yet sure..but will probably push my luck with another autumn trip :thumbsup:
 

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B21 said:
There will be at least one NC500 trip next year but the format not yet sure..but will probably push my luck with another autumn trip
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Thanks, I hope you do!
 
Looks like you all had a great fun trip,glad the weather held too,wish i could have been on it ,missing having a top down blast:driving:
Moz in Oz
 
Now that looks like a splendid road trip. :driving: That View to Skye and the Cuillin ridge from Bealach Na Ba, has me wanting to get my climbing gear out. 8) :thumbsup:

I bought the guide book for the ridge earlier in the year. :wink:
 
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