Inverness to Dornoch Road Trip (NC500) 🚗🏞️🥃
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Begin your North Coast 500 journey with scenic views, waterfalls, wildlife, and whisky.
🚌 Don’t Want To Drive Or Plan The Trip Yourself?
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I highly recommend checking out the NC 500 Rabbie’s tour.
It hits all the highlights of this itinerary and is a local Scottish company I’ve used many times and their tours and guides are always exceptional.
Inverness to Dornoch Road Trip (NC500) Itinerary Summary
📍 Inverness 🏙️
📍 Black Isle Brewery 🍻
📍 Chanonry Point – Dolphin watching 🐬
📍 Fairy Glen Falls 🌿
📍 The Singleton Distillery 🥃
📍 Rogie Falls 💦
📍 Glenmorangie Distillery 🥃
📍 Dornoch 🏘️
📍 Cocoa Mountain 🍫
📍 Dornoch Beach 🏖️
Total Distance: 🚗 Approx. 95 miles
Recommended Time: ⌛ 1–2 days
📸 Photos & Info are located further down. Keep scrolling to see all these places. ⬇️
A perfect introduction to the NC500 – combining nature, whisky, and coastal charm. 🥾🌊📸
Get the FREE Inverness to Dornoch Road Trip (NC500) Map!
🚗 Need a car for this road trip?
If you don’t have your own car, I’d really recommend renting one — it gives you the flexibility to stop at each waterfall and explore at your own pace.
I usually use DiscoverCars to compare prices and find the best deals across different rental companies.
👉 It’s really easy to use:
- Compare multiple providers in one place
- Cheaper than booking direct
- Free cancellation on most options
- Their 3rd party insurance is a lot cheaper
- They have a great customer service for claims (though I hope you won’t have to use it!
Additional Information & Highlights
📍Inverness
🗺️ Things To Do:
- Walk along the River Ness and cross the Greig Street Bridge
- Go to the Old High Church Graveyard
- Go on a historic walking tour of Inverness
- Visit Inverness Castle
- Go on a bike tour of Inverness
- Visit Inverness Cathedral
- Go to Leakey’s Bookshop (one of the most famous bookshops in the UK)
- Shop and have lunch at The Victorian Market
- Go to Ness Islands
🏨 Accommodation: Ardentorrie Guest House
📍 Black Isle Brewery 🍻
Started in 1998, the Black Isle Brewery produces organic beers of all types. This includes a lager, IPA, pale ale as well as a porter.
They use naturally grown barley and hops which supports organic farmers.
The brewery is a great stop on the NC 500. You can easily get there by car but please note that the last stretch is a dirt road (though it’s in very good conditions and you don’t need a 4×4).
They offer free tours and tastings.
🐶 Dog-friendly: The brewery itself is not dog-friendly but the outdoor area is and it’s a very nice place to have a beer when the weather is nice.
📍 Chanonry Point
Dolphin watching 🐬
Located between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Chanonry Point is one of the best places to see dolphins in Scotland.
There is also a lighthouse and fantastic views across the Moray Firth to Fort George.
🅿️ There are several parking spots near the lighthouse.
💡My Top Tip: Take a picnic and have lunch there as this will give you more time to look out for dolphins.. There are several picnic tables by the beach. Alternatively, you can also eat in your car as it will be facing the sea.
📍 Fairy Glen Falls 🌿
This easy walk near Rosemarkie takes you to not one but two beautiful waterfalls.
🅿️ Parking: Here. It’s free but there aren’t many spaces. The path to the waterfalls start on the left hand side.
🥾 2.7 km – Moderate – 45 minutes. Trail here.
💡My Top Tip: Make sure to walk all the way to the second waterfall and not stop at the first one. The path keeps going on up on the left hand side. Be careful on the bridges though as there is no banister.
🐶 Dog-friendly: This is a dog-friendly walk but you should be careful on the bridges.
📍 The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery 🥃
Founded in 1838, this is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. They completely rebranded and opened a new visitor centre in 2022 and now offer a variety of experiences.
This includes a guided tour of the distillery and cocktail experience but also a premium Malt to Cask tour.
🅿️ Parking: There is a large free car park at the distillery.
💡My Top Tip: It’s worth stopping by even if you are not planning to do the tour as they have a big shop and a lovely bar with loads of cocktails. Their chocolate old fashioned is to die for!
🐶 Dog-friendly: The bar and shop are both dog-friendly so you can take your pooch. The tour of the distillery isn’t though.
📍 Rogie Falls 💦
🅿️ Car park: Here (free)
🥾 1.5km / 1 miles – 1 hour – Trail here
💡 My Top Tip: There are two walks, the yellow one (short) and the blue one (long). I recommend starting by the blue one (from the toilet blocks) and heading up so you get to the first viewpoint, then the bridge and from there you can come back via the yellow path. This is the most scenic short route.
🐶 Dog-friendly: Yes, the path is in very good conditions.
📍 Glenmorangie Distillery 🥃
Founded in 1843, Glenmorangie is one of the most famous whisky brands in the world. They offer various tours of the distillery and also have a bar where you can try the whiskies.
🅿️ Parking: There is a large free car park at the distillery.
💡 My Top Tip: The museum is free to visit and very interesting so I highly recommend popping by the visitor centre even if you are not planning on doing the tour.
📍 Dornoch 🏘️
This is one of the most beautiful towns in Scotland. It’s very quaint and you’ll love walking around.
🗺️ Things To Do:
- Wander around the town
- Get a delicious hot chocolate from Cocoa Mountain
- Browse the shops
- Visit Dornoch Cathedral
- Try some local whiskies at the Dornoch Castle Whisky Bar
- Go to the beach
🏨 Accommodation: Dornoch Castle Hotel
🏕️Campsite: Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park
📍 Cocoa Mountain 🍫
This artisan chocolatier offers delicious hot chocolates, mochas and all sorts of chocolate treats. They have a couple of locations on the NC500 including one in Dornoch, near the cathedral.
📍 Dornoch Beach 🏖️
This is a very long and wide beach with golden sand, making it the ideal place for a walk.
🅿️ Parking: Here
🚽Toilet facilities: Yes
🐶 Dog-friendly: Yes, all year round
🍤 The Highland Larder is a great place to get lunch, especially if you like seafood.
