Scotland NC500 Road Trip (Clockwise) 🚗🏴
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Follow the North Coast 500 in a clockwise loop — a journey packed with castles, waterfalls, wild beaches, rugged mountains, and charming villages.
🚌 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.
Scotland NC500 Road Trip (Clockwise) Itinerary Summary
🗺️ Step 1: Inverness to Applecross (110 miles)
📍 Inverness
📍 Urquhart Castle 🏰
📍 Loch Ness 🐉
📍 Invermoriston Falls 💦
📍 Eilean Donan Castle 🏰
📍 Bealach na Bà 🏔️
📍 Applecross 🏡
➕ Extra stop: Plodda Falls 💦
🛏️ Stay in: Applecross
🗺️ Step 2: Applecross to Ullapool (120 miles)
📍 Applecross 🏡
📍 Scenic coastal route via Fearnmore
📍 Shieldaig 🌊 (Make sure to get smoked salmon and dill sauce from the Loch Torridon Smokehouse, it’s delicious)
📍 Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve 🏞️
📍 Victoria Falls 💦
📍 Gairloch (Big Sand Beach, Red Point Beach, boat tours) 🏖️
📍 Poolewe 🏡
📍 Mellon Udrigle Beach & Gruinard Bay 🌊
📍 Corrieshalloch Gorge 🌉
📍 Ullapool 🌆
🛏️ Stay in: Ullapool
🗺️ Step 3: Ullapool to Durness (120 miles)
📍 Ullapool 🌆
📍 Stac Pollaidh (optional 2-hour hike) 🥾
📍 Knockan Crag Nature Reserve 🌋
📍 Ardvreck Castle 🏰
📍 Ardvreck Castle Waterfall 💦
📍 Lochinver (Lochinver Larder) 🥧
📍 Achmelvich Beach 🏖️
📍 Clachtoll Beach 🏖️
📍 Clashnessie Falls 💦
📍 Drumbeg Viewpoint 🌄
📍 B869 Drive 🌊
📍 Wailing Widow Falls / Allt Chranaidh Waterfall 💦
📍 Quinag Viewpoint ⛰️
📍 Kylesku Bridge 🌉
📍 Kyle of Durness (optional) 🚤
📍 Durness 🏡
🛏️ Stay in: Durness
🗺️ Step 4: Durness to Tongue (35 miles)
📍 Durness 🏡
📍 Durness Beach & Sango Sands Bay 🏖️
📍 Balnakeil Beach 🏖️
📍 Smoo Cave & Chocolate Mountain 🍫
📍 Ceannabeinne Beach 🏖️
📍 Tongue 🏡
🛏️ Stay in: Tongue
🗺️ Step 5: Tongue to John O’Groats (80 miles)
📍 Tongue 🏡
📍 Farr Beach 🏖️
📍 Strathy Beach 🏖️
📍 Wolfburn Distillery 🥃
📍 Thurso 🌆
📍 Dunnet Head & Beach 🌊
📍 Duncansby Stacks ⛰️
📍 Duncansby Head Lighthouse 💡
📍 John O’Groats Signpost 📍
🛏️ Stay in: John O’Groats
🗺️ Step 6: John O’Groats to Dornoch (100 miles)
📍 John O’Groats 📍
📍 Old Keiss Castle 🏰
📍 Castle Sinclair 🏰
📍 Old Pulteney Distillery 🥃
📍Castle Sinclair Girnigoe 🏰
📍 Whaligoe Steps 🪜
📍 Hill o’ Many Stanes 🪨
📍 Grey Cairns of Camster 🪨
📍 Brora Beach 🏖️
📍 Dunrobin Castle 🏰
📍 Big Burn Walk 🌳
📍 Dornoch Village & Beach 🏖️
➕ Extra stop: Cocoa Mountain 🍫
🛏️ Stay in: Dornoch
🗺️ Step 7: Dornoch to Inverness (90 miles)
📍 Dornoch Beach 🏖️
📍 Dornoch 🏡
📍 Rogie Falls 💦
📍 The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery 🥃
📍 Fairy Glen Walk 🌿
📍 Dolphin Watching at Chanonry Point 🐬
📍 Black Isle Brewery 🍻
📍 Inverness 🌆
➕ Extra stops: Culloden Battlefield ⚔️
🛏️ Stay in: Inverness
Total Distance: 🚗 Approx. 655 miles
Recommended Time: ⌛ 7-14 days (or longer if you want to explore more)
📸 Photos & Info are located further down. Keep scrolling to see all these places. ⬇️
The NC500 clockwise route offers dramatic coastal drives, ancient castles, unforgettable hikes, and authentic Highland culture — the ultimate Scottish road trip! 🌊🏰📸
Get the FREE Scotland NC500 Road Trip (Clockwise) 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
📍 Urquhart Castle 🏰
📍 Loch Ness 🐉
📍 Invermoriston Falls 💦
📍 Eilean Donan Castle 🏰
📍 Bealach na Bà 🏔️
📍 Applecross 🏡
📍 Scenic coastal route via Fearnmore
📍 Shieldaig 🌊
📍Loch Torridon Smokehouse
📍 Victoria Falls 💦
📍 Gairloch 🏖️
📍 Poolewe
📍 Mellon Udrigle Beach & Gruinard Bay 🌊
📍 Corrieshalloch Gorge
📍 Ullapool
📍 Knockan Crag Nature Reserve
📍 Ardvreck Castle 🏰
📍 Ardvreck Castle Waterfall 💦
📍 Lochinver (Lochinver Larder) 🥧
📍 Achmelvich Beach 🏖️
📍 Clachtoll Beach 🏖️
📍 Clashnessie Falls 💦
📍 Drumbeg Viewpoint
📍 B869 Drive
📍 Wailing Widow Falls / Allt Chranaidh Waterfall 💦
📍 Quinag Viewpoint
📍 Kylesku Bridge
📍 Kyle of Durness 🚤
📍 Durness Beach
📍 Sango Sands Bay 🏖️
📍 Balnakeil Beach 🏖️
📍 Smoo Cave
📍 Ceannabeinne Beach 🏖️
📍 Tongue 🏡
📍 Farr Beach 🏖️
📍 Strathy Beach 🏖️
📍 Wolfburn Distillery 🥃
📍 Thurso
📍 Dunnet Head
📍 Duncansby Stacks ⛰️
📍 Duncansby Head Lighthouse 💡
📍 John O’Groats Signpost
📍 Castle Sinclair 🏰
📍 Old Pulteney Distillery 🥃
📍Castle Sinclair Girnigoe 🏰
📍 Whaligoe Steps 🪜
📍 Hill o’ Many Stanes 🪨
📍 Brora Beach 🏖️
📍 Dunrobin Castle & Gardens
Home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland since the 13th century. This is one of the most beautiful castles and gardens in the whole of Scotland and a must do on the NC 500.
🅿️ There are some parking spots right in front of the castle as well as a large overflow car park. Both are free.
🎟️ Tickets can be booked on site or on the official website.
⌛Opening dates: The castle is open from April to October
💡 My Top Tip: There is a member of staff in every room and they are very knowledgeable about the castle and the history of the clan so don’t hesitate to ask them questions.
❤️ My favourite part of the garden was the giant rhubarb. It’s so big! You can even see it from the castle.
🐶Dogs are not allowed in the castle or the gardens.
📍 Big Burn Walk 🌳
📍 Dornoch 🏘️
his 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
📍 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.
📍Rogie Falls
📍 Address: A835, Strathpeffer IV14 9EQ
🅿️ Car park: Here (free)
🥾 1.5km / 1 miles – 1 hour
💡 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 head 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.
📍 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.
📍 Fairy Glen Falls
📍 Address: Rosemarkie, Fortrose IV10 8SJ
🅿️ Carpark: Here (free but it’s not a big carpark so it can be busy)
🥾 This is a 2.7km there and back trail. It takes around 45 minutes altogether.
💡 My Top Tip: Make sure to go all the way to the second waterfall and not stop at the first one. You need to take the path on the lefthand side. Please be careful on the bridges as there is no banister.
📍 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.
📍 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.
📍Culloden Battlefield
Please may I have a copy of the map?
If you are thinking about organising this trip, count me in.. 🙂