Best area of the nc500
Discussion
If you were going to revisit the nc500 but not actually do the whole circular route where would you base yourself ?
I'm thinking more like circular loops rather than keep moving to a different hotel each night .
Watching videos on line and after john o'groats it doesn't really look that impressive compared to getting to torridon .
I'm thinking more like circular loops rather than keep moving to a different hotel each night .
Watching videos on line and after john o'groats it doesn't really look that impressive compared to getting to torridon .
Depending on your choice of roads, my preference (fast a roads rather than single track b roads) I would base myself around ft William (ok so technically its not part of the nc500).
South you have the road through Oban / Lochgilphead which is a personal favourite of mine. South East glencoe / Tyndrum / crainlarich.
East you have killin, head over to Glenshee and North West you can head up to Ullapool via Dornie / torridon etc.
Not really a bad road whichever way you go
South you have the road through Oban / Lochgilphead which is a personal favourite of mine. South East glencoe / Tyndrum / crainlarich.
East you have killin, head over to Glenshee and North West you can head up to Ullapool via Dornie / torridon etc.
Not really a bad road whichever way you go
I was thinking on similar lines after having to cancel our multi-stop trip just before Easter. I thought about Garve which gives you a choice of routes: north to Ullapool, north-west to Gairloch, west to Torridon, south-west to Strathcarron, east (sort of) to Inverness and south-east to Drumnadrochit.
STe_rsv4 said:
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South you have the road through Oban / Lochgilphead which is a personal favourite of mine.
It's a crackin road - I'm up and down it regularly from March-October and occasionally in winter, really enjoyable within the speed limit for the most part, especially the Devil's Elbow/thirteen bends section after/before Craobh Haven (depending on direction, brilliant both ways)Which takes you on to the Ardfern straight then up and over the Bealach, then the squirt from the bottom of the Bealach along to Kilmartin (I always really enjoy this wee bit) It's just a succession of brilliant sections that all lead into the next along the A816. South you have the road through Oban / Lochgilphead which is a personal favourite of mine.
Just stay in Inverness. More choice of accomodation, restaurants (assuming there are any still in business) and easy access to north west, plus alternative trips like Cawdor-Granton-Lecht into Donside/Deeside, west via south side of Loch Ness or Laggan-Spean Bridge, round Black Isle up to Easter Ross to name but a few. Inverness-Garve is only 30 mins or so. You will get eaten by midges in Garve in evenings too and not exactly much going on. Was born and bred not far from there so I know. Midges much less likely in metropolis of Inverness,
gdr said:
Just stay in Inverness. More choice of accomodation, restaurants (assuming there are any still in business) and easy access to north west, plus alternative trips like Cawdor-Granton-Lecht into Donside/Deeside, west via south side of Loch Ness or Laggan-Spean Bridge, round Black Isle up to Easter Ross to name but a few. Inverness-Garve is only 30 mins or so. You will get eaten by midges in Garve in evenings too and not exactly much going on. Was born and bred not far from there so I know. Midges much less likely in metropolis of Inverness,
It was the midge menace that prompted us to plan this year's visit for the end of March when there would also be less traffic. As for evening activity, at my age all I want after a day's driving is a nice view and a mug of hot chocolate 
Riley Blue said:
gdr said:
Just stay in Inverness. More choice of accomodation, restaurants (assuming there are any still in business) and easy access to north west, plus alternative trips like Cawdor-Granton-Lecht into Donside/Deeside, west via south side of Loch Ness or Laggan-Spean Bridge, round Black Isle up to Easter Ross to name but a few. Inverness-Garve is only 30 mins or so. You will get eaten by midges in Garve in evenings too and not exactly much going on. Was born and bred not far from there so I know. Midges much less likely in metropolis of Inverness,
It was the midge menace that prompted us to plan this year's visit for the end of March when there would also be less traffic. As for evening activity, at my age all I want after a day's driving is a nice view and a mug of hot chocolate There are a few country house type hotels around Inverness area. Certainly more than further out in the boondocks into central highlands and north west. Can't vouch for hotel quality though. My trips west are either day trips (from Aberdeenshire) or with tent if we want a few days over there. Booking accomodation at short notice near impossible and if booking far in advance, high probability weather will be rubbish on that date. Plenty good campsites always available though, and benefit of that approach (assuming you are flexible on timing) is you can watch the forecast and make the trip spontaneously if weather looks settled for a few days. I now never ever visit NW Scotland when it is raining.
ianrb said:
Riley Blue said:
gdr said:
Just stay in Inverness. More choice of accomodation, restaurants (assuming there are any still in business) and easy access to north west, plus alternative trips like Cawdor-Granton-Lecht into Donside/Deeside, west via south side of Loch Ness or Laggan-Spean Bridge, round Black Isle up to Easter Ross to name but a few. Inverness-Garve is only 30 mins or so. You will get eaten by midges in Garve in evenings too and not exactly much going on. Was born and bred not far from there so I know. Midges much less likely in metropolis of Inverness,
It was the midge menace that prompted us to plan this year's visit for the end of March when there would also be less traffic. As for evening activity, at my age all I want after a day's driving is a nice view and a mug of hot chocolate Its central enough to enjoy both the southern and northern Highlands and ride different routes each day
ianrb said:
Geographically Inverness makes sense, but have you ever found anywhere decent to stay? I mean clean quiet room with a good breakfast, and possibly an evening meal?
i often stay here in Inverness. https://www.glenmoristontownhouse.com/
Beside the river, quiet, a few minutes walk into centre, on the road to South Loch Ness.
JM said:
i often stay here in Inverness.
https://www.glenmoristontownhouse.com/
Beside the river, quiet, a few minutes walk into centre, on the road to South Loch Ness.
Have stayed there previously. It was a real disapointment; noisy, bit run down and the breakfasts arrived cold. Not be going back.https://www.glenmoristontownhouse.com/
Beside the river, quiet, a few minutes walk into centre, on the road to South Loch Ness.
Best Area of the NC500 ?
For us it was the West Coast followed by the West part of the North Coast. I would not bother with the East side at all if I return. Doing the loop clockwise I would probably get as far as Thurso and then double back on myself and see it all again from the other direction !
For us it was the West Coast followed by the West part of the North Coast. I would not bother with the East side at all if I return. Doing the loop clockwise I would probably get as far as Thurso and then double back on myself and see it all again from the other direction !
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