NC500: North Coast 500
Scotland's answer to Route 66: 516 miles of mountains, single-track roads, and empty beaches
- Distance
- 469 mi
- 755 km
- Driving
- 11 hr 24 min
- excl. stops
- Suggested
- 7 days
- balanced split
- Stops
- 9
- curated
Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 9 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.
Opens the planner with every stop loaded. Free, no card needed.
Day by day
Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.
Before you go
Best time to drive it
May to September
May is the sweet spot: the peak month for road-trip interest three years running, but before the school holidays fill the single-track passing places.
Indicative costs
- Fuel (40 mpg petrol)£78
- TollsFree
Tolls assume ~65% of the distance on tolled road. Fuel prices move constantly: treat these as a range, not a quote.
Driving rules
Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.
Driving in United KingdomEvery stop on the NC500: North Coast 500
- 1Inverness
- 2Dornoch
- 3John o' Groats
- 4Duncansby Head
- 5Durness
- 6Sandwood Bay
- 7Ullapool
- 8Applecross
- 9Inverness
Worth a detour
Curated places within 25 km of the road.
Eilean Donan Castle
castleA picturesque island castle at the confluence of three sea lochs in the Scottish Highlands, one of Scotland's most photographed monuments.
Durness
landmarkRemote village in Scotland's far northwest corner surrounded by white-sand beaches, dramatic cliffs and the wild beauty of Cape Wrath.
Old Man of Storr
natural wonderDramatic pinnacle of rock rising from the Trotternish Ridge on Skye, surrounded by eerie rock formations with views across to the mainland.
Loch Ness
natural wonderScotland's most legendary loch, containing more fresh water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined and home to the fabled monster Nessie.
Smoo Cave
natural wonderSpectacular sea cave near Durness in the far north, featuring a massive entrance chamber where a freshwater waterfall plunges into the darkness.
Suilven
scenic viewpointUnmistakable sandstone mountain rising like a fortress from the wild Assynt landscape, one of Scotland's most iconic and recognisable peaks.
Stac Pollaidh
scenic viewpointCompact but spectacular sandstone peak in Assynt with a deeply eroded pinnacled summit ridge and stunning views of the Coigach wilderness.
Sandwood Bay
beachMagnificent mile-long pink-sand beach accessible only by a 4-mile walk, dominated by the Am Buachaille sea stack and utterly wild.
Urquhart Castle
castleAtmospheric ruins on the shores of Loch Ness with one of the best monster-spotting vantage points, dating back to the 13th century.
Corrieshalloch Gorge & Falls of Measach
waterfallSpectacular 46-metre waterfall plunging into a mile-long box canyon, viewed from a Victorian suspension bridge in the Scottish Highlands.
Bealach na Ba
famous roadScotland's greatest road, climbing to 626 metres with Alpine-style switchbacks over the Applecross Peninsula and breathtaking views to Skye.
Applecross Inn
cafeA remote coastal pub reached via the dramatic Bealach na Ba pass in the Scottish Highlands, one of Britain's most rewarding driving destinations.
Common questions about the NC500: North Coast 500
How long does the NC500: North Coast 500 take?
The driving itself is about 11 hr 24 min across 469 miles (755 km). Most people spread it over 7 days: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.
How many miles is the NC500: North Coast 500?
469 miles, or 755 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.
When is the best time to drive the NC500: North Coast 500?
May to September. May is the sweet spot: the peak month for road-trip interest three years running, but before the school holidays fill the single-track passing places.
What does the NC500: North Coast 500 cost in fuel?
Roughly £78 in fuel for a petrol car averaging 40 mpg. Motorways on this route are toll-free. Indicative only: fuel prices move.
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