|
We did this in an MX-5 in May 2019.
It's a shame really that it is a 'named' route, the more successful the branding is, the less enjoyable it gets, with increasing numbers.
There wasn't really much sign of over commercialisation, however.
We went in May in between the Bank Holiday periods (4th - 9th IIRC) and it wasn't busy. Very quiet for example at the Castle of Mey, where we had practically a private guided tour, and later at the Inverewe garden (quite midgy even in May, as it had just rained).
Frankly there isn't a lot to detain you on the east coast itself. You will of course go to John O'Groats because it's there.
It can last as short or long a time as you want within reason, there isn't so much on the route itself to occupy you but if you can spend a day or so at your halts then you can reach out into the surrounding areas. Your B&B hosts will thank you - some won't even offer single night stays now.
We spent a night in Dundee, to see a friend and visit the new V&A there, then over the Cairngorms to start our NC500 from Nairn. We went the 'wrong' way round, our first stop being Bettyhill. ( We skipped over the Black Isle because we knew it well, but if you don't then it's easy to spend two or three days based there. Among other places, Rosemarkie is one of the best places in UK to watch dolphins from the shore. The route technically ignores the Black Isle but we like it a lot. We did visit again once were were back in Inverness)
There's a folk museum at Bettyhill that tells the story of the highland clearances.
Our next stop was Lochinver. Not strictly on the route, but from Lochinver it's worth finding the road from Altandhu down to Polglass (have morning coffee at the village hall), from which you will have views of the Summer Isles.
Our next halt was Gairloch, then a night in Inverness. 500 miles is not a long way to drive, just make sure you see things and places you want to see on the way. Drive Bealach Na Ba from to or from Applecross of course.
Scrabster has a lively harbour that will yield a good picture or two. We liked Ullapool too.
All that said, there are lots of lovely roads in Scotland with almost nobody on them, the NC500 is a good tour but not the be-all and end-all.
Motorhomers are a pain on the single track roads. we didn't really get many, but I'm sure I would find it unbearable at busy times. Many are hired and the hirers are too frit to use passing places, neither have some oncoming ones the sense to wait before the passing place they are approaching so that you can drive into it to let them through, so you end up reversing to the one you passed before you could see them. They won't reverse at all of course. So it is well worth aiming for a quiet time. The MX-5 was at least the perfect car for squeezing through and incredibly easy to reverse with the hood down (we had good weather almost the whole time).
I enjoyed it but I probably won't do it again as a route, there's just no need and enough other places to explore.
PS - book early. Start now, if you want accommodation in May.
Edited by Manatee on 02/01/2024 at 12:32
|
