The North Coast 500 is in one of the most remote and beautiful parts of the UK, which has a low population density. As such, cell coverage can be spotty.

For more options see our guide to our favourite B&B’s along the NC500, as well as our overall guide to NC500 accommodation. Old School House B&Bin Gairloch – This relatively new B&B is run by Sarah and Rob who have spent many years in the area. We haven’t traveled the route with kids, but we definitely think it doable and can make for a nice holiday for children of any age. I think you just need to do a bit more planning to make sure you allow more time for breaks and plan visits to places the kids will enjoy. From Dornoch it’s another 20 minutes drive north to one of the highlights of the day, the spectacular Dunrobin Castle. This is a beautiful castle that looks like it has fallen straight out of a fairy tale, and we highly encourage you to stop and spend some time visiting. If you are staying in a smaller guesthouse or B&B, it is likely that they will not offer an evening meal. If this is the case, make sure you eat before you arrive, or have a plan for a nearby location for a meal, as some spots can be fairly remote. You don’t want to arrive somewhere hungry and realise you have to drive another 40 minutes to find some food!

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There are plenty of petrol stations on the route. I suggest filling up regularly as the NC500 is quite remote in places. Petrol stations are marked on my NC500 map. Smoo Cave – An impressive cave. It is free to see the exterior. You can also join a seasonal tour to visit more of the inside of the cave that includes a geological tour on foot and a raft ride to reach the inner chambers. Tour requires appropriate footwear. This itinerary assumes you’ll be driving the North Coast 500 in a car or motorbike, and staying in hotels or guesthouses along the way, and we have recommended some of our favourite accommodation options along the route for each night. From Ullapool you head south a short way on the A835 before turning right onto the A832 and heading out to the coast. The first attraction you’ll come to is the Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve. If you follow our 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary, we provide a list of restaurants for dinner for each day along the route.

Even if you are planning to visit at the busiest time of year (say July or August), you can still avoid some of the crowds and find some peaceful spots along the route if you make an effort to do so. First, go out when fewer people are going to be around. Get up early or stay out late as most people don’t get onto the road until after 8:30am and stop for lodging around dinner time. Early risers will be rewarded by local wildlife sightings, especially the local deer and birds. For the most part, you’ll want to bring the same things you’d bring on any road trip, but there are a few things you may want to consider for a Scottish road trip. First, you may want to invest in a guidebook for the North Coast 500 or if your travels are taking you elsewhere in Scotland, a Scotland guidebook. During our 12 day winter trip in February most days were mixed (rain/light snow/clouds/some sun) and it rained at least a little on almost every day of the trip. During that time we had 2 bad days (snowed all day, roads uncleared, stayed inside) and 1 especially nice and sunny day. The North Coast 500 has become very popular in the last few years, even being labelled Scotland’s Route 66.Ullapool – a great wee town for an overnight stop on the NC500. Discover more things to do in Ullapool This one is easy, don’t litter! Bring along bags or containers you can keep in your car to store your trash and wait until you get to a proper place to dispose of it responsibly. One common issue is that tourists are throwing garbage into proper trash receptacles but the receptacles are already overflowing so the garbage ends up on the ground or in the water anyway. Corrieshalloch Gorge– through which the River Droma falls through a series of waterfalls, including the huge 45 m Falls of Measach. Don’t be scared!