North Coast 500, Coastal driving route in northern Scotland.
The North Coast 500 is a circular driving route through the Highlands of northern Scotland that begins and ends near Inverness. It follows narrow country roads along steep coasts, through moorland and between mountains, alternating views of the sea with sections through empty valleys.
The route was created in 2015 by a tourism initiative to bring travelers into remote areas of northern Scotland. Since then visitor numbers have grown sharply in some coastal villages and on the back roads.
The name North Coast 500 refers to the approximate length in miles and marks this Highland drive as Scotland's longest circular touring road. Along the coastal sections you see small harbors and boats everywhere, where fishers still carry on their work as they have for generations.
You need between five and seven days to drive the whole route at a relaxed pace and plan stops along the way. It is wise to book accommodation in advance because many remote spots have only a handful of rooms available.
A cyclist completed the entire loop in September 2022 in less than one day and thirty hours. During the drive you often encounter Highland cattle and sheep standing in the middle of the road, refusing to let anyone pass.
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