An(other) NC500 question

[RevvingRev]

So I know there are loads of North Cost 500 threads and related - and I looked but I couldn't find an answer to my question.

I am planning a trip round the NC500 at the end of May. I have a pretty good idea of the places I want to see, how I'm getting there etc. The one thing I can't figure out is whether it is best done Clockwise or Anti-clockwise or whether it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever at all.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Anti clockwise.

 

[Micky]

Clockwise.

 

[Frautzi]

I did anti clock wise.
Day 1 warrington to Inverness
Day 2 Inverness to Ullapool via JoG. Durness. Ullapool
Day 3 Ullapool. Gairloch. Applecross. Bit of skye to oban.
Day 4 Taynuilt. Oban. All round the coast. Fortwilliam. Lochlomond . Dumfries and home to warrington great trip... going back at the end of may..

 

[gerarddwatts]

Anti clockwise. The least interesting bit is the east side, save the best til last, loads of places to stay on the west, better views going down the west, more options to extend if the weather is good. Dont listen to the old git from Yorkshire....what does he know....he's just ripping the arse out of the pension. Old fart.

I've done it both ways several times.

Anti clockwise.

 

[Micky]

I've done it both ways several times.

Anti clockwise.

I've done it several times both ways.

Clockwise.

Take your time working your way up the west side, saviour and enjoy, across the top, pop across to Orkney, then cut'n run down the east side when the time starts to run out .... clockwise

 

[WEE BOAB]

Well I've not done it as yet but I've done a bit of touring up north though and I'm planning on giving it a go early May, I'm thinking clockwise.........but......

 

[busy builder]

Living on it and having done it numerous times both ways, my preference is to do the West coast from top to bottom, so for me anti-clockwise.

 

[Kaybe]

Done it many ways six and half a dozen for me, more important the weather is good.

 

[John Armstrong]

Add on the extra few miles doing Glen Loth by Helmsdale adds. Not in bad weather or if all the sheep decide to sleep on the road, or you don't like public roads that are in worse condition than some cart tracks. It is off the beaten track though

 

[mcinlb]

Done it several times, clockwise only ............

 

[gerarddwatts]

OK....suit yourselves....try it both ways and you'll see I'm right. The best bits don't really start until Tongue, and then it just gets better as you head west. In fact, having been there I would skip the top left corner all together, turning left at Lothbeg, up Glenloth to Kildonan, Kinbrace, Melvich and then on WEST. Thus saving some time to enjoy the beautiful corners of the WEST. I can see that folk would probably want to 'do' the whole thing, but that corner might as well be in ......Yorkshire or Lancashire....

The road from Durness to Ullapool is one of the best biking roads in Europe.

 

[Micky]

OK....suit yourselves....try it both ways and you'll see I'm right ....

Try it both ways and you'll know I'm right

Does it feckin' matter?

Nooooo of course it doesn't ... just head north and enjoy :scotsman

 

[gerarddwatts]

Not a bit....just do it!!

 

[columbus]

Do it in a figure 8

 

[ymfb]

Watch it on YouTube, save a fortune, then ride to France

 

[Kaybe]

One I did a while back, takes in much of the NC500, and adds in some decent wee roads well worth a run up / down.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...-the-Straths-of-Caithness-and-Sutherland-etc?

 

[Frautzi]

Do it in a figure 8

Made me chuckle....

 

[west coast traveller]

Anti-clockwise (apart from approaching Laide where one should turn back at Aultbea for a great view up the coast......)

 

[Khulu]

Over the cattleman's pass to Applecross is better done uphill, which is in the clockwise direction and you get the advantage of crossing the top and seeing Raasay and the waters of the west coast. Or, you could do the pass both ways if you want.