Just did a variation of the NC500. Here’s a few pics and the route.

Sneldog

Sneldog

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Earlier this month, 7 of us did the North Coast 500. We had excellent weather and had a wonderful time. Here’s the route and a few pics.

Day 1 - Home to Moffat
Day 2 - Moffat to Inverness. A good route here, turn left off the Loch Lomond road on to the A817 to Faslane. Great road. Then hug the coast and take the A819 to rejoin the A82 at Bridge of Orchy and head through to Fort Augustus. Better road from there to Inverness is the B862 and B861 through Errogie and Farr. Good dinner in Inverness at The Mustard Seed.
Day 3 - A87 through Glen Shiel is a belter then pick up NC500 at Loch Carron. We stayed in Gairloch and got a great view of the northern lights.
Day 4 - Gairloch to Altnaharra. Nice hotel there.
Day 5 to Helmsdale.
Day 6 - rode to Perth. A couple of highlights: the road from Brora to Lairg is excellent. From there, fast route to Colloden Battlefield. A strange place that seems to celebrate Scottish military ineptitude and there’s no merch for the winning side either. From there, into Speyside and a left turn at Grantown to take in lunch at the fabulous Dowans Hotel near Aberlour. We had the sea trout which was incredible. After that, A939 (called in at Glenfarclas!) and A93. Zero traffic meant an epic ride through Glenshee.

Wonderful trip. Loads of Golden Eagles and we even saw an Osprey. I can share our bird spot list if anyone is interested?

Highly recommended trip if you get good weather. If anyone is considering this and wants hotel, route or restaurant advice then just ask.

Some pics:

IMG_4388.jpegIMG_4389.jpegIMG_4394.jpeg
 
I do fancy staying at the Altnahrra hotel on one of our trips. Just because it’s miles from everywhere. Did you need to book this hotel a long time in advance? Did you have a hotel in Gairloch?
 
Mmmmm, makes me want to go again and my beloved. But it's a fekking long way from South London
 
glenn2926 said:
I do fancy staying at the Altnahrra hotel on one of our trips. Just because it’s miles from everywhere. Did you need to book this hotel a long time in advance? Did you have a hotel in Gairloch?
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Altnaharra Hotel was good. Very good food and the welcome was excellent. I got put in an upgraded suite too which was very cool. I think I booked it about 4 months prior. Worth noting it was full though.

Gairloch, we stayed in the Gairloch Highland Lodge which was fine although a little tired. Lovely people that run it though. Best place to eat was The Old Inn. Great pub which high end seafood. We also tried the Black Pearl Creole Kitchen. Food was decent but the service was shocking. Old Inn beats it by miles.
 
Snelly55 said:
Altnaharra Hotel was good. Very good food and the welcome was excellent. I got put in an upgraded suite too which was very cool. I think I booked it about 4 months prior. Worth noting it was full though.

Gairloch, we stayed in the Gairloch Highland Lodge which was fine although a little tired. Lovely people that run it though. Best place to eat was The Old Inn. Great pub which high end seafood. We also tried the Black Pearl Creole Kitchen. Food was decent but the service was shocking. Old Inn beats it by miles.
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Thanks for this.👍🏻
 
Toshack10 said:
Mmmmm, makes me want to go again and my beloved. But it's a fekking long way from South London
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Yes, my six mates came from the West Country so we broke up the return from Perth with an overnight stay with me in Sheffield.
 
The road down Glen Shiel is a belter

If you go again come home via Oban and get the A816 in
 
RedRick Esq. said:
The road down Glen Shiel is a belter

If you go again come home via Oban and get the A816 in
Click to expand...

Loved that road. Bettered only by the A93 south. We were just so lucky. Zero traffic and no police. It was brilliant.

Applecross was a nice technical ride too.
 
Snelly55 said:
Altnaharra Hotel was good. Very good food and the welcome was excellent. I got put in an upgraded suite too which was very cool. I think I booked it about 4 months prior. Worth noting it was full though.

Gairloch, we stayed in the Gairloch Highland Lodge which was fine although a little tired. Lovely people that run it though. Best place to eat was The Old Inn. Great pub which high end seafood. We also tried the Black Pearl Creole Kitchen. Food was decent but the service was shocking. Old Inn beats it by miles.
Click to expand...
We're staying in the Old Inn for one night next weekend, we've stayed there a couple of times in the past.
 
glenn2926 said:
I do fancy staying at the Altnahrra hotel on one of our trips. Just because it’s miles from everywhere. Did you need to book this hotel a long time in advance? Did you have a hotel in Gairloch?
Click to expand...
They have a bunkhouse also. Or used to. You can order breakfast (excellent!) whether you stay there or in the main hotel. The "Gillie's bar" is just that by the way and all the better for it! They've probably gentrified it now though!
 
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