North Coast 500

[Daren_28]

Just back from a fab 5 day trip from Hull up to Scotland and back. Just shy of 1600 miles door to door.

Really enjoyed the NC500.

Bikes 2 months old and now has 3k on the clocks, all fun (no commuting etc).

 

[ChazzyB]

Bikes 2 months old and now has 3k on the clocks, all fun (no commuting etc).

Mine will have done 3K this week-end as well. Also just two months old. All fun here too.

 

[Flaming T]

Looking to do that trip at some point later this year or spring next year... travelling from the south side of London, makes it a long trip.....easy for the GSA though

 

[Hun]

Going up next week. Anything not to miss?

 

[ossa eck]

Going up next week. Anything not to miss?

Glencoe, then all the west coast is fantastic, hard not to enjoy every road.

The A86 from Spean bridge to Laggan isn't on the route, worth doing it in both directions.

The only road to avoid in Scotland is the A9.

 

[sethmopp]

A9 isn't too bad north of Inverness, but watch out for the cash collectors, and at this time of year, lambs.

 

[JJH]

Whare did you stay or was it camping? JJH

 

[Daren_28]

Glencoe, then all the west coast is fantastic, hard not to enjoy every road.

It's all good but my favourite part was the pass over to Applecross.

Last day was a biggie, Inverness to home! Longggggg day.

 

[Daren_28]

Whare did you stay or was it camping? JJH

South East of Glasgow for the first night, then Inverness, up to Lochinver and back to Inverness.

B&B's via booking.com

 

[JJH]

South East of Glasgow for the first night, then Inverness, up to Lochinver and back to Inverness.

B&B's via booking.com

Thanks. I'm thinking of heading up that way. JJH

 

[MaDPRoFF]

I have wanted to do it for a while, but living near the south coast, just makes me want to go south where weather generally drier and warmer. I know there is periods of fantastic weather up in Scotland but a long way to get there. (Mr. Virgin about time you put the car/bike train ferry back in business

 

[JohnE]

Just got back from doing the NC500. Rode up from Somerset, about 1800 miles round trip. We did not use any motorways at all on the trip. Awesome roads every day. We had a lot of rain but it did not spoil the trip at all, surprising how your wet riding soon improves. We did the trip anti-clockwise. Lots of single track roads especially on the West coast. The Stoer peninsula is fantastic as was the route into Applecross. The actual Applecross pass can be tricky, the steep hairpins and loose surface and wet weather in our case made it tricky. After Applecross we rode across the bridge into Skye and caught the ferry back to Mallaig (costs a tenner). You the get to ride the fantastic road to the Isles back to Fort William. The great roads and scenery just go on and on. The best trip I have done. Hotels and food was great. Eastern Europe and possibly Russia next.

 

[spenny_b]

Hey guys, just joined up....am right on the tipping point of getting on another bike, obviously a GS or GSA. Obviously. Just need the man maths to work, and overcome significant family political pressure (!!!). Anyway, I'm sure you lot already know about The Missenden Flyer's vlog of his GS NC500 tour? He just posted Ep5 this afternoon >>> https://youtu.be/uui0vWp68lM

 

[Cardinal]

Don't forget to pop in to the Crask Inn (both place name and pub) - now under new management after being gifted to the diocese. Very friendly welcome, food and camping in garden if needed. Possibly the remotest pub in the country and lovely scenery.

To avoid a boring route home try:

Oban to Campbeltown road great, then ferry to Aran from Lochranza - quick run round island and then ferry to ardrossan and you avoid Glasgow on the way south.

From there try dropping to Portpatrick and take the a712 back towards the M6 if heading south, also another cracking road.

A6 over shap also great.

 

[autogs]

ride report in the l/c section?

 

[WaterMonkey]

Don't forget to pop in to the Crask Inn (both place name and pub) - now under new management after being gifted to the diocese. Very friendly welcome, food and camping in garden if needed. Possibly the remotest pub in the country and lovely scenery.

Great memories of the Crask Inn. In 2002 we mountain biked from JOG to LE and the Crask Inn just appeared out of the mist like a mirage. We couldn't believe there was a pub in the middle of nowhere just when we need a break the most!
I plan to do a circum Britain ride on the GS at some point and will pop back.

 

[masterman21]

Great Route , but starting to get very busy at this time of year. One word of advice to anyone planning it ... If your not planning to camp , you must try and find accomadation before you come . The local infrastructure is struggling to keep up with demand !