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[Lagondanet]

Any one done this trip. We are thinking of doing it at the end of October. Thanks.

[Varche]

Did quite a bit of it two years ago .Great fun. Weather was great but changed on our last day.

One highlight was watching otters in a harbour.

[Doctor Gollum]

Never done the west coast, but have done the A9 and a fair chunk of the north coast.

Strathpeffer and Pitlochry both very nice. A9 is a cracking driving road, but watch out for bikes and campers.

Cape Wrath to John O'Groats is pretty desolate.

Late October is a brave choice weather wise, but accommodation should be easier. There is a Tescos in Wick which has a petrol station, otherwise once you're away from Inverness /Perth you might be scratching for fuel in the Northwest, although most villages have a garage of sorts. Also, expect Wednesday afternoons and Sunday to find alot closed.

If you have the time, then take the ferry over to Orkney for a day or two, I would suggest from Gills Bay (JO'G) to St Margaret's Hope. Easy run to Kirkwall and back and plenty to see.

No shortage of distilleries, especially along the A9 and two in Kirkwall, and excellent local produce everywhere. 

[456lbft]

Any one done this trip. We are thinking of doing it at the end of October. Thanks.

If you plan on getting out of the car and it is still warm in October, Jungle formula insect repellent spray is your friend...April a better bet for fewer bugs.
Also, local traffic police and sneaky cameras are on top of speeders, be warned.

[Lagondanet]

Any one done this trip. We are thinking of doing it at the end of October. Thanks.

If you plan on getting out of the car and it is still warm in October, Jungle formula insect repellent spray is your friend...April a better bet for fewer bugs.
Also, local traffic police and sneaky cameras are on top of speeders, be warned.

Are midges still rife in October then?

[Doctor Gollum]

You should be ok by then. First frost or two usually sorts them out. Wind and rain will be a bigger problem.

[Kevin Wood]

I've done a lot of driving around that area. One of the last refuges from the scourge of the constant 45 MPH VAG driver. 

If you're after a white knuckle ride bear in mind that a lot of it, especially the section of the West coast North of Ullapool, is single track with passing places. There's some blatting to be had, but you need to head to the hills in the inland parts of Sutherland to play IMHO.

Applecross, Ullapoool, Durness, Tongue and many other places along the way are lovely lunch stops.

As said, need to keep the tank topped up, especially if, like me, you've got a 160 mile range when not being silly.

[Varche]

Not all VAG drivers do 45! 

I remember car sharing once ( only once) with a guy from work. He drove everywhere at 45. In town and down the M69...........

[BazaJT]

That'll be some fuel bill with the Lagonda

[Kevin Wood]

That'll be some fuel bill with the Lagonda

about those single track sections...

[456lbft]

That'll be some fuel bill with the Lagonda

about those single track sections...

The North Coast 500 is not exactly the Pacific Coast highway,  there are some fun inland roads with spectacular views....and sheep!!

[Lagondanet]

Not taking the Lagonda on this one, but the Antara. Both end in A.

ps. How not to treat your Lagonda.

https://youtu.be/ifIa3YdjHvs

[Doctor Gollum]

That gold looks like it might actually have been a nice car once.

Miami Vice is about all that can be said of the white one

[New POD]

The other year, we drove from Merseyside to Loch Lomond, then to Oban, Ferry to Mull, Couple of days in Balamory, then Ferry back to the main land, across to Mallaig, onto Skye, up to the top end, for a few more days, then across to Loch Ness, and then eventually back home.
All in a Nissan Juke.
My previous trip, 30 years ago, involved running in the Engine of a newly rebuilt RD350LC (was 375 cc af5er the oversized pistons were fitted), by riding to Aviemore, then Ullapool, then Skye, then the Mull of Kintyre, then Arran, and then back home to Merseyside, all in a week.
Guess which was more fun ?

[terry paget]

I don't know anything about North Coast 500. In November 1969 I met the above comely lass ten pin bowling at Reading, and invited her to join me for a drive to Scotland; she agreed.

In November there was no trouble with midges, but there was ice, snow and fog. Hotels that looked closed for the winter chased after us as we drove away and dragged us inside. We did not go to Orkney, but we did cross to Skye by the ferry.

A week ago our 46 year old daughter went to Skye with her boy friend in a campervan. Tomorrow we shall hear how that went.

[Doctor Gollum]

Lots of midges. Probably 

Didn't fancy hopping across on Suiters Lass then?

Although that would have been a lumpy crossing back then...

[terry paget]

Lots of midges. Probably 

Didn't fancy hopping across on Suiters Lass then?

Although that would have been a lumpy crossing back then...

Now I wish I had visited the Orkneys. I imagine there are remains of the Royal Navy at Scapa Flow, blockships, etc. We did visit Dunnet Head, nothing there.

I reckon we should move all illegal immigrants to the Orkneys for sorting, like the Australians do. Or maybe the Shetlands.

 

[Doctor Gollum]

There's enough Lundun types moving up there as it is thankyouverymuch

Fair Isle would be better much less incentive to be there.

[terry paget]

Daughter reports midges everywhere in Scotland. They parked their hired campervan in laybys overnight, not her cup of tea. Boy friend led her on 'scary' walks up mountains despite her protestations, assuring her there would be no midges at higher altitudes; he lied.

[BazaJT]

I wouldn't be surprised if there is still some wreckage still in Scapa Flow from the German fleet scuttled there in 1919 as the bloke who bought the salvage rights only fetched up the big ships.

[Doctor Gollum]

I wouldn't be surprised if there is still some wreckage still in Scapa Flow from the German fleet scuttled there in 1919 as the bloke who bought the salvage rights only fetched up the big ships.

Plenty of wreck diving to be done in the Flow

[Lagondanet]

Planning is going OK. A lot of accomodation is either fully booked or closed until 2021.

[biggriffin]

Planning is going OK. A lot of accomodation is either fully booked or closed until 2021.

 Take a tent, . cuts down on cost be close to nature, and stop were you like, Or get a motorhome,, no need for hotels.

[hotel21]

Planning is going OK. A lot of accomodation is either fully booked or closed until 2021.

 Take a tent, . cuts down on cost be close to nature, and stop were you like, Or get a motorhome,, no need for hotels.

NC500 is a victim of its success and motor homes are its blight, particularly if driven by those from city type environs and not used to the countryside.  The majority of the rural roads are single track with passing places.  Passing places are just that - places to allow opposing vehicles to pass and continue their journey, not someplace for a self propelled oversize caravan to park up.

Either way, take your litter and waste (including toilet waste) home with you please. 

[Lagondanet]

No tent or motor home. Mrs Lagondanet
would not permit that. Accommodation all booked now.