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Subject Topic: NC 500 Post Reply Post New Topic
Personlavender1
25/8/2018 at 7:54pm
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Evening all,

I am looking to take a camper van up to the North of Scotland next April (school Holidays) and spend about 12 days doing the NC500 route. This is Inverness to John O’Groats, along the North coast and back down the West towards Skye.

Has anyone done this and can recommend some sites?

Do you think campsites with electric hook up will need to be reserved in advance? I’d like to be flexible with the trip and where we stay ideally.

Thanks all


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PersonLorfal
25/8/2018 at 11:07pm
 Location: Rannoch Scotland
 Outfit: autosleeper fairford View Lorfal's Profile View Profile   Reply to Lorfal Reply   Quote Lorfal Quote  
Joined: 01/8/2016

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Yes, in peak seasons and holidays it would be advisable to book. Be familiar with driving highland roads. There are web sites dedicated to touring the NC500 and recommended sites in the campsite search and google the route. For me...Inverness, up east coast, along north coast and down the west is my preferred direction , so anti-clockwise . That is however a personal choice to get the best out of it. I’ve travelled it many times in bits and bobs well before it became the NC500.

Never underestimate journey times between places either.

It’s a very busy part of Scotland. It’s incredibly well known now and I think you’ll find many people have done it either in parts or in its entirety . 12 days is a reasonable time to do it in.


Personlavender1
26/8/2018 at 7:56am
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Thanks, that’s really helpful to know we should consider reserving in advance.

I’ve been over the west coast islands and up to Fort William and Skye, so looking forward to going further North. Was up on Mull this Easter and wasn’t too busy- although being an island I think that helps.

We’ve decided anti-clockwise too, I love the west coast and want to save that to last. With 12 days we also intend to get ‘off’ the route and explore so quieter areas, I saw some people travel it in 3 days, seems crazy and I suspect they sit in their car the whole time.

Thanks anyway.


PersonLorfal
26/8/2018 at 8:43am
 Location: Rannoch Scotland
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Hope you have a great time! We were up around the north in April , the journey from gills bay to Durness was fabulous, I don’t recall it ever being quite so stunning. The Kyle of tongue was just amazing.....but the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the mountains were all snow capped. We are off up to the western isles later in the week after a brief stop in Skye.

I hope the weather is kind to you! April was certainly a good month for us.


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Personficklejade
26/8/2018 at 9:31pm
 Location: Isle of Mull
 Outfit: 2 x Outwells Kairos 400 Caranex View ficklejade's Profile View Profile   Reply to ficklejade Reply   Quote ficklejade Quote  
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Remember Easter this year was right at the start of April, whereas it's three weeks later next year; that can make a huge difference. Might be worth having a check on Highland Council's website to see when the school holidays are next Easter - many of our schools do not necessarily have the two weeks around Easter off and this, too, can have an effect on how busy sites are. It was certainly quieter this Easter on Mull because of the early date - three weeks later the place was heaving!

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" When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"


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PersonFiona W
26/8/2018 at 11:00pm
 Location: Ayrshire
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Well, we didn't book & weren't turned away anywhere. Went clockwise - because I don't like going anti-clockwise / widdershins. The only place I'd suggest booking is John O'Groats, as booking gets you EHU guaranteed, whereas turning up at tea time will get you a pitch but maybe not EHU.
We found ourselves at sites mid afternoon & not ready to stop, so we kept going, after a walk or look around. There's 1-2 hours between sites & I'd printed off the map from UKCS site search so we moved on to the next site. You don't want to limit where you stop (to look at caves or a beach or a craft village or catch up on emails at a Tesco with Wi-fi), though OP has allowed plenty of time for something a car will drive in 2-3 days max.
There's at least one thread - if not more - on NC500 (known on my trip recently as "the 500"). Do look at these - folk that have posted big replies in the past & may not do it twice.


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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


Personlavender1
27/8/2018 at 8:45am
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I was on Mull 7th - 14th April, I felt very quiet compared to our previous visits to Mull and Scotland in general. Skye in August was definitely what I’d call heaving! I was hoping April would be a good time to go again. I’ll check the Scottish school holidays to see when they are.

I did a search for ‘nc500’ on my phone, but couldn’t find any posts. I’ll try again on my laptop as my phone only shows forum posts for the last few weeks. What time of year did you visit Fiona? You are correct we don’t want to keep to a certain schedule, we’d like to be able to stay somewhere longer if we like it or if the weathers been poor and haven’t been able to get out much.


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PersonCapt Lightning
27/8/2018 at 12:41pm
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
 Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens View Capt Lightning's Profile View Profile   Reply to Capt Lightning Reply   Quote Capt Lightning Quote  
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What is John O'Groats like these days? It's a few years since I was there and it was a bit dire and run down. A few expensive touristy shops and not much else. I did phone ahead to the camp site, but was told they didn't take advance bookings and to just turn up. It looked fairly busy, so we stopped along the road at the CC site at Dunnet Bay.

Anyone going up that way, I'd recommend seeing the Castle of Mey near J O'G.

I had planned to go round the top this year (anti-clockwise), but the popularity of the NC500 has put me off. Heading south instead.

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Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.


PersonFiona W
27/8/2018 at 2:22pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by lavender1 on 27/8/2018

I did a search for ‘nc500’ on my phone, but couldn’t find any posts. I’ll try again on my laptop as my phone only shows forum posts for the last few weeks. What time of year did you visit Fiona


We did it in July because of the summer light - you can read a book outside at midnight.
Edited to add: John o'Groats is smartened up now, formerly run down hotel is brightly coloured like Tobermory. And yes, Castle of Mey (& gardens) is well worth a visit.

Post last edited on 27/08/2018 14:29:54

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


PersonCapt Lightning
27/8/2018 at 4:33pm
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
 Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens View Capt Lightning's Profile View Profile   Reply to Capt Lightning Reply   Quote Capt Lightning Quote  
Joined: 17/8/2006

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   2376
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Site Reviews 2024: 0  
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Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
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Site Reviews 2018: 5  
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Thanks Fiona, Glad that J O'G has been freshened up - we'll maybe get up that way early next year, but I never plan that far ahead. It's silly - we can almost see up that far on a good day, but it's a long drive round.

We're off to Lake District next week. Rented a cottage along with younger daughter and OH. Better take waterproofs!

-------------
Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.



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