The North Coast 500: Scotland's classic road trip

The North Coast 500 is a circular tourist route launched in 2015 that loops the far north of Scotland from Inverness up to John o' Groats, west across the top to Durness and back south through Applecross. It links some of Britain's most spectacular coastal scenery, single-track passes and remote castles into a 5-7 day driving holiday.

Places in this guide

Flagship📷 3♡

Towns & cities · Scottish Highlands

Inverness

Inverness — city in the Highlands of Scotland, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶↗ inverness-scotland.com

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Villages · Scottish Highlands

Dornoch

Dornoch — a village in scotland highlands.

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Villages · Scottish Highlands

Wick

Wick — a village in scotland highlands.

★ Iconic📷 4♡

Towns & cities · Scottish Islands

John o'Groats

The north-eastern tip of mainland Scotland.

Free🐕👶

📷 5♡

Reservoirs & lochs · Scottish Islands

Durness

Durness in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕

📷 5♡

Towns & cities · Scottish Highlands

Ullapool

Ullapool — village in Highland, Scotland, UK.

♿🐕👶↗ ullapoolmuseum.co.uk

📷 5♡

Towns & cities · Scottish Highlands

Lochinver

Lochinver — village in Assynt, Highland, Scotland.

Free🐕👶↗ lochinver.bordernet.co.uk

📷 4♡

Reservoirs & lochs · Scottish Highlands

Torridon

Torridon in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕

📷 3♡

Castles · Scottish Highlands

Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan Castle — castle in Highland, Scotland, UK.

👶↗ eileandonancastle.com

📷 5♡

Caves · Scottish Islands

Smoo Cave

Smoo Cave is a cave in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕

1 additional place is mentioned in this guide but not yet in our main database.