B.B.C. Documentary North Coast 500
There will be a 4 part documentary on N.C. 500 Starting May 16 at 2030 on BBC Alba.
Hope it is of help.
Comments
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It’s a shame a lot of us can’t get Alba.0
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You’re right, Walt, I was forgetting iPlayer. We don't have Sky.
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Just hope that they don't put it on BBC 1 or 2. There's enough out there doing it already, sites are getting much harder to get into.
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Presumably this is a repeat - what isn't these days.
The spoken word is in Gaelic with English subtitles- very easy to follow.
The information is helpful, there are some nice landscape and view of the road ahead shots.
If I remember the lady did the whole trip in 4 days, so don't expect too much detail.
There are 4 x 30 minute episodes, which I watched recently on Iplayer, whenever I remembered to 'catch up '
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Having looked at at the NC500 website, its more appealing.
Which CAMC sites / CLs are on the route as it were, and would late August be too busy a time to do it, given your comments and the experience you have.
I guess 3 or 4, 2 day stops would be workable with prebooking sites.
Being tied to school holidays makes the summer the only realistic time as we have long given up on driving holidays!! Did once do Hampshire to Sterling via Middlesborough (transporter bridge ride), Gateshead to see Kevin Keegan, Edinburgh in one day. Following day Sterling, Oban for lunch, Fort William, Inverness to see dolphins, Sterling the next. Then Sterling, Lake District via Hardknott Pass, Blackpool, then home on day 3.
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KS, if you try to to it in about a week, you'll miss an awful lot. It takes longer to get around up there and I wouldn’t attempt it in that timescale. From the south coast and back again, I’d allow 4 weeks and even that isn’t much.
Club sites and CLs are not numerous - check out your sites map - commercial sites and C&CC fill the gaps.
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Oh just what we need, more advertising for the NC500 as if it isn't busy enough as it is.
Flipping hell up there most weekends with M/H's parking overnight anywhere they find a spot.
The roads are not great at the best of time but after the winter we have had I would imagine they will be even worse.
Have I put you off yet
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Thanks TW & TG.
Will have to look to next year, at a different holiday time. Or wait til young un finishes school and not tied to fixed holidays.
certainly not been put off, and the weekenders may guide our planning better. I.e. Not travel on weekends and choose sites accordingly.
thats the thing about this caravan / mh lark. You can find parts of the uk youve not seen before. Often said you could spend a lifetime and not see it all
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Whatever you do, don't rush it, KS, and try to avoid the midges.
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As someone who has toured the North and what is now the 500 for over 30 years things have changed particularly the traffic pressure. In May/June you will encounter many overseas tourists, mostly M/H. A few years ago we got tangled up in a 40 van German Convoy and I mean convoy. In the far North the roads are single track with passing places. This makes for very slow travel. CC and Cls are sparse.The commercials will also be more basic. In many cases no EHU. Midges can cause problems from June onwards. I suggest a Midge net and repellent. No matter how good you think your window seals are - they will get in. Fuel outside the major supermarkets will be expensive, at least 10/12 p per litre more. Whereas in the olden days you were very welcomed the same tolerance is no longer there as traffic encroach on local road users and charging for everything is now the norm. Please use passing places to allow faster traffic to overtake you. Lastly allow plenty of time for your trip, in my case usually more than 4 weeks. The scenery is stupendous and despite the changes still worth the effort. Enjoy
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Thanks for that comprehensive reply.
Maybe we should have done it in the MH prior to getting the caravan!!
We did a convoy to Poland when on paternity/maternity break.Our interest is piqued, even daughter is interested. Just a case of good planning me thinks. Could let the girls fly up, fly back to make the most of their time constrained holidays whilst I get the van up to a base point then do the drive bits sans caravan. Just need to know inset days for 2019!!
Thats the problem with this caravanning lark, too much to do, too little time unless retired
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That’s a plan. Culloden Moor is handy for Inverness airport and Dunnet Bay is doable from there. It’ll take longer than you think to do that leg of the journey though.
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Dunnet Bay looks idyllic for a base for a few days.
Culloden Moor is an option either on the way up or drop the girls off before I tow home.
Thanks for your pearls of wisdom thus far.
Been reading up a bit and there is not a requirement to stick to the NC500 'corporate' route with dual carriageways giving links between parts and enabling the single track scenic bit to be done as day trips. There is just so much to see by all accounts. From videos online, there appears less traffic earlier in the year. We have full facilities in the van and a generator!!! if necessary
for a spot of wild camping caravan style!! We did a bit with the MH.This is getting more possible, particularly with a longer school holiday earlier in the year, next year that would give 19 days up there.
Have lost the CAMC site map
which isn't ideal.0 -
Kinlochhewe site would be an alternative to Dunnet Bay, as it too can be accessed from Culloden relatively easily, and the scenery is spectacular in Torridon.
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If you are looking for simple sites just off the route here are a couple The side road as you enter Poolewe from south. Some 7 miles up the narrow road and an honesty box site. Excellent fishing in loch across the road . Another on the beach at Mellon Udrigle, turning in at shop in Laide. Again good fishing with permits from shop. Now using different locations as North far too busy
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Personally I think anyone taking a caravan round the 500 as it’s called now is going to miss the real beauty of the area. Up to Dunnet Head is fine it’s standard 2 track roads but the bulk of the north and west is tight single traffic. Many of the hidden away spots such as Red Rock beaches or Applecross are no go areas for caravans.
Much better to pick a few base camps and explore from these.
Brora, Dunnet Head, Kinlochewe are three ideal base sites.
The 500 can be easy split into sections which are all doable as day trips.
Do not underestimate the traffic, fourth year up here and heaviest I’ve seen it.
Dont underestimate how few facilities there are - even public toilets
Also the unspoilt is becoming spoilt by litter and trash dumped anywhere
And the roads are now showing serious wear signs, edges falling away, huge potholes, rutting especially the Kinlochewe to Lochcarron stage.
Also look at the Golspie to Tounge road, through Lairg, not on the 500 but possibly a more scenic road.
it is beautiful but it is being over marketed and is starting to suffer
ps in Kinlochewe as I type this heading to Brora tomorrow
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I agree, Solo. Scottish tourism could regret its decision to push the area as it’s destroying the very thing that is its attraction. A victim of its own success.
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Make no mistake the push on this is business driven, but the investment to keep it going is not there.
IMHO it’s already beyond capacity. Car parks full with no capacity from caravans of MHs.
Mind you just watched 15 Ferrari’s go by mmm nice. Check out the Facebook site for the Kinlochewe petrol station - post pics of the fancy cars and bikes.
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Hi KeefySher,
We have a suggested route with sites for the North Coast 500. This is for minimum 10 days but hopefully will be helpful.
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I see at least two posts have been 'airbrushed' out of this thread....one of Nellies and my reply....neither overly 'contentious'...merely the correction of an incorrect assumption...
we don't even get a 'content has been removed' message now?
are we in danger of being over-moderated?
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Just about everyone is having a go at it, last year when we were up on the Black Isle motor cycling groups from Europe were on the road. It's become a victim of it's own success. I would only visit the western side very early or late to avoid overcrowded places and full cafes etc. However the Black Isle was nice and peaceful in September...but don't all rush there will you?!
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