Nc 500
Can anyone tell me the best route and sites to stay on the nc 500 bit of a itinerary for us I have mobile home thinking of going in 2 weeks time for 10 days.
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It's massive and very busy. I suggest you do your research and pick out what appeals to you most as I'm afraid your question is very wide ranging. You'll likely have difficulty booking sites at this late stage, too.
In my opinion 10 days is not nearly long enough and you'll see little more than the tarmac road ahead, thereby missing most of the sights. I'd suggest postponing until next year when things may be a little quieter and you'll have time to plan ahead, and perhaps go for a longer time.
There's loads of info available on line, including numerous threads on here.
Good luck.👍
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What Tinwheeler said! I am fed up to the back teeth of the same old questions being asked about what is,after all, a victim of it,s own success with a real lack of infrastructure.There are just as scenic places to visit so why get involved in the rush?
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Found this on the Club's website by Andrew Ditton https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/blog/uk-road-trips/a-highlands-fling-on-the-north-coast-500/
I assume by mobile home you mean a motorhome?
David
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Depends on the size of your outfit and type. Smaller vehicles can reach some of the more remote camp sites easily. Larger outfits would probably stick to the more accessible sites eg Kinlochewe, Poolewe, Ullapool, Durness, Dunnet, John o Groats, Dornoch etc. These are on the main circuit. It also depends on what you would like to see.
From Manchester you could head up via the M6 and M74 to the Stirling area onwards via M9 to Inverness and then it's either east or west. The east coast is more rugged with some long haul hilly stretches, the west coast meanders more and has lots of inlets and islands.
It's probably better to stay put for a few days on sites you think might suit you and travel out from them. Moving from site to site quickly will just be exhausting and you'll just be looking at the road. Hope you enjoy it, maybe you'll go back to special places you discover!
With just 10 days, I'd opt for Ullapool, Dunnet and Dornoch.
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Goodness, Murph, you need to do a bit of research and planning!
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"Stressful"? Gee, Brue, if that's stress one of us clearly doesn't understand the meaning of the word!
As it is, I fear the OP is going to miss out on much that Scotland has to offer as none of us know anything about his preferences so any suggestions could be wide of the mark. I hope yours help.
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Personally if I only had 10 days I would make Ullapool my northernmost point that’s 430 miles. There is some availability at CAMC sites for the time you mention, although it isn’t good at many. You could overnight at Strathclyde Country Park before going on for a couple of nights at Morvich. Then onto Kinlochewe or the C&CC site at Poolewe and onwards to one of the private sites in or close to Ullapool, if they’ve any availability. Back via a night at Culloden and Troutbeck. Still a fair bit to do in 10 days but at least you might get a chance to look at the scenery.
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Out of interest we once spent 10 days at Dunnet. This gave us time to visit Orkney, Duncansby and Dunnet Heads (sea birds.) The Castle of Mey, John o Groats, Wick museum, Thurso, the edge of Cape Wrath and the little croft museum near Dunnet.
There are other ways to enjoy the far north rather than on a conveyor belt! But I hope the OP has picked up some useful tips.
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Check out-Cameron McNeish Outdoors on YouTube he has vids about new Aires for Moho’s only plus Campervan stopovers. Great Outdoorsman is CM👍🏻
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We did the NC 500 earlier this year in May. Not that busy at that time. July and August are the really busy months.
There are plenty of campsites on the route and if in a MH lits of places to park overnight if you are sensible. Some of the campsites don't take advance bookings, 2 that spring to mind are the Ullapool, arrive before 3pm if you want electric. The other one is Sango sands at Durness, again if you want electric ring them first or turn up early in the day. Both are worth a stop over.
I personally wouldn't waste my time stopping in places like Strathclyde or Kinlochewe for more than 1 night in fact there are private sites much better placed and not as expensive.
With only 10 days it will be a push to stop for any length of time in any of the places but if you start early and do your sight seeing on route, stop for the night later in the day on some of the days, you can do the main route. What you won't be able to do is some of the alternative bits of the 500.
Once you are across the top, if you stop at Dunnet then coming back down the East you can cover a lot more miles in the day as the roads are much better and you will have seen the best bits of the 500.
Enjoy
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I personally wouldn't waste my time stopping in places like Strathclyde or Kinlochewe for more than 1 night in fact there are private sites much better placed and not as expensive.
Can’t comment on Strathclyde, as we haven’t used it. Although if we did it would probably be just for a night in transit. Kinlochewe however we liked very much and would visit again. Certainly worth a couple, some lovely walks straight from the site, giving spectacular views. Toilet block, if your using it is a bit small, especially with the covid restrictions, when we were there. Good MH service point though. Kinlochewe is currently £22.90 per night for two adults, which I consider reasonable.
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We have used both sites in the past Steve.
I was giving my opinion to the OP as he wishes to fit it all in to 10 days.
While I agree with you that Kinlochewe has its benefits, for someone on a tight schedule I think a one nighter there and possibly more nights going further north than Ullapool would be better spent if that is what he wants to do.
Its always difficult giving advice about the NC 500, some folk just want to drive around stopping one night in each place, doing their sightseeing on route.
While others want to tick off ALL the places they have heard of.
To be honest its been said many times on here that to DO Scotland properly you need more than one visit, its bigger and slower than you think.
I have lived in Scotland for 35 years and have only scratched the surface. I like the north west coast from Ullapool up, I also like the Moray coast, a place very few doing the 500 have even heard of. Suits me fine leaves it nice and quiet for the rest of us
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