About NC500
‘’Embark on one of the world’s most iconic coastal touring routes, and discover the breath-taking beauty of the North Highlands; a place where you’ll find white sand beaches, rugged mountains, hidden gems and a wealth of unforgettable experiences.’’
The North Highlands has become one of the most iconic destinations in Scotland because of the NC500.
Taking the NC500 route helps you to discover the best the Highlands has to offer, from magical and mystical castles, sample amazing local produce, with fresh from the sea and land specialties, the wonderful distilleries and breweries or take to the water on an exhilarating wildlife safari. The North Coast 500 offers a truly unique touring experience, quite unlike anywhere else in the world and many of those who have done it have said it was life-changing for them.
Bringing together a route of just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery, the North Coast 500, naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-Shire.
The route begins and ends in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands. The NC500 was launched only 5 years ago, yet in that time, it has reached a global audience of over 11.2 billion and ranked by so many independent sources as the best road trip on the planet.
Come and see for yourself. Come and see why it is awe-inspiring. Come and see what the world is talking about.
The official starting point is no longer Inverness Castle. The Castle and surrounding grounds (including the viewpoint) are undertaking a transformational renovation to become a world class visitor attraction, due for opening spring 2025 and are therefore closed at this time. Please do not attempt to enter the grounds.
Further information regarding this transformation project can be found here.
NC500 in Numbers
- 11.2 billion global audience reach in 2020
- 229,000 followers on social media
- 516 mile-long route
- 1 unforgettable experience