NC500 Public Consultation
What should the next 10 years of the North Coast 500 look like?
The NC500 is changing. We have set out a proposed new direction for the next ten years and we want the people who live, work and run businesses across the North Highlands to help shape it.
HAVE YOUR SAY EXPLORE THE STRATEGY
Ten years on, it’s time to look at what comes next
The North Coast 500 has become one of Scotland’s best-known tourism routes. It has brought visitors and economic opportunities to communities and businesses across the North Highlands. But its success has also brought challenges and we know that people’s experience of the NC500 can be very different depending on where they live, work or run a business.
Following the independent Impact Assessment carried out by BiGGAR Ecomomics, we have been looking carefully at what the evidence tells us and what needs to change.
Our proposed NC500 Strategy sets out a different direction for the future, one with stronger community involvement, better visitor management, greater collaboration and much clearer accountability for the impact we make.
But it isn’t finished.
We have set out what we believe needs to change, but we don’t have all the answers.
We want communities, businesses and people across the North Highlands to challenge our thinking. Tell us what you support, what concerns you, what needs strengthened and, importantly, what we may have missed.
This isn’t about asking you to approve a strategy we’ve already decided on, It’s about working together to shape what happens next.
Explore the strategy your way
You don’t need to read a lengthy strategy document before having your say. Choose the level of detail that works for you.
2 MINUTES | Strategy at a Glance
See the proposed direction, five priorities and what we want to achieve.
20 MINUTES | Proposed 10 Year Strategy
Explore the objectives, proposed projects, evidence and how progress would be measured.
Got questions?
We know there are questions about what NC500 can and can’t do, how the organisation is funded, why communities haven’t had more influence in the past and what will actually change as a result of this consultation.
We’ve answered these, and some of the other questions we know people are likely to ask in our consultation FAQs.
READ OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our proposed direction
From promoting the route to helping look after its future. At the heart of the proposed strategy is a different role for North Coast 500 Ltd.
We want NC500 to become a stronger Guardian of the Route, using the profile and influence of the brand to bring people together, coordinate action, advocate for the North Highlands and communicate directly with visitors.
That doesn’t mean NC500 can solve every challenge facing the route. Whilst we can’t make decisions on public infrastructure, what we can do is help identify and evidence where problems exist, bring the organisations that can make a difference together, advocate for investment and use the considerable reach of the NC500 brand to encourage more responsible visitor behaviour.
Our proposed strategy focuses that role around the following five priorities:
Have your say
We want to know:
- Have we got the priorities right?
- What matters most where you live?
- What should NC500 be doing differently?
- Is there anything we’ve missed?
Whether you live in the North Highlands, run a local business, work within one of our communities or have another connection with the area, we want to hear from you.
COMPLETE THE NC500 CONSULTATION SURVEY
It should take around 10 minutes to complete.
We will also be holding various in person events where you can share your feedback directly and ask the NC500 team any questions. These will be held at the below dates and locations. Please feel free to drop in and ask any questions you may have.
All in person events run from 3pm -7pm.
- Wednesday 18 November — Inverness-shire, Lochardil House Hotel
- Friday 27 November — Caithness, Wick Assembly Rooms, Mowat Room
- Tuesday 9 February — Sutherland, Golspie Community Centre, Community Lounge
- Tuesday 23 February — Easter Ross, Duthac Centre, Tain
- Tuesday 9 March — Wester Ross, Gairloch Community Hall
- Tuesday 23 March — Black Isle, The Muir Hub, Muir of Ord
For those unable to attend one of our in-person consultation events, we will also be offering online consultation sessions via Microsoft Teams on 8 December 2026 and 19 January 2027. These sessions are available by appointment only, providing an opportunity to share your views and contribute to shaping the future of the North Coast 500. You can book your slot here.
Consultation closes: 31st January 2027
What happens to your feedback?
This consultation won’t end when the survey closes. We want to be transparent about what we hear and how that influences what happens next. Complete the survey or attend one of the in person events – Every response will form part of our analysis of the consultation – We’ll share the main themes, concerns, ideas and priorities that emerge – We’ll explain how consultation feedback influenced the strategy, and where we haven’t made a change, we’ll explain why – The strategy will then be finalised, accompanied by a clearer framework for delivery, measurement and accountability.
Help shape what comes next.
Still have questions?
