Adventure & Outdoors
Driving the North Coast 500 is already an adventure, but why not use your time in the North Highlands to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors? With plenty of activities to suit visitors of all ages and abilities, you can try your hand at fishing, mountain biking, or even embark on a camping trip! In this section, we’ll highlight some of our favourite activities along the North Coast 500 route – perfect for planning that extra adventure of your very own.
Create family memories that will be cherished for years to come.
Wee Arty Explorers
Do you have any budding young artists who love adventure and exploring? Liquid Footprints has the perfect experience to combine both art and canoeing. Join their canoe instructor as you go out on the water and explore the shoreline on land for natural materials to create a work of art on canvas. Once enough materials have been collected, you’ll return to the launch site where your Wee Arty Explorers can create their art explosion, and parents can enjoy a cup of tea. Aprons will be provided so the kids can get as messy as they like, canvas can be take them home to treasure at the end of the day. Find out how to book your experience here.
Avid Anglers!
Fishing is a great way for parents to bond with the children in a relaxed setting. The North Highlands have some of the best lochs and rivers for trout and salmon fishing in the country, as well as fantastic sea fishing. Remember to book your permit!
If you are a keen fly fisher, or are interested in giving this popular sport a try, then speak to Roger from TroutQuest or Novar Fishing. TroutQuest offers guided fly fishing for salmon and wild brown trout on numerous rivers and lochs throughout the North Coast 500, plus fly fishing instruction.
How about a guided day in the Sutherland area with an experienced fly fishing guide such as James Curley Fly Fishing, Family groups are most welcome, in fact James believes that the sooner children start fishing the better! Your experience can be as adventurous or relaxing as you’d like to make it.
Photos: TroutQuest
Bag your first Munro!
Photo: Hamlet Mountaineering
Bag your first Munro on the North Coast 500. Pick a peak or an activity and find out more from our following activity providers: Hamlet Mountaineering, Gairloch Canoe and Kayak Centre, Torridon Activities or Liquid Footprints.
World class mountain bike destination
The North Highlands have fantastic mountain bike trails for all levels. Visit the Learnie Red Rocks at the start or end of your trip and make the most of these 10 magnificent miles of exhilarating man made trails. Great for all levels of mountain bikers, these trails are particularly suitable for novices and intermediates – perfect for building your confidence or refining your biking skills. Mix up the green, blue and black graded trails with the forest tracks and the orange graded bike park and dirt jump area. Plan your route now with their Learnie Red Rock Map.
Photo: Torridon Outdoors, Mountain Biking
Explore the Highland Wildcat Trails in Golspie, directly on the route. Did you know they have the longest single track decent in the UK, at around 7000m? Their trail head is not a remote car park, but the village of Golspie.
Check out Ticket to Ride for mountain bike hire and equipment or discover the remote Torridon area with Torridon Outdoors mountain bike hire.
Beaches galore!
The north highlands boast remote Mediterranean style beaches. Fly a kite, build sandcastles, explore the rocpools or discover Europe’s smallest castle ‘Hermit Castle’ at Achmelvich Beach. Discover the best beach activities for families on the North Coast 500 here!
Photo: Maggie Harrison, Achmelvich Beach
For a celebrity beach, head to the end of the Redpoint road where two stunning beaches are to be found – featured in British comedy-drama, “What We Did on Our Holiday” starring David Tennant, Rosamund Pike, and Billy Connolly. On a clear day you can see the Outer Hebrides, Skye and Loch Torridon. The red sands come from the iron in the hills, hence the namesake ‘redpoint’.
Take a bike ride
There’s nothing better than getting out on your bikes as a family, and Ticket to Ride make this possible while you’re visiting the North Highlands. With a range of bikes to suit all ages ready to hire, make the most of the accessible, traffic-free paths starting at their office in Bellfield Park, Inverness. Their local knowledge is second-to-none, so make sure to talk to a member of the team to learn more about all the wonderful places to stop along your journey.
Photo: Ticket to Ride, Caledonian Canal
Why not discover the Caledonian Canal by bicycle – take the leisurely ride along the Caledonian Canal towpath from Inverness to Dochgarroch or explore some of the Great Glen by mountain bike.
You might want to make the most out of their bike bus and explore the cycle tracks around the Black Isle. Ticket to Ride can also hire out child seats, trailers and tagalongs for those not quite ready to cycle on their own. Children’s bikes come with a helmet, high visibility vest, bike pump, lock and spaces, and, just like the adult bikes, these are carefully inspected and maintained between each trip.
Gold Panning
In 1868, when a local man found significant amounts of gold in the Suisgill and Kildonan burns, Suisgill Estate became the centre of the ‘Great Sutherland Gold Rush’, with hundreds of would-be gold prospectors flocking to set up camp at the site of Baile an Or and try their luck at making their fortune. Although this gold fever was short-lived, recreational gold panning is still allowed certain parts of Suisgill Estate today, and potential gold panners of all ages are welcome to try their hand at this absorbing past-time. For more information, please see our gold panning article.
Photo: Ashley Bird (not at the Kildonan River)
Discover some of the oldest rocks in Europe
The North West Highland Geopark is one of the oldest landscapes in Europe, occupying a significant area of the North Coast 500. The park is well signposted, with information panels highlighting the stories behind the scenery; choose to walk the main rock route, or one of the four pebble routes, and see how many natural wonders you can spot. The walk which leads to the ancient bone caves near Inchnadamph is suitable for families, though not for pushchairs – and make time to stop at Knockan Crag, where tales of the area’s natural history come to life through poetry, sculpture and interactive exhibitions. Browse the Geopark’s map for things to do and where to go if it rains!
Photo: Knockan Crag by Katrina Stewart
Rockpool Exploring
Grab your welly boots, bucket and net and set forth to the beach! Discover the wildlife that exists among the shoreline of our magical beaches. Search for spiny urchins, nippy crabs and slippery blennies in the rockpools at Rosemarkie Beach on the Black Isle or why not venture off the beaten path and explore some of our undiscovered beaches, bays and lochs.
Photo: RSPB Scotland Nigg Bay Nature Reserve by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Disc Golf Course
Also known as Frolf and Frisbee Golf – Disc Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the world! What is this you might ask? Basically, it involves throwing a flying disc accurately from a tee in the direction of a pole with chains that catch discs in a basket. Ace Adventures has three nine hold disc courses – perfect for beginners. Similar to the traditional sport golf – there is also more or less the same terminology used. For example: eagles, birdies, par, bogies and so. In disc golf – the term for a hole in one is an “Ace”! Trust us! Its addictive! Check this out at the start or end or your NC500 travels…or why not try river tubing, canyoning or white water rafting a go.
Ace Adventures & Hideaways, Disc Golf
Want more inspiration on your NC500 travels?
Why not become a member and receive access to all our itineraries? From camping, cycling and adventure, to luxury, whisky, history and our 7 day highlights schedule, there’s something for everyone. When you become a member of the North Coast 500, you’ll also receive discounts for offers around the route.
