NC 500

[otherclive]

I am thinking of doing the NC 500 next year either in the caravan, or having donated my tent to the Scouts I am probably going to buy an airframe tent. So if anyone has done the NC 500 and has any recommendations for campsites that would be useful. I see from the NC 500 newsletter that you can even buy three types of membership at £15, £45, and £300 yes nota typo.

Should I be worried that the NC 500 is too popular through being marketed so much?

 

[Anseo]

HI OC,

I don't know what benefits there are for fees, I haven't looked and probably won't..

Anyone can travel the NC500 without prior approval or payment.

Public roads, no charge, I'm sure anyone can make their own way and planbook in advance for stopovers.

 

[otherclive]

HI OC,

I don't know what benefits there are for fees, I haven't looked and probably won't..

Anyone can travel the NC500 without prior approval or payment.

Public roads, no charge, I'm sure anyone can make their own way and planbook in advance for stopovers.

I wasn't planning to join the NC 500 "Club" but the three versions indicated to me that its being quite heavily marketed both here and abroad, together with many adverts for things like supercar hire, different activity itineraries viz Discovery, Distillery (yes please) , Adventure etc. Route 66 wasn't so hyped commercially, nor the Icefields Parkway.

 

[alan29]

bikers have been travelling those roads for decades. Forums would suggest that they have noticed that all kinds of accomodation including campsites have been under pressure since it became a "thing."

 

[otherclive]

bikers have been travelling those roads for decades. Forums would suggest that they have noticed that all kinds of accomodation including campsites have been under pressure since it became a "thing."

Yes some seem to be going upmarket with glamping pods, Romany caravans or yurts. Guess it is at the expense of normal touring or camping pitches. B&B might be an option.

 

[Thingy]

I suppose you could hire a motorhome for the trip. Mind you, you will forever be branded as a sell out :cheer:

 

[Buckman]

Can someone please explain the NC500 as never heard of it?

 

[Anseo]

Loads of info on google, e.g.https://www.northcoast500.com/explore-the-route/

Or: ( )
http://www.letmegooglethat.com/?q=nc+500

 

[Buckman]

Loads of info on google, e.g.https://www.northcoast500.com/explore-the-route/

Or: ( )
http://www.letmegooglethat.com/?q=nc+500

That tells me zero except for asking to join a club to travel on certain roads? Don't see anything special about it?

 

[alan29]

Basically its following the coast of Scotland up one side, across the top and down the other side.
Its not a club you have to pay to join. They are all public toll-free roads. I have no idea why anyone would need to pay to find out or travel the route. But there are always people who will try to make a fast buck out of anything, I suppose.

 

[Buckman]

Basically its following the coast of Scotland up one side, across the top and down the other side.
Its not a club you have to pay to join. They are all public toll-free roads. I have no idea why anyone would need to pay to find out or travel the route. But there are always people who will try to make a fast buck out of anything, I suppose.

Thanks Alan for the explanation. I agree that it does not seem to make any sense why any one would want to pay to find out about the route if it is open to any one?

 

[Dodger524]

My wife and made this trip from Kent on a solo motorbike and camped, it include a detour around Skye and took us two weeks. We found the roads remarkably quiet, in fact the biggest problems were finding fuel and navigating the log-roads. But that was in 1964 so perhaps things have changed a bit; maybe they have got around to putting tarmac on top of the pine logs.

 

[Raywood]

Things have changed, and the route has become very popular. There is a lack of camp sites in some areas, so if you do it book ahead, to make sure you can have somewhere to sleep each night.
Some of the roads might be a challenge for large outfits but otherwise you should have a great time.

 

[otherclive]

I suppose you could hire a motorhome for the trip. Mind you, you will forever be branded as a sell out :cheer:

Sell out to the dark side. Shudder the thought.

 

[otherclive]

Basically its following the coast of Scotland up one side, across the top and down the other side.
Its not a club you have to pay to join. They are all public toll-free roads. I have no idea why anyone would need to pay to find out or travel the route. But there are always people who will try to make a fast buck out of anything, I suppose.

Thanks for explaining to the above query that it’s a route on public roads. Easy to follow and very attractive scenery. The website that was questioned above is just a marketing site that provides itinerary’s guide books links to discounts, links to accommodation.

All I am after is if anyone has done the route and used touring sites I’d welcome some feedback.

 

[SamandRose]

There's an article in this month's magazine from a couple that toured it. It lists about 10 sites that they stayed at.

 

[otherclive]

There's an article in this month's magazine from a couple that toured it. It lists about 10 sites that they stayed at.

That’s a coincidence thank you.
To save a hard up pensioners capital assets. What are the sites?

Joking

 

[SamandRose]

Now now Clive.

There's a separate article written by yours truly, and of course the magazine is worth spending your pension on for that alone

 

[Dustydog]

Clive,
Done this trip many times.
How many weeks ?
I suggest April / May or end August September. Why? Midges :woohoo: We spent six weeks on this particular trip but did stay quite a few days at each place and explored etc.
Starting in Wiltshire
Breakfast at Tebay services M6 Shap.
CAMC Strathclyde Country Park south of Glasgow
Bunree CAMC by Ballachulish or Invercoe caravan Park Glencoe
Alternatives also available at Fort William eg Glen Nevis caravan park
Or choice of two brilliant CLs at Arisaig - Small Isles CL lovely. ( Do the Fort William to Mallaig steam train)
Kinlochewe CAMC for Torridon , Pass of the Cattle and Applecross.
Sands Caravan and Camping Park , Gairloch. Don’t confuse with C&CC Big Sand Gairloch.
Ullapool either the Town Centre Brookfield Park or a few miles away Ardmair Point site.
Now worth a slight detour to a hidden gemstone, The Summer Isles, on the Mainland, staying at
Port a Bhaigh campsite, Achilitibuie.
Scourie Caravan Park now run by Angus Granddaughter. Here for Lochinver and Handa Island ( no dogs)
Over the top to Dunnet Bay CAMC near Thurso and Castle of Mey , the Wueen Mother’s old home.
South now along the east coast to Brora CAMC.
Then you are back to Inverness going on south on the infamous A9.
This is a bit more than the NC 500 but if you have the time the whole stretch from Glasgow up the west coast through Sutherland is breath taking.
Enjoy it :cheer:
Any questions please ask. DD.

 

[otherclive]

Clive,
Done this trip many times.
How many weeks ?
I suggest April / May or end August September. Why? Midges :woohoo: We spent six weeks on this particular trip but did stay quite a few days at each place and explored etc.
Starting in Wiltshire
Breakfast at Tebay services M6 Shap.
CAMC Strathclyde Country Park south of Glasgow
Bunree CAMC by Ballachulish or Invercoe caravan Park Glencoe
Alternatives also available at Fort William eg Glen Nevis caravan park
Or choice of two brilliant CLs at Arisaig - Small Isles CL lovely. ( Do the Fort William to Mallaig steam train)
Kinlochewe CAMC for Torridon , Pass of the Cattle and Applecross.
Sands Caravan and Camping Park , Gairloch. Don’t confuse with C&CC Big Sand Gairloch.
Ullapool either the Town Centre Brookfield Park or a few miles away Ardmair Point site.
Now worth a slight detour to a hidden gemstone, The Summer Isles, on the Mainland, staying at
Port a Bhaigh campsite, Achilitibuie.
Scourie Caravan Park now run by Angus Granddaughter. Here for Lochinver and Handa Island ( no dogs)
Over the top to Dunnet Bay CAMC near Thurso and Castle of Mey , the Wueen Mother’s old home.
South now along the east coast to Brora CAMC.
Then you are back to Inverness going on south on the infamous A9.
This is a bit more than the NC 500 but if you have the time the whole stretch from Glasgow up the west coast through Sutherland is breath taking.
Enjoy it :cheer:
Any questions please ask. DD.

Dusty
That’s fantastic thank you, I have printed your post for future reference. We were in Scotland last year staying near Newtonmore and even in early September the midges were a real problem. The farthest north we have been with the van is Inverewe CCC site and as you say the west coast is spectacular.
We couldn’t take six weeks, three would be our maximum and I now need to find out our daughters university term dates, and her daughters school term dates for 2019 to start holiday planning. We had more flexibility when I worked and our kids were young as they were just bundled away on holidays outside term time.