The curved Kylesku Bridge crossing a sea loch, with mountains behind

North Coast 500

A 516-mile road trip around the north Highlands, from Ullapool and Assynt to Durness, Thurso and John o' Groats

The North Coast 500 is a touring route of 516 miles around the north Highlands, launched in 2015, which starts and ends at Inverness Castle. This guide covers two stretches where most visitors stop: Ullapool with Coigach and Assynt on the west coast, and the north coast from Durness through Tongue and Thurso to John o' Groats.

Inverness, the Black Isle and Easter Ross, which the route also passes, are in our Scottish Highlands guide. Many roads in the north-west are single-track with passing places, and the route's own advice is to allow at least five to seven days.

Route length516 milesStarting and ending at Inverness Castle, according to the official North Coast 500 site and Wikipedia
Tempo necessarioDa 5 a 7 giorniThe minimum the North Coast 500 FAQ recommends
Ferry to Lewis2 hours 45 minutesUllapool to Stornoway, according to CalMac
Ferry to Orkney90 minutesScrabster to Stromness, according to NorthLink Ferries

Zone

2 places to begin

Each area has its own mini guide with 26 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.

11 sights · 8 places to eat

Ullapool, Coigach & Assynt

The ferry port on Loch Broom, with the Summer Isles, Assynt's mountains and Corrieshalloch Gorge close by

Apri la mini guida →

15 sights · 6 places to eat

Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats

Sea caves, sandy bays, the mainland's northernmost points and the ferries to Orkney

Apri la mini guida →

Luoghi da vedere

Highlights across North Coast 500

A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.

Ullapool, Coigach & Assynt

Ullapool harbour and Loch Broom

Deep natural harbour on Loch Broom used by the Stornoway ferry, fishing boats, leisure craft and cruise ships.

Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats

Smoo Cave

Large combined sea cave and freshwater cave at Durness, fed by the Allt Smoo stream; guided tours run in season.

Ullapool, Coigach & Assynt

Ullapool Museum

Local museum on West Argyle Street covering fishing, maritime history, Gaelic culture and everyday life in Ullapool. It opens seasonally.

Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats

Balnakeil Bay and church

Wide bay at the mouth of the Kyle of Durness beside the ruined Balnakeil Church, a scheduled monument.

Ullapool, Coigach & Assynt

Isle Martin

Uninhabited island in Loch Broom, once a monastery site, herring curing station and flour mill, now owned by a community trust.

Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats

Ceannabeinne

Ruined township east of Durness, beside a sandy beach looking out to Eilean Hoan.

Ullapool, Coigach & Assynt

Corrieshalloch Gorge

Gorge about 60 m deep where the 46 m Falls of Measach are seen from a Victorian suspension bridge; National Trust for Scotland.

Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats

Loch Eriboll

Sea loch about 16 km long, long used as a sheltered anchorage, with 19th-century lime kilns at Ard Neakie.

Foto

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With kids in North Coast 500

Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our North Coast 500 guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.

Beaches and swimming

Balnakeil Bay and churchBeach and ruined church, Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats
CeannabeinneBeach and ruined township, Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats

Caves and underground

Smoo CaveCave, Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats

Practical help: travelling with children and where to stay in North Coast 500.

Itinerari

Pianificare le giornate

Brevi percorsi che collegano le zone tra loro.

Ardvreck Castle ruin on a promontory in Loch Assynt

Da 5 a 7 giorni

West and north coasts

Inverness — start at Inverness Castle, covered in our Highlands guide
Ullapool & Assynt — Corrieshalloch Gorge, the harbour, Knockan Crag and Ardvreck Castle
Durness to John o' Groats — Smoo Cave, Tongue, Strathnaver Museum, Dunnet Head and the Castle of Mey

Come arrivare

Arriving in North Coast 500

Inverness is the gateway: the North Coast 500 starts and ends there, and it has the nearest airport and the main railway station. Check each operator for current times, fares and disruption, especially for ferries in bad weather.

In treno

The Far North Line runs from Inverness to Thurso and Wick. Thurso is the northernmost station on the National Rail network and is managed by ScotRail.

National Rail →

In autobus

CalMac's Lewis page says a direct bus from Inverness reaches Ullapool in about 1 hour 30 minutes. Use Traveline Scotland for timetables along the north coast.

Traveline Scotland →

In auto

CalMac gives about 1 hour 15 minutes to drive from Inverness to Ullapool. Many roads in the north-west are single-track with passing places.

In traghetto

CalMac sails from Ullapool to Stornoway in 2 hours 45 minutes. NorthLink crosses from Scrabster to Stromness in 90 minutes, and Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope in just over an hour.

We do not list fares or timetables. Ferry crossings and some bus services change by season.

Strade a corsia unica

Much of the route in Wester Ross, Assynt and Sutherland is single-track with passing places. Pull in to let oncoming and following traffic pass, and never park in a passing place.

Large motorhomes

The North Coast 500 FAQ says the Bealach na Ba road to Applecross is not suitable for large motorhomes, caravans or inexperienced drivers, and advises large vehicles to avoid the coast road from Lochinver to Kylesku.

North Coast 500 FAQ →

Senza auto

Trains reach Thurso and Wick, and buses link Inverness with Ullapool, but services along the remote north-west coast are limited. Check Traveline Scotland before you rely on a connection.

Paying for local transport in North Coast 500

ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)

Quando andare

North Coast 500 through the year

Many attractions, cafés and hotels on the route open only from spring to autumn, so check each website before you travel.

Spring to autumnApril to October

Smoo Cave tours run from April to October, the Castle of Mey opened from 1 May in 2026, and Ullapool Museum stayed open until 31 October in 2026. Days are long in midsummer.

Autumn and winterOctober to March

Many venues close for the winter, but the North Coast 500 site notes that longer, darker nights give more chances to see the Northern Lights.

FAQ

Da sapere prima di partire

How long is the North Coast 500?

The official site gives 516 miles. The loop starts and ends at Inverness Castle.

Quanti giorni servono?

The North Coast 500 FAQ recommends at least five to seven days to drive the whole route.

Can I do the route in a motorhome?

Mostly, yes, according to the official FAQ, but it advises large motorhomes and caravans to avoid the Bealach na Ba to Applecross and the coast road from Lochinver to Kylesku.

How do I get to Orkney from the north coast?

NorthLink sails from Scrabster to Stromness in 90 minutes, and Pentland Ferries crosses from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope in just over an hour.

Where are Inverness, Fort William and Aviemore?

They are not on this guide's two stretches. Inverness, Fort William and the Cairngorms around Aviemore have their own areas in our Scottish Highlands guide.

Nearby places

Guides near North Coast 500

Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.

More in Scotland · Places A to Z · Getting between regions

Crediti fotografici

North Coast 500 (header): clementp.fr, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Ullapool, Coigach & Assynt: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Durness, Thurso & John o' Groats: Paul Hermans (derivative work: Hogweard), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ullapool harbour and Loch Broom: Thewhale (Walter A. Lüthi), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Smoo Cave: Bubobubo2, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ullapool Museum: GentryGraves, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Balnakeil Bay and church: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Isle Martin: Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Ceannabeinne: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Corrieshalloch Gorge: Wojsyl, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Loch Eriboll: Dorcas Sinclair, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
West and north coasts: StaraBlazkova, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
An Teallach: David Crocker, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Castle Varrich: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Summer Isles: David Fowlie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Strathnaver Museum: Strathnaver Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Stac Pollaidh: Ian Paterson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Holborn Head: Gestumblindi, CC0, source
Knockan Crag: Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Wolfburn Distillery: Htayler, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Suilven: Grinner (English Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Dunnet Head: Asterion (English Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Castle of Mey: Orikrin1998, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Inverewe Garden: Alexandre Dulaunoy from Les Bulles, Chiny, Belgium, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits

Pianifichi con cura

More guides for North Coast 500

Continua a esplorare

All 2 North Coast 500 areas Regno Unito Guida di Londra