North Coast 500 (NC500) 10 days, 9 nights
Price (from)
Difficulty
Tour information
The ultimate road trip around the North Coast of Scotland.
Bringing together a route of just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages, hidden gems, and a wealth of unforgettable experiences; the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most beautiful cycle routes.
Included/Excluded
- Bed & Breakfast Accommodation
- Fully comprehensive tour pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS
- Emergency Telephone Assistance
- Meals except breakfast
- Transport to and from Scotland
Itinerary
Arrive in Inverness and stay overnight.
On today's cycle you will follow the route through the villages of Beauly, Muir of Ord and Contin. As you cycle through Achnasheen you may decide to stop and enjoy some of the views of Loch Gowan and the Ledgowan Forest. As you near Lochcarron, the road becomes single track road.
Stay overnight in Lochcarron.
Today’s cycle is challenging. You will pass the Bealach na ba, which is notorious due to its steep gradients and sharp bends. Once reaching the summit take a look at the view, which includes the Isles of Skye and Raasay to the west.
As you come into Sheildaig the road clings to the coastline, meandering around rocky cliffs and sandy coves.
Stay overnight in Sheildag.
Today’s cycle will follow single track roads. Keep an eye out for hairy heilan coos and sheep who may join you on your journey. You will be passing the Applecross peninsula which hold hundreds of photo opportunities.
Stay overnight in Poolewe.
Towards Ullapool, the capital of north-west Scotland. An adorable, picturesque little fishing port. If the sea is calm enough, you can take a boat trip to see seals, whales and other marine animals off the Summer Isles.
This region has fabulous landscapes with a smattering of mountains surrounded by moors as far as the eye can see.
Enjoy the views as you cycle past Loch Maree and if you have time, uncover the history of the Loch Broom area at Ullapool Museum – a wonderful collection of artefacts and stories.
Stay overnight in Ullapool.
Did you know that the NC500 runs through 100 miles of the North West Highland Geopark? At 3,000 million years old, the rocks at the seashore are even older than the hills.
On today’s cycle you will pass some spectacular views including the Geopark filled with sights including Ardvreck Castle, perched on Loch Assynt, Ben More and the ‘helmet’ shaped mountain Suilven.
Stay overnight in Badcall.
Today’s cycle will include hilly parts before rolling out nicely. On quiet almost deserted roads surrounded by spectacular scenery of mountains, lochs, rivers and glens there is so much to see.
Rich in history and delightful archaeological gems – as you pedal through, you may pass ancient brochs, ruined castles and picturesque harbours scattered about the north east. Much like the rest of the route, the area is rich in wildlife, look out for sea bird colonies on the cliff edges.
Stay overnight in Bettyhill.
On today’s cycle to Dornoch, whisky lovers can taste light single malts at Glenmorangie distillery. Dornoch is an old village with character, known for its golf and very pretty beachfront strand. Its cathedral is one of the most beautiful in the Highlands.
Stay overnight in Dornoch.
The final stretch this morning sees the end of your NC500 journey. The town of Dornoch is a gentile village town 8 miles North of Tain and lies on a headland overlooking Dornoch Firth. Your journey will end back in Inverness where your journey began.
Looming above the city of Inverness is the 19th century red-sandstone Inverness Castle which is perched above the river. The city centre still has some hints of its medieval street layout.
Stay overnight in Inverness.
Depart from Inverness.
Frequently asked questions
Cycling Tours
Can I bring my own bike on the tour?
Of course you can, providing it’s roadworthy and safe. Unfortunately our free breakdown cover may not apply in these circumstances.
If you would like more information about the type of bike our tours are suitable for please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com.
If you bring your own bike we are unable to provide any assistance in the case of issues.
Do I have to walk/cycle every day of my trip?
Absolutely not! You can enjoy additional stop overs at various points along the tour if you would like more time to explore the local area.
We can also add additional days to the start and end of your trip to allow you to explore and relax.
If you would like to add rest days or additional nights to your trip please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your specific requirements. We’re happy to tailor your trip to suit you!
How do I get to the start of my tour?
Most UK travel destinations are accessible by public transport.
However, some of the locations are quite rural and may require a car or taxi to reach the starting point.
Our tours do not include travel to the starting point as standard but if you would like specific travel to be include in your trip please let our team know.
Not quite sure where to start? Contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your travel plans.
How far can I walk or cycle each day?
How far you choose to travel each day depends on your individual fitness levels and how long you want to spend walking or cycling.
We have a wide range of tours to suit all fitness levels.
All our itineraries specify the daily mileage and the difficulty level of the tour.
If you would like to make adjustments to a tour to suit your specific needs, please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss a bespoke tour. We are good at this!
What kind of bikes can I hire for my trip?
Our cycle tours come with hybrid bike hire as standard. eBike hire is available at an additional cost. Please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com for more information.
If you are travelling with children, we have a range of children’s mountain bikes and tag-a-long trailers for hire.
Tandem bikes are also available for those wanting a truly unique adventure!
All our hires come with helmets, locks and puncture repair kits as standard.
Panniers are also available for a small additional charge.
What about places to eat?
All our tours come with bed and breakfast as standard.
In some more remote locations, accommodation providing breakfast may not be possible but we will find you somewhere to get breakfast nearby. This will be covered in the price of your trip.
Our tours do not include lunch and dinner as standard, though some accommodations do offer packed lunches and dinner options at an additional charge. Please let us know if you would like this option when booking.
How fit do I have to be?
Our tours all vary in degrees of hardness.
We specify the difficulty level of all of our tours on our website. The itineraries also give an indication of the gradients travelled on any given day.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail with our travel experts please contact us prior to booking.
What happens if I need assistance when cycling?
For punctures and minor repairs we do provide you with a toolkit with all of the essentials.
For major repairs, please contact us immediately on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 so we can organise a serviceman to come out to repair or exchange the bike for you as soon as possible.
What ages do you cater for?
Both our walking and cycling tours can cater for travellers of all ages. Distance is listed on each of the tours. If you are unsure about the distance covered, please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642.
All of our routes have been tried and tested by our expert team with lots of stop-offs and attractions so younger members of the team can rest and enjoy all that’s on offer. Please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642 at the time of booking to discuss your exact requirements.
Cycling equipment
We have a large range of bikes and accessories suited to adults and budding cyclists. We also offer a tag along (tandem) (please note it is not fully enclosed and waterproof but a single wheeled bike that attaches to the adult bike). We can also provide fully enclosed and waterproof trailers for younger children.
What day can I start my tour?
Most of our tours can be taken at any time but there are some which start on specific days which are usually Saturday to Saturday.
To find out more information, please call our expert travel team on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 or email info@compass-holidays.com.
What type of accommodation is included?
Our holidays are priced with 3* hotel, B&B as standard. These accommodations are hand picked for our tours.
Where a bespoke or luxury option is required please contact us on +44 (0) 1242 250642.
