Embarking on an NC500 road trip is a journey of a lifetime. Scotland is perfect for van life as you can weave through the most breathtaking landscapes and historical wonders, parking up wherever you see fit. Unlike England, Scotland has the right to roam, meaning there are a lot more places you can legally spend the night for free. Just make sure you leave the spot better than you found it, shop in the local shops, and generally be a good person to ensure we’re still able to make journeys such as this long into the future.
We’ve condensed some of our favourite stops along the NC500 into a whistle-stop 4-day trip. This four day trip will provide you with beaches, waterfalls, and even prehistoric wonders.
But first, you’ll need to choose your direction, clockwise or anticlockwise. The route below goes clockwise, simply as that’s what we did, however many people choose to go anticlockwise as if you do it this way the scenery gets more impressive as you go.
Table of Contents:
Day One of Your nC500 Road Trip: Inverness to Ullapool
Taking the route clockwise, you’ll turn left and head towards Ullapool. Before you head into the heart of the NC500, we recommend taking a detour to the stunning Victoria Falls. It’s a huge waterfall, with beautiful vantage points to see the forests all around. Plus free parking! What’s not to like? It’s a super quick walk to the top of the waterfall so you could spend an hour or two here and then quickly be back on the road. We think it’s well worth the detour. Then, retrace your steps to Inverness and venture north on the A835 to Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve.
The Details
There is a beautiful walk that takes you through a range of rock formations, so its geography is your thing check this out. It’s also a great walk with plenty of breathtaking views.
Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve are also kind enough to let van lifers stay the night for a donation (and there are toilets!) We stayed the night here and it was incredibly peaceful there were a fair few other vans which made it feel safe. :)
If you choose to move on, your journey continues Westwood to The bone caves of Inchnadamph. This was one of our favourite hikes on the NC500. The hike leads you over rocky terrain to a high limestone cliff, within is a set of natural caves. Aptly named due to the large number of prehistoric bones that have been found there. A few miles up the road you’ll reach the tranquil shores of Lock Assynt, where the serene waters meet the remnants of Ardvreck Castle. This structure is one of the most haunted places in Scotland.
Side note: One of the most prominent ‘ghosts’ is that of the daughter of a MacLeod chief and previous owner. She is said to have taken her own life after being tricked into marrying the devil, as a pact made between the devil and her father. An alternative version of the story says she survived jumping from the castle window and trying to hide from the devil. He later found her and turned her into a mermaid who now lives on the loch…
Day Two of your 4 day itinerary
Day one was incredibly busy, so you can either spread it over two days or take it easy on day two. Today, we invite you to follow the NC500 to the golden sands of Scourie Beach. This is the perfect spot to have your breakfast and a quick dip in the crystal clear waters. We visited in November and still couldn’t resist a swim!
Continue the adventure with a visit to Balnakeil Church, an 18th-century gem framed against the backdrop of sand dunes and pristine beaches. The ruins juxtaposed again the beautifull beaches make for some great photos. Plus, there are often cows wandering the sand dunes and beaches, which is a real pleasure to see. There is a small car park there, opposite the remains of the church, where you can sleep overnight for free.
If you decide to press on and fancy squeezing another stop into day two of your NC500 road trip, we recommend stopping at Smoo Caves. It features a large entrance chamber, a waterfall, and an inner chamber that was formed by both sea and freshwater erosion. The cave has archaeological significance, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years. You can park right outside and explore the caves for free. (Unless you want a guided tour.)
Day Three to the tip of scotland
Press on through the majestic scenery to John O’Groats. This is the iconic, northeastern tip of Scotland. Unlike its counterpart in Cornwall, it’s free to visit (except for parking, which was reasonable), and there are a few things to do there. We walked along the coast, stopped for a coffee and an “Empire Biscuit,” and visited the 8 Doors Distillery. Of course, make sure you pop to the sign and snap a picture! Then, head onwards to Duncansby Stacks. Only a short drive away from John O’Groats you can see these majestic stacks towering out of the sea. As the coastal winds whip the waves around them, it creates a pretty epic sight.
Day Four: LAST DAY
On your final leg of the journey, you’ll continue to weave through some stunning terrains. Honestly, half the fun of the NC500 is the bits you’ll see on the road. For the last day, you’ll head from John O’Groats to the endpoint in Inverness. There are a few options for free overnight places to park in Inverness. We chose to park by the canal and take a walk into town. Inverness has lots of independent shops and coffee shops to try. So, why not spend the day soaking in all that you’ve done over the last few days? Don’t forget to grab a few souvenirs of your trip.
If you only have four days, our NC500 road trip itinerary takes you through some of the NC500’s best spots. However, this, of course, only scratches the surface. If you have longer, you could spend two or three weeks creating memories along this route.
