NC500 in March

[SandyR]

Hi all, heading off next week to enjoy the NC500 on 4rd March. A bit of trepidation even as a Scot that has driven a lot in icy and snowy conditions in Aberdeenshire over the years. We hopefully will prepare for the worst and get the best out of the trip ie cameras fully charged, emergency rations inc M&S tinned curry ! etc.

For those who have done it. Any handy hints and tips or must sees? We have 4Motion Ocean with Solar Panel and not particularly constrained by time for once in our lives!

Planning to go clockwise.

Best regards.
Sandyr

 

[WelshGas]

Hi all, heading off next week to enjoy the NC500 on 4rd March. A bit of trepidation even as a Scot that has driven a lot in icy and snowy conditions in Aberdeenshire over the years. We hopefully will prepare for the worst and get the best out of the trip ie cameras fully charged, emergency rations inc M&S tinned curry ! etc.

For those who have done it. Any handy hints and tips or must sees? We have 4Motion Ocean with Solar Panel and not particularly constrained by time for once in our lives!

Planning to go clockwise.

Best regards.
Sandyr

Some information on the Search Function that might be of use.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/search/27679925/?q=NC+500&o=relevance&c[node]=48

 

[SandyR]

Great thanks.

 

[H Marriage]

Hi Sandy. We did the NC500 in January 2018, as the first part of our 10 month tour around Europe (a trial run for the main trip, since we live in Scotland, and figured we could pop home and pick up anything we had forgotten / or drop off anything that was deemed excess baggage). The conditions were a mixture of cold, icy, snowy and very windy. The advantage of travelling this route in January was the we had it to ourselves, and the snowy scenery was sublime! I would imagine that in March it will still be pretty quiet - you will be in for a treat. Like yourselves, we have 4 Motion, and it proved a God-send, and handled impeccably. The only problem we experienced were the strong winds, which meant that we couldn’t raise the pop-up roof on a couple of occasions. So plan that you may have to sleep ‘downstairs’ if that is the case. We travelled in an anti-clockwise direction, saving the stunning west coast til last - the east is pleasant, but the north west breathtaking.
You should have a great trip. Have fun.
Heather and Howard.

 

[Azteccamper]

Hi all, heading off next week to enjoy the NC500 on 4rd March. A bit of trepidation even as a Scot that has driven a lot in icy and snowy conditions in Aberdeenshire over the years. We hopefully will prepare for the worst and get the best out of the trip ie cameras fully charged, emergency rations inc M&S tinned curry ! etc.

For those who have done it. Any handy hints and tips or must sees? We have 4Motion Ocean with Solar Panel and not particularly constrained by time for once in our lives!

Planning to go clockwise.

Best regards.
Sandyr

Hi.
We did it anti-clockwise last year after Easter. Think it was first week of April. Roads were all very quiet, lots of snow on the Applecross road Bealach na Bà but all easily done in 2wd Cali. See above.
Had a fantastic 10 days.
Bit of rain. Bit of wind. But temperatures were ok.
Only thing we didn’t do was get to the top (got most of the way) of Ben Nevis due to snow & icey conditions.
Enjoy. You’ll have a great trip.

 

[SandyR]

Hi Sandy. We did the NC500 in January 2018, as the first part of our 10 month tour around Europe (a trial run for the main trip, since we live in Scotland, and figured we could pop home and pick up anything we had forgotten / or drop off anything that was deemed excess baggage). The conditions were a mixture of cold, icy, snowy and very windy. The advantage of travelling this route in January was the we had it to ourselves, and the snowy scenery was sublime! I would imagine that in March it will still be pretty quiet - you will be in for a treat. Like yourselves, we have 4 Motion, and it proved a God-send, and handled impeccably. The only problem we experienced were the strong winds, which meant that we couldn’t raise the pop-up roof on a couple of occasions. So plan that you may have to sleep ‘downstairs’ if that is the case. We travelled in an anti-clockwise direction, saving the stunning west coast til last - the east is pleasant, but the north west breathtaking.
You should have a great trip. Have fun.
Heather and Howard.

Thanks for that Heather and Howard, certainly will be prepared if we can’t get the roof up, much appreciated. Btw we are the couple who spoke to you at the Kingsway Retail park in Dundee, after you had just returned from your Europe trip ! Small world. All the best Sandy and Sue.

 

[SandyR]

View attachment 41705
Hi.
We did it anti-clockwise last year after Easter. Think it was first week of April. Roads were all very quiet, lots of snow on the Applecross road Bealach na Bà but all easily done in 2wd Cali. See above.
Had a fantastic 10 days.
Bit of rain. Bit of wind. But temperatures were ok.
Only thing we didn’t do was get to the top (got most of the way) of Ben Nevis due to snow & icey conditions.
Enjoy. You’ll have a great trip.

Thanks Azteccamper you’ve given us confidence, great pic of the snowploughed road !
Sandy

 

[H Marriage]

Thanks for that Heather and Howard, certainly will be prepared if we can’t get the roof up, much appreciated. Btw we are the couple who spoke to you at the Kingsway Retail park in Dundee, after you had just returned from your Europe trip ! Small world. All the best Sandy and Sue.

Ha! Small world! Look forward to hearing how you get on. Would love to see some photos.
Have a wonderful time.
Heather and Howard.

 

[SandyR]

Ha! Small world! Look forward to hearing how you get on. Would love to see some photos.
Have a wonderful time.
Heather and Howard.

Will do ! Thanks.

 

[Autumn]

I am going on the 10th, anti clockwise, glad there are other people doing it too.

What maps or books are you taking?

 

[SandyR]

Hi we have detailed Scotland map and NC500 Guide Book by Charles Tait and North Coast Journey :The Magic of Scotland’s Northern Highlands by Brigid Benson on a Kindle, which has detailed history of the area.
Have a great trip !

 

[I4N]

Enjoy your trip

 

[SandyR]

Trip so far !

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[john mar]

Thanks for sharing. Never new about this route..
https://independenttravelcats.com/north-coast-500-road-trip-planning-guide-nc500-route/

 

[Sandyvan]

Have done this many times before it was marketed as the NC500, Anti Clockwise is far the best as the views just keep getting better and better.

Have a great trip. Fab wild camp spot.

 

[SandyR]

A new slant on wild camping

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[Sandyvan]

A new slant on wild camping

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That's pretty wild, nice with whisky and mustard mash though...

 

[B J G]

This Facebook weather info may be of help, assuming reception is possible.

https://m.facebook.com/NC500weather/

 

[SandyR]

De

That's pretty wild, nice with whisky and mustard mash though...

Definitely!

 

[SandyR]

Thanks.

This Facebook weather info may be of help, assuming reception is possible.

https://m.facebook.com/NC500weather/

 

[H Marriage]

Trip so far !

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Loving the photos Sandy - brings back memories!! You’re making us want to do the whole trip again. Keep them coming!
Heather and Howard.

 

[SandyR]

Roadblocks !


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[SandyR]

Torridon and Kinlochewe


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[Sandyvan]

Stunning

 

[Gary&Heather]

I'm so jealous.