Riding Scotlands North Coast road 2nd week of September

[lmg]

I am planning on riding Scotlands North Coast road in the 2nd week of September - roughly this route:

nc500.JPG (74.86 KiB) Viewed 2402 times

I am looking for good ideas for:

- recommended places to camp (either wild or paid-for)
- recommended "points of interest" along or reasonably near the route
- If there are any really recommended guest houses, B&Bs, hostels then offer them up
- brew/food stops worth dropping in on

Finally, if there are any people on the route who want to meet up for a natter over a cuppa, shout.

[Peter78]

This website has some of what you are looking for

http://www.northcoast500.com/home.aspx

[threepot]

Recommend this site in Fort Augustus (thumbs)
http://www.cumberlands-campsite.com

[fullerton]

great site this,nice walk into town and pubs, will be there on the 27th August but doing this loop with the t5 not the bike as will have the dogs with me

pub at apple cross well the grass in front is ok or just around the bay and use of the pub as well

steve

[RandG]

Scourie campsite is excellent, was there at the weekend.

btw, I would honestly miss out that top right hand corner, it's not very good at all.

[Mosel Bikes]

This is meant to be positive and something to think about, as it might come over differently .... I did almost exactly that route a couple of years ago in a day. It's a cracker. My observation is that you might want to think about detour rides (maybe some off roading) or lots of places to visit, as it doesn't take long to cover, even at normal speeds. Hopefully, you'll get lots of suggestions and the links will help.

[fullerton]

This is meant to be positive and something to think about, as it might come over differently .... I did almost exactly that route a couple of years ago in a day. It's a cracker. My observation is that you might want to think about detour rides (maybe some off roading) or lots of places to visit, as it doesn't take long to cover, even at normal speeds. Hopefully, you'll get lots of suggestions and the links will help.

was it on the tls, did to thirds of it on a whistle stop tour in 2 days 2 up a few years ago

steve

[lmg]

This website has some of what you are looking for

http://www.northcoast500.com/home.aspx

Hi and thanks - been to that site (thats where the map came from) but its really site with everything lumped in and no "recommendations". I am looking for places that people say are worth a visit (from experience).

Threepot - thanks, will look at the link.

Fullerton - did you mean the site Threepot posted, or something else? Applecross is a "point of interest" to reach - and I intend to. What are peoples thoughts on the busy'ness levels of Applecross 1st half of Sept?

RandG - where is Scourie campsite? I know what you mean about the top right - however I actually quite liked it up there - I have been up there on a few IronButt rides.

Mosel - I am not really an offroad kind of guy, I prefer the tarmac - having said that, I dont mind detours off of the map route - im not locked in to it all, and if there are better roads and great things to see and stay, then shout loud!

[fullerton]

the first campsite he listed is really nice one and you can just turn up, the pub at applecross we've camped outside and will prob do again end of the month, i have never found this place busy, on the last ullapool do i went on the coastal route and i passed one bike up there all day.

steve

[Mosel Bikes]

I did it on the DL1000 V Strom (perfect for these roads) and wasn't hanging around.
One place I can recommend, but it's not to everyone's taste, is the Mountain Coffee Company at Gairloch. It overlooks the bay,is very quirky (feels hippyish in a nice way) has a fantastic cafe with great food and a fantastic bookshop (I got 'The Motorcycle Diaries' and 'Jupiter's Travels' there and it has a big range. I stayed overnight in basic, but adequate. room, for very little. Here's Tripod Advisor reviews.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant ... tland.html

Gairloch is stunning anyway, the pub is ok and the hotel at the other side of the bay (5 min walk) did the best cullen skink I've ever had.
I did the usual stop off's a Durness etc but didn't linger. There will be loads of places that are worth a look and I'm sure folk here will recommend some, it's just that the only place I lingered was Gairloch. If I'd more time, I would have definately done a 'serious' walk at Torridon too - easy enough to pack walking boots and worth considering if into the mountains.