VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION – All group tours depart from Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BQ (opposite Howie’s Restaurant). ⚠️ TEMPORARY DEPARTURE POINT ⚠️ From Monday 7th September, for approximately 9 weeks, all tours will depart from the other side of the street (opposite Bus Stand ZE), outside Howie’s restaurant or nearby. Look out for the Wee Red Bus! Click for Map.
Your Accommodation
Your tour price does not include the cost of accommodation. Accommodation is pre-booked by Heart of Scotland Tours (or by yourself) and you pay card or cash at check in or check out. Please note some Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) only accept cash. Choose from:
- Hostel £30 to £45 per person, per night
- B&B single £100 to £150 per night (or £120 to £190 per night for single occupancy of a double or twin room)
- B&B en suite double or twin £120 to £190 per room, per night (2 sharing)
- B&B en suite triple or quad £190 to £250 per room, per night (3 or 4 sharing)
- Hotel £190 to £250+ per room, per night (2 sharing)
If you would like us to pre-book your accommodation you will receive an email around 7-10 days prior to departure confirming location, costs and payment arrangements. The price of accommodation varies widely depending on season/ demand and if we are unable to book accommodation within the price range outlined above we will be in touch.
Your accommodation options explained in more detail.
Itinerary
Join us on this 4 day whistle stop road trip (departing and returning Edinburgh) around the famous North Coast Five Hundred, a classic touring route showcasing the best of the far north. ‘Scotland’s Route 66’ is a spectacular 516 mile round trip from Inverness through stunning coastal scenery, peppered with iconic Scottish sights – castles, wild beaches, and some of the best views in Scotland. The North Coast Five Hundred offers a truly unique touring experience, quite unlike anywhere else in the world. On our return to Edinburgh we’ll even visit legendary Highland locations Loch Ness and Glen Coe!
Day 1
Edinburgh to Wick: We begin our journey north and travel across the Forth Road Bridge from where you can see the magnificent Forth Rail Bridge. Considered to be the greatest engineering achievement of the Victorian age, it is one of Scotland’s most impressive landmarks. Our first stop is Dunkeld, a delightful Highland village with a history stretching back to the 8th century. Time for morning coffee and a visit to the ancient cathedral grounds, beautifully situated in mature woodlands beside the mighty River Tay.
Surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery we continue north on the scenic A9 through the Cairngorms National Park reaching a high point of 1328 feet (405 metres) at Slochd summit before our gradual descent to the Highland capital of Inverness. Our tour of the North Coast 500 begins after lunch…!
Crossing the Dornoch bridge we hug the coastline towards spectacular Dunrobin Castle; a towering, fairytale castle of the Northern Highlands inhabited since the early 1300s. There will be time for a castle tour and a stroll through the magnificent Versaille-inspired ornamental gardens.
It’s a short drive to Wick (via the windswept coastal villages of Brora and Helmsdale), originally an important Viking settlement but these days a small Caithness town of 7,000 people – a relative metropolis in these parts! We end Day 1 of this epic road trip 250 miles north of Edinburgh…
Day 2
Wick to Ullapool: Our first stop this morning is a photo at the famous signpost in the remote village of John o’ Groats (the start/end point for many Land’s End to John o’ Groats overland British adventures). Contrary to popular belief this isn’t the northernmost point of mainland Britain…that honour belongs to wild and windy Dunnet Head which we visit as part of the drive along the most northerly section of the North Coast 500 towards Thurso. There are fantastic views across the treacherous Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands.
The rocky coastline, pristine beaches and turquoise waters are truly a sight to behold.
As we travel towards Tongue we stop for a lovely short walk at ruined Castle Varrich. The views across the Kyle of Tongue towards Ben Hope are stunning. We continue our spectacular route around Loch Eriboll to Durness.
After lunch we’ll visit Smoo Cave, a huge sea cave set into the limestone cliffs of Sutherland and one of the most popular tourist attractions on the north coast. Our leisurely drive around the north-west corner of Scotland takes us along single-track roads (look out for free range sheep and hairy coos), through the sleepy crofting settlement of Scourie and across the elegant Kylesku Bridge. * Please note we do not drive the short 36 mile section of the North Coast 500 from Kyelsku to Lochinver to Ardvreck Castle as it’s not suitable for a mini coach (or most camper vans…!).
Surrounded by some of the oldest rocks in the world in the North-West Highlands Geo Park we continue to 15th century Ardvreck Castle perched on the shores of Loch Assynt. From here it’s a short, spectacular drive to the pretty seaside village of Ullapool where we’ll spend the night and perhaps enjoy some harbour-fresh fish and chips.
Day 3
Ullapool to Inverness: There are numerous photo opportunities on the Gairloch peninsula as we travel past whitewashed crofting cottages and stunning beaches to Inverewe.
There are numerous photo opportunities as we travel past whitewashed cottages and stunning scenery
The warm currents of the Gulf Stream have nurtured a strange West Highland oasis and exotic plants from all over the world flourish on a latitude more northerly than Moscow at Inverewe Gardens (National Trust).
We follow the rocky shoreline of Loch Maree to Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre in the rugged landscape of Torridon. This area is well-known to climbers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts and lovers of wild places. Mountains like Liathach and Beinn Eighe rise steeply from the road adding to the drama of this Wester Ross scenery.
We’ll stop at the picture-postcard fishing village of Shieldaig on Loch Torridon and, weather permitting, follow one of the most famous roads in the country, the Bealach na Ba, a 2000 feet (610 metres) mountain pass to the village of Applecross. The views from here to the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides are sensational.
The North Coast 500 offers a unique tour experience, unlike anywhere else in the world.
The final leg of this wonderful trip takes us cross-country to Rogie Falls for a delightful woodland walk and viewpoint over the famous salmon leap. Time to reflect on this epic road trip before the short journey back to Inverness.
Day 4
Inverness to Edinburgh: Our return to the Capital takes us along the Caledonian Canal/Great Glen, our first stop being famous Loch Ness – Scotland’s legendary lake and home to the elusive monster! At the picturesque village of Fort Augustus you will have time to take a stroll at Loch Ness and along the canal and lock system built by Thomas Telford in the early 1800s.
We stop at the famous Commando Memorial/Ben Nevis viewpoint for a spectacular vista over the rugged landscape of Lochaber and the highest mountain in Britain at 4409 feet (1344 metres). Mountains and lochs provide a dramatic backdrop as we travel through Fort William to perhaps the most famous of all Scotland’s glens, Glen Coe. This narrow valley is where the bloody massacre of the MacDonalds took place in 1692, one of the most notorious acts in Scotland’s long and violent history. You may recognise this part of the Highlands, used in the movie ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’. A majestic setting in any season.
There’ll be time for photos of the wild scenery before continuing to Tyndrum for a break. As we approach the Lowlands we drive past the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle where you’ll hear about Scotland’s great patriots William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Their names have resounded through British history for 700 years – a fitting conclusion to a wonderful trip!
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