The North Coast 500 is Scotland's answer to Route 66 — a 516-mile loop of the Highlands' wildest coastline, and one of the great campervan drives anywhere in the world. Single-track roads, empty white beaches, sea lochs and mountains, all from one loop that starts and ends in Inverness.
Here's how to do it in a van.
The route at a glance
Starting and finishing in Inverness, the classic anti-clockwise loop runs:
| Leg | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Inverness → Applecross | Bealach na Bà mountain pass, sea views to Skye |
| Applecross → Ullapool | Torridon mountains, Loch Maree |
| Ullapool → Durness | Achmelvich beach, Ardvreck Castle |
| Durness → John o' Groats | Smoo Cave, empty north-coast beaches |
| John o' Groats → Inverness | Dunrobin Castle, the Black Isle |
Where to hire
Hire your campervan in Inverness — it's the official start and finish of the NC500, so you're on the route from the moment you collect the van. If you'd like to see more of the country first, start in Edinburgh or Glasgow and drive north. Browse everything on the Scotland campervan hire page.
How long to take
The loop is 516 miles of mostly single-track road, so it's slow going — and that's the point. Four days is the minimum; five to seven days is the sweet spot. That gives you time for the beaches, a distillery or two, and a walk in the mountains without spending the whole trip behind the wheel.
The best stops
- Bealach na Bà — the hair-raising pass to Applecross, one of the UK's highest roads.
- Achmelvich and Durness beaches — Caribbean-white sand, Highland weather.
- Smoo Cave — a vast sea cave near Durness you can walk into.
- Ardvreck Castle — a ruin on a spit into Loch Assynt, pure Scotland.
Add a detour to the Isle of Skye or the Cairngorms if you have extra days.
Wild camping and campsites
Scotland's outdoor-access laws are famously relaxed, but they mainly cover tents, not vehicles. For a campervan, use the many campsites and designated aires along the route, park considerately overnight, and follow "leave no trace." Popular spots fill up in summer, so book campsites ahead — especially July and August.
When to go
May, June and September are ideal: long days, better weather and fewer midges than high summer. The roads are quietest outside the July–August peak, and a spring or autumn trip is usually the best value on van hire too.
Plan your NC500
- Campervan hire in Inverness — the start of the route
- Campervan hire across Scotland
- Browse all UK campervan hire
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