Tuesday
The North Coast 500, commonly known as the NC500, is Scotlands answer to Route 66, winding over 500 miles through rugged Highlands, charming villages, and jaw-dropping coastal scenery that could make even the most seasoned traveller weep with joy (or windburn).
As defined, the NC500 starts and ends in Inverness.
But pffft, that is not for Steve and Nikki. We are doing NC500+ and then some. We estimate our grand tour, which starts and ends in the Scottish borders, will be over 1100 miles, and will take 4 weeks. If you add on getting there and back we should clock up just under 2000 miles.
S
Our drive north
As we set off, I cannot help but think of Game of Thrones and it’s “Winter is coming” strap line.
Our motorhome is hired, and as neither of us have ever driven anything this large, our plan is to take it slow and steady on our first day. We will stop overnight in Durham, and in a hotel so we don’t have to learn the lessons of motor homing on an empty stomach, and with eyes that are drooping.
We are staying at Bowburn Hall Hotel.
East of Scotland
We decided to skip past Edinburgh as Steve worked there for a year, and knows it pretty well.
Our tour really starts when we reach our first overnight stay in a motorhome park in Glenrothes. We are spending 2 nights there to really understand our home for the majority of the next few weeks.
Once rested and (hopefully) motorhome experts, we spend the next 5 or so days heading up to John O’ Groats.
The top of Scotland
We think it will only take a day to cross the top of Scotland as it is only about 90 miles from our eastern stopping point to our western one. We will take the drive very slow, stopping at numerous viewing points along the way.
The West of Scotland (midge country)
It’s going to take nearly 2 weeks to get down the west coast, mainly because of multi night stays on the Isle of Skye and at Loch Lomond.
We end on a bit of a sentimental jouney, meeting cousins Lynn and Jim in Glasgow, before travelling to St Johns Town of Dalry, the home town of a sadly departed dear friend John.
Time for home
Finally, it’s time to return to our proper bed!
The longest journey of all will see us head back down south with a stopover in Kendall.
When we get back, we have to quickly empty and clean the van, ready to take back the following day.
That, for us, will be June done, and if divorce papers have not been served, we look forward to our next Portugal trip.
