North Coast 500, voted one of the top five coastal drives in the world

**Neil Howie** · 07-Aug-15, 21:52

Hi

lifted straight from BT news page here

I'm not going to copy the photos.

It's worth checking out the comments as (a) they are funny and (b) some complimentary views on staying in Thurso, Wick and environs,

North Coast 500, Scotland’s answer to Route 66, voted one of the top five coastal drives in the world

Scotland’s version of America’s famous Route 66 has been named in one of the world’s top five coastal road trips.
Opened just two months ago, North Coast 500 – known as NC500 – was designed by the North Highland Initiative and set up by Prince Charles to entice drivers, cyclists and walkers to take in some of the country’s most scenic areas.
The 500-mile route runs to and from Inverness, venturing around the capital of the Highlands, up the West Coast and back via the rugged north coast.

Praised for its ‘rugged romance’, Travel Now magazine voted NC500 the fifth best coastal road trip in the world.
Along the way, the route takes you via the fairytale castle Dunrobin, home to the Earls and Dukes of Sutherlands since the 13th Century…

**Alrock** · 08-Aug-15, 08:20

Great... Now we'll get even more camper vans to get stuck behind on the single track roads...

**cullpacket** · 08-Aug-15, 08:48

Even better more motorbikes to see and hear ....

**Gronnuck** · 08-Aug-15, 08:55

Originally Posted by Alrock

Great... Now we'll get even more camper vans to get stuck behind on the single track roads...

Aye..... just the other day we saw a convoy of Italian registered motorhomes heading west. There must have been at least twenty of them, travelling nose to tail; a rolling road block if ever there was one.

**davth** · 08-Aug-15, 08:57

they have as much right to use the roads as you or I.
Think of the boost to the economy with all the fuel they are burning and stuff they are buying.

**sids** · 08-Aug-15, 10:13

Originally Posted by davth

they have as much right to use the roads as you or I.
Think of the boost to the economy with all the fuel they are burning and stuff they are buying.

They carry everything with them!

**davth** · 08-Aug-15, 11:22

Originally Posted by sids

They carry everything with them!

must have big ol diesel tanks on them, fridge / freezers also.

**sids** · 08-Aug-15, 12:48

Originally Posted by davth

must have big ol diesel tanks on them, fridge / freezers also.

Yep.

.........

**davth** · 08-Aug-15, 12:59

Originally Posted by sids

Yep.

.........

I challenge you to find me a camper van that could travel from the continent, then do the NC500 and return without refuel
And also one that can feasibly carry all the provisions required for the trip.

**Dog-eared** · 08-Aug-15, 13:09

i counted 17 of them. All Italians doing 45mph. I was glad I was only stuck behind them as far as Forss.

**davth** · 08-Aug-15, 13:13

45mph is a reasonable enough speed to do.
60mph is the limit, not a target

**sids** · 08-Aug-15, 13:15

Originally Posted by davth

I challenge you .

The pink Marigold has been thrown down!

**davth** · 08-Aug-15, 13:20

hell no, I wouldn't be able to wash the dishes with a floor soiled marigold.
Anyway have you found a suitable vehicle yet or are you going to admit that your earlier post was BS

**sids** · 08-Aug-15, 14:03

Originally Posted by davth

Anyway have you found a suitable vehicle yet or are you going to admit that your earlier post was BS

If you give a toss, Google it. You'll find that a 500 mile range isn't unusual.

**davth** · 08-Aug-15, 14:10

Originally Posted by sids

If you give a toss, Google it. You'll find that a 500 mile range isn't unusual.

Even if you could find one that could do 500 miles on a fill (350 to 400 miles is average for an 80 litre tank), that would still leave you needing to refuel at least once on the trip

**sids** · 08-Aug-15, 14:22

Originally Posted by davth

Even if you could find one that could do 500 miles on a fill (350 to 400 miles is average for an 80 litre tank), that would still leave you needing to refuel at least once on the trip

500 mile road, 500 mile range. They buy diesel at Tesco in Inverness.

**davth** · 08-Aug-15, 14:54

Originally Posted by sids

500 mile road, 500 mile range. They buy diesel at Tesco in Inverness.

1. the NC500 is more than 500 miles.
2. even if you can find this 500 mile range camper, the range would be calculated from controlled flat road steady 56mph driving, not on hilly, windy stop / start highlands driving. In reality the range will be much less.
3. they fill up in inverness, perfect for the economy.