North Coast 500

[Green_not_greed]

A couple of friends have just returned at the weekend from a ten day trip on this route - found a few different accommodations but they could not understand why they were saying all the places were closing for the winter, do they not understand the NC 500 route will encourage visitors all year round, all we saw were closed signs.
They did get a warm welcome in the Nethercliffe and enjoyed their food in Ebenezers or No1
They did thoroughy enjoy the trip and will be back doing it fairly soon, probably in the summer and they know to book well ahead for accommodation.

This was the comments from a couple of friends - as I do not live in the area now I cannot comment, but surely some business are seeing a difference the NC500 is making to their trade.
I would have thought it would have been worthwhile keeping open for an extra few weeks to October holidays or until the first snows arrive to encourage folk travelling this route to stay and spend some money in the area.

To get back on topic..... good post! When the snows come NC500 may not shut down completely as there will no doubt be those wanting to see the scenery with snow. Those with businesses along the route should indeed plan to stay open for longer than in previous years. Perhaps this autumn/winter/spring will be a test bed to see how numbers change ? I do know of at least one business on the West Coast who has extended their camp ground opening by over a month as they were getting folks turning up in late September and early October.

[Scout]

my god 'I've never heard so much aof what drops out of the back end of a bull . Wick has always got the lions share of anything to do with the county . That's why Wick stayed the capital town even with the lesser population, all this was to off set any effect of Dounreay . Pull you head out and stop greeting,the whole county needs help not just one part. The Tory ideal is alive and well in some parts and you can smell the rot setting in with the "I'm all right Jack " mentality .

Why not take leaf out of SNP and go independent

[cptdodger]

A couple of friends have just returned at the weekend from a ten day trip on this route - found a few different accommodations but they could not understand why they were saying all the places were closing for the winter, do they not understand the NC 500 route will encourage visitors all year round, all we saw were closed signs.
They did get a warm welcome in the Nethercliffe and enjoyed their food in Ebenezers or No1
They did thoroughy enjoy the trip and will be back doing it fairly soon, probably in the summer and they know to book well ahead for accommodation.

This was the comments from a couple of friends - as I do not live in the area now I cannot comment, but surely some business are seeing a difference the NC500 is making to their trade.
I would have thought it would have been worthwhile keeping open for an extra few weeks to October holidays or until the first snows arrive to encourage folk travelling this route to stay and spend some money in the area.

Unfortunately it's a catch 22 situation, the B&B's and hotels (that close) won't know if they are going to get custom unless they stay open and find out. It's a risk certainly, but business in general is a risk. I know that when I worked in a local hotel, guests were upset to find they could not go to The Castle Of Mey (this year it is open from the middle of May and closed at the end of September) or do the John O Groats Ferry tours which this year operated between May and the end of September.

It could be argued the weather is a deciding factor certainly, but it doesn't seem to affect, Switzerland, Austria, Lapland and so on. The schools in England are on half term now, I can't see anybody taking the risk of coming here if they think everything is closed.

As I said before, I only live here, I'm not from here, so my opinion doesn't really count, however if it was me, I would get the people who dreamt up this NC500 initiative to get all the business owners, hoteliers, anybody that owns accommodation on the route together, get Visit Scotland involved and plan to stay open next year (from September 2017). Bombard the UK with advertising and so on and just see what happens. If it works, great, if not they tried and will know for a fact that it doesn't work, but at least they tried. And it will only work if everybody on the route works together.

From what I understand Natural Retreats (John O Groats) seems to be doing very well all year round, from what I have heard anyway, you just have to read Trip Advisor there is hardly a bad word said about them, so the demand is there.

Again, this is just my opinion !

[DSTOTM]

What is a tennabowlie?

Somebody who wears a Sanitary towel on their head? Probably derives from the Tenner Bowler..... a good quality Bowler hat used to cost Ten Great British Pounds back in the day and only the wealthy could afford a genuine "tenner Bowler".

Your Tennabowlie is a person of lowly means who makes his own Bowler hat out of Tenna Pads and then colours them black out of soot from the chimney. Quite the fashion accessory for your "Wicker" man this season..... A high res vest and Tenna Bowler will guarantee you admission where the in crowd hang out........ Wick Sheriff Court

[caithnessmw]

Somebody who wears a Sanitary towel on their head? Probably derives from the Tenner Bowler..... a good quality Bowler hat used to cost Ten Great British Pounds back in the day and only the wealthy could afford a genuine "tenner Bowler".

Your Tennabowlie is a person of lowly means who makes his own Bowler hat out of Tenna Pads and then colours them black out of soot from the chimney. Quite the fashion accessory for your "Wicker" man this season..... A high res vest and Tenna Bowler will guarantee you admission where the in crowd hang out........ Wick Sheriff Court

Wow you have done your homework. You need to get out more

[Recycle it]

Well before the NC500 I had never seen a Di'tomaso pantera, it was my favorite car when i was a child, but because of it I saw several in a row one day.

i would have to agree with you on the Pantera stunning looks,not so great engine and rubbish brakes, but it ain't half a looker. Makes you feel a million dollars to drive .