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.