The NC500 is a circular route of 516 miles, taking in some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland from its starting point in Inverness around the North Highlands. Most people travel the NC500 in cars, motor bikes and motorhomes, but it’s also a bucket list challenge for cyclists and walkers. In 2023, the NC500 was voted as the UK’s Favourite Driving Route in a survey of 2,000 motorists for National Geographic. Many doing the famous Lands End to John O’Groats journey every year.

As you’d expect in the Scottish Highlands, there’s a real variety of scenery to enjoy when driving the NC500; from the imposing hills in Sutherland’s North West Geopark to tiny fishing harbour villages and dramatic coastline in Caithness, sweeping beaches all around the route, lochs and forests.

Locally and around the NC500 route you will be able to enjoy:

• The Castle of Mey
• Distillery and Brewery Tours
• John O’Groats 
• Duncansby Stacks 
• Dunnet Bay 
• Dunnet Head 
• Mary Ann’s Cottage 
• Trips to Orkney 
• Wildlife watching
• Family friendly museums about local history
• Golf courses
• Watersports and Boat Trips
• The Whaligoe Steps
• The Caithness Show 
• The Mey Highland Games (1st Saturday in August) 

Your trip on the NC500 can be undertaken at any time of year, but we’d recommend booking your accommodation for winter months in advance as some places are closed, and being prepared to change your plans in case of icy/snowy road conditions. Summer is the busiest time of year and advance booking of accommodation is essential to avoid disappointment. Celtic Lodges are open all year round and we’re located directly on the NC500 route at the top of Scotland 7.5 miles from John O’Groats, making us an ideal mid-point stop on the NC500 to explore Caithness. 

The most popular months to plan a NC500 trip are May to September due to the long daylight hours and best chance of good weather (but we all know that in Scotland, it’s possible to experience all four seasons on any given day!) but March, April and October can also provide good months to experience the area at a quieter time of year. To make the most of your trip, we recommend 7-10 days to explore.

Channel 4 produced ‘Britains Most Beautiful Road‘, which is all about the NC500 in Scotland. There are 4 episodes and you can watch them at the bottom of this page. The Castle of Mey can be seen at 13.40 minutes into episode 3. 

Read our North Coast 500 blog post for more information and our top tips on undertaking this iconic road trip!