9. Sunscreen and lypsyl (*which I lost early on and am paying the price for now with seriously cracked lips!). Epic Road Rides’ readers tell us that the main reason they come back to us is for our content. Cycle through the incredible scenery of northern Scotland on winding tarmac past towering mountains, sandy beaches and rolling wilderness. The main A99 / A9 travels in a south / south westerly direction, so particularly the first 50miles I was slugging into a nagging cross head wind which made the going tough. Road conditions - I found the road conditions generally pretty good. The GPX file is available from the official North Coast 500 site, along with a printable map however my Sat Nav (a Tom Tom Rider V) found it far too complex, there are thousands of way points on it, and the sat nav just just refused to load it. 42 Shares. I just added just a frame pack with key essentials. Our Recommended North Coast 500 Hotels Guide - where to stay along the NC500. 8,170 m. 8,150 m. Share. The North Coast 500 is a challenge of terrain and variable weather and the leisurely pace gives you time to stop and enjoy the landscape and experience this unique environment and it’s communities. Guest blog by Steven Nick, North Coast veteran and teammate of Chris Taylor who joined the group after having cycled to Inverness from the Lake District. Best time of year to ride - definitely consider the time of year you tackle this route and the weather. There are a lot of single track roads where you need to watch for camper vans and bikers, but in general the route is quiet. https://www.facebook.com/NC500cyclingguide/, NC500-Cycling Facebook Group In 1988, The Proclaimers penned Scotland’s alternative national … The first two days of the 500 mile (800 km) bike route around the far northwest of Scotland. In this way, it is hoped that it will be more useful and accurate in future years than a paper guide-book. Sadly, Covid-19 means travel is currently difficult - but I hope the information you find here will help you plan for once it’s possible again. Cycle the North Coast 500, London, United Kingdom. If you are looking for stunning landscapes, fascinating history, endless horizons, ancient castles, golden beaches and crystal-clear water, all wrapped up in a 500-mile road trip, then the NC500 is for you. Had a great time touring around the Scottish highlands, tough conditions but worth it! In many places there is literally just one road – so you cant get lost! Covering close to 530 miles according to our GPS, the route naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-Shire… Epic Road Rides disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this page. The North Coast 500, often described as Scotland’s Route 66, take in some of Scotland’s most impressive wild places, from the mountains and lochs of Wester Ross and Assynt to the rugged sea cliffs of Sutherland. How hard is the Prudential RideLondon 100 route? Epic Road Rides is all about long-term relationships. It’s definitely going down on the list. Cycling this journey does not require the most extensive experience for those that enjoy cycle tourer, you will, however, need to bear a few things in mind. A quick breakfast and I was off. The North Coast 500 is an iconic route circumnavigating the entire north of Scotland, from Inverness, across to the west coast and then right around the west, north and east coasts, via John O’Groats, and back to Inverness. Export To GPS Device. North Coast 500 Cycle Route – Scottish bikepacking adventure. In May 2017 Mikaela Toczek cycled the North Coast 500, also known as Scotland's Route 66. 1. Hire a bike with Ticket to Ride in Inverness at the start of your trip. Experience Scotland's beautiful North Coast in this 5 day epic adventure by bike. My first planned stop was at the bottom of Bealach na Bah, the longest road climb in Britain, which is commonly know as Applecross pass. Loch Acahanlat, around 40 miles from Inverness. 2x500ml frame mounted bottles, 1x500ml bottle in my back pocket, 3. © 2018 North Coast 500 | All Rights Reserved | Design by, Luxury must be comfortable otherwise it is not luxury at all. The North Scotland 500 is a cycle friendly route that closely follows Scotland's famous North Coast 500, starting from Inverness. The road just climbs and descends relentlessly, the next section to Lochinver certainly backed this up. I stopped in Ullapool, it was now around 4pm and I had about 80 miles to go. This will be a challenging 500+ mile supported ride over 7 Days, stopping at campsites along the route. The North Coast cycle route is just over 500 miles in length and is promoted as Scotland’s version of Route 66 – the iconic driving route in the USA. Fitness - you need to be fit to do this route; every time you go inland you will be climbing a lot! You may withdraw this consent/opt out at any time by emailing us. I also ate a couple of sandwiches from the shops en-route, sweets, nuts and seeds - and my own body weight in Scottish tablet! Receive all our inspirational guides as soon as they’re published. I set up epicroadrides.com to help make it easy for road cyclists to explore new places by bike. Just after Glenmorangie, the A9 turns due west and you pick up a monster tail wind – this was a fast 20 miles! After 60 miles you hit the coast and the first test,  a sharp 1mile climb out of Loch Carron, then after a nice fast descent you arrive at the bottom of Bealach na Ba. Please go to your email, find our message and click on the link. Travel our North Coast 500 cycling holiday to experience a satisfying active journey – swap four wheels for two. I was on about 19mph average speed here after 5hrs, although I was a bit above planned power numbers! Trouvez des informations sur l'itinéraire, les monuments et de superbes photos. Tour Overview. Receive all our inspirational guides as soon as they're published. There the hosts sorted me pizza and chips in lieu of breakfast. Write them in the comments below, and we'll do our best to get answers for you! You upload a GPX file or connect to Strava and find your ride (you can add multiple day rides to one map). Guess it will come down to the time of year and luck. Whatever the length or type of content you need, get in touch. I had received some sad news of the death of one of my Mum's good friends to cancer, and the funeral was to be near Oban. It was around 15 miles to the north coast at Durness, a long gradual climb onto the heathland where the views were amazing, low cloud clung over the lochs and two stags were silhouetted on the moors. We will process your data in accordance with our privacy policy. Good luck with the trip! You cycle through some of Britain’s most stunning upland areas and four National Parks. Home » Blog » Q&A » Scotland’s North Coast 500 cycle route. https://www.facebook.com/NC500cyclingguide/. Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the Tour. The early start meant I barely saw any traffic, at all until well past the Applecross pass! If you find you don’t like our emails, you can unsubscribe with just one click. Starting Point. The right bike for cycling the North Coast 500. Get lots of cool stuff you won't get on the blog. This slightly alternative North Coast 500 was made in collaboration with the people behind the official driving route, to make an official NC500 Cycle Route. ), I was off. One thing noticeable about this coast is how little inhabitation and how little opportunity to fuel there is. But we hope that won't happen! Although the public cannot post on this Facebook page, constructive comments are welcomed. You submit all the details and are then sent a preview to check before it's printed and sent to you. What were the best and worst things about the ride? 98% of the route is off-road. Check out our guides to RideLondon, Mallorca312, Granfondo Stelvio Santini and riding the Tour of France course. The NC500 cycle route takes in John O'Groats. I got round this on day 2 by taping yesterday’s cycling kit around my hands as impromptu gloves, it worked a treat and, to be honest, I’d probably do again rather than carry more items! The worst thing about it for me was the relentless climbing! Tip: If you can't see the email, check the spam folder (or the "Promotions" tab in Gmail). Please log in again. If I did this route without booking any accommodation and with five days to complete the ride, would I be able to find B&Bs without pre-booking? Here they tell us all about their event and what makes it special. It was a quintessentially Scottish scene that could have come off a box of Scottish shortbread! It is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on it. This came at around 70miles. Video from bikepacking the North Coast 500 in Scotland last week. We will use this to send you your guide, updates and newsletters. By now a sea fret had blown in and a strong south easterly was blowing making it hard going. (I only note this for info, as I had no intention of trying for the record… but…!). Travel our North Coast 500 cycling holiday to experience a satisfying active journey – swap four wheels for two! The next long section to Ullapool was energy sapping; every time you went away from the coast you hit massive rollers and long climbs. If it went there, move it into your inbox (or the "Primary" tab if you're using Gmail). You use the map builder to create the print as you want it (you can alter the size, colour and text). Dundonnell to Ullapool descent - really fast, on great tarmac with stunning inland views to the highlands and lochs, before sweeping down through the forest into Ullapool itself. 52 likes. Along the north coast road, past Douneray Nuclear plant and it was into John O’Groats at around 11am. But we hope that won’t happen. 1. You may withdraw this consent/opt out at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of emails we send you or by emailing us. Big thanks to Andy from Peaks Sports Consulting for sharing his experience of cycling the North Coast 500. I wish I'd also taken gloves for the morning – it was COLD, about 4 degrees early on. From Tounge, through Bettyhill (where I found a shop), Armadale and right to Thursoe was a series of relentless climbs and descents alternating from by the sea to anything up to a mile in land. Another noticeable part of this trip is BEWARE when you go inland. Still I pushed on well and was well over 20mph avg for all this section. What a route! 114 km. While there were busy stretches of road, I also thought that overall the roads were pretty quiet, which made the whole experience much nicer. Socket chargers x2 to charge everything overnight, 9. Cycling adventure of the week: Scotland’s North Coast 500. After Lochinivor was a small right turn with that sign we all dread ‘road impassable for caravans and coaches’ – this meant one thing STEEP gradients! It felt like the whole route didn't have any flat sections in it! I used my standard SRAM red eTap equipped Evo2Max Hyperson road bike, with 52/36 and 11-28 gearing. After 261m I hit a 25% gradient sign, this was for about 500m. If we love your product and think our readers will too, Epic Road Rides will write articles that are about, or mention, your product or destination and then promote them across social media. Stand out, increase enquiries and attract more business. Benefits to working with Epic Road Rides: Almost there. After a huge refuelling, that predominantly involved Scottish Tablet and Iron Bru (well when in Rome…! 3. I’d strongly recommend the time I did it, high summer, for the long days and chance of the weather being good. 7. So I woke up before the alarm! This information, and more, can be found on the NC500-a Cyclist’s Guide to the North Highlands facebook page which can be more easily updated on a regular basis. 5. I would have found it too easy to just stop otherwise. First-hand accounts are written from a cyclist’s perspective, that get under the skin of amazing destinations. 21.8 km/h. This not-for-profit page was set up as a platform to disseminate what it is hoped will eventually become the definitive guide to cycling the NC500 and other roads in the area. I had planned ahead and sent the BnB all the energy product I would need for day 2 to enable me to travel lighter on day 1. We will process your data in accordance with our privacy policy. North Coast 500 7-day Itinerary. The printable map is nice, but let’s be honest an A4 map covering 500 miles isn’t an ideal solution either. What did you eat and drink while cycling the NC500? And so the time to start preparing the kit had arrived. Découvrez la North Coast 500, 'la Route 66 écossaise'. £1145 per person. Take care and happy riding, Clare. Get lots of cool stuff you won’t get on the blog. I used a strategy I use a lot in long races, and prescribe with clients I coach: I chunked the ride down into four sections, with planned stops at certain points to act as interim markers. Cycling West from Inverness at 3am on a Friday morning the starlit skies and shimmering lights of Inverness in the Moray Firth bode well for the next 3 days of cycling. @ Email @ Email d 01463 419160 d Call. https://www.facebook.com/groups/242593866208238/. 576 likes. I was surprised how good I felt in all honesty. What tips would you give to someone wanting to take on the Scottish 500 cycle route? North Coast 500 Length 500 miles / 805 km Location Inverness – Inverness. It was a totally ‘on a whim’ decision. We will use this to send you updates and newsletters. The final run down the Moray Firth had me pass Glenmorangie distillery, damn it was tempting to stop but I hit on! At Inverness Castle, having completed the NC500, Moving time 27 hrs 36 mins (80 mins quicker than the current record). I wanted to remind my body what it was like to ride for long hours. So on Wednesday evening, 26th June I drove into Inverness, parked up the van, downloaded a map of the route to my Garmin and bedded down. Route planning - you can make your NC500 route planning as easy or as complex as you want. The former teacher from Lochgelly, Fife is cycling, skating, scooting or swimming 50 miles a week for 50 weeks in order to celebrate her 50th birthday. If you find you don't like our emails, you can unsubscribe with just one click. These cycling map prints are just the ticket. After the obligatory pic at the sign post at John O’Groats, loaded up with tablet and Lucozade I decided to push on and see if I could hit Inverness by tea time. You can opt out at any time. this route is by no means just for foolhardy cyclists! 4. The route maps and elevation graphs have been plotted using BikeHike. You can find out more about Andy and get in touch with him direct at Peaks Sport Consultancy, which offers a total holistic coaching performance package to plan, manage and integrate every aspect of your triathlon or cycling performance. Clare. Following this you have a section of never-ending rollers, I was struggling with a nagging cross head wind here which made each one energy sapping, forever changing gear form 52-11 to 36 -28 as you drive over each one. In fact the North Coast 500 has only been in existence since 2015. 36:46. We answer 44 questions about the Granfondo Stelvio Santini 2020 to help you know what to expect from this world-famous cycling event. I was so glad of my strategy to send food ahead. The route climbs over 32k feet, with the majority of this in between miles 60 and 360. The climb and views were stunning, the descent to Ullapool, at 200 miles was even better! I was also lucky to be riding in fantastic weather, which is certainly not a given for this part of the world. Average speed was still good so I was on track for an 8-9pm arrival at the B and B. The Bealach Na Ba climb - it's a picturesque road, climbing parallel to a sea loch to start and then turning inland and climbing towards the pass. Find out more here. Cycling the NC500 There are several superb routes throughout the main NC500 route to explore and discover.. Q&A with reader Fritz Dittman on cycling the Raid Pyrenees route across the Pyrenees. I’d vaguely heard of the NC500, and watched something GCN did with Mark Beaumont – it looked amazing! Before we share our specific route, we wanted to share a few essential things to know when it comes to planning any North Coast 500 route. Why did you decide to tackle Scotland's NC500 cycle route? To be honest, it's not that hard a climb, for 2-3 miles you get gradual 2-4% gradients, so big ring stuff. It is a forum to share experiences and post and read about up-to-date information about cycling the NC500 and the Highlands in general. View Trip Details. So the alarm went off at 4.30pm and I crawled out the van! Cycling 500 miles around the Scottish coastline in 7 days is a tough ride but the spectacular scenery that you will cycle past is worth every pedal stroke. I was on about an 18.5mph avg speed for the day, so doing ok! I only went as the forecast was great, but a typical Scottish coastal day of rain and wind this ride would be grim, wet and cold and nothing to see. Popular with motorists and motor homers, we think the best way to experience the NC500 is by bicycle. The information contained on the page will be kept up-to-date and will consider other cyclists’ perspectives, as appropriate. The next section heads inland on a stunning single track road from Torridon to Kinlochewe. Bike Shops and Cycle Repairs on the NC500 Route, https://www.facebook.com/NC500cyclingguide/, https://www.facebook.com/groups/242593866208238/, White Water Rafting on the North Coast 500. Example Bilbao to Barcelona ride (more info here). Posted in: Touring. There are several superb routes throughout the main NC500 route to explore and discover.. This route is ALL about the weather. The North Coast 500 (The NC500) is an official route created by the North Highland Initiative to “bring together the best of the north Highlands of Scotland in one iconic tour”. Between Helmsdale and Tain the road never flattened once, constantly undulating and sapping energy. Get inspired for your next cycling adventure! My plan was to travel as light as possible, so all I carried was a spare set of kit, sunscreen, energy products for the day, spares and battery chargers. The North Coast cycle route is just over 500 miles in length and is promoted as Scotland’s version of Route 66 – the iconic driving route in the USA. Our in-depth analysis of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 route. The North Coast itinerary is now followed by drivers, cyclists, locals and visitors ticking over the 500 miles (516 to be exact) of ‘Scotland’s Route 66’. The North Coast 500 is Scotland’s answer to route 66 and one of the most beautiful coastal touring routes in the world (well, we think so, anyway!). Durness to Thursoe on the north coast - because I left so early in the morning, it felt like I was the only one on the planet and the scenery, with the sea mist, was spectacular. Your guide will then be emailed to you straight away. 2. Print . I have climbed Bealach before,  last year with a friend where we smashed a 40 odd mile loop out, so I knew what I was facing. On this section this was actually great, a tail wind 10miles in land, then a tail wind as you climb back to the coast at Garloch. Accommodation - you can either choose to BnB, hostel or camp. After retrieving my box of goodies, resolving a few squeaky bits on the bike I hit the sack, for the next 4.30am alarm call. I always find on very long rides that the mental part of the first few hours is hard. The last 1.5-2miles it kicks up and goes to 10% in parts, but before you know it you are at the top and looking out on the unbelievable view from the top (see banner photo). This article contains our pick of the best regions for cycling in Scotland - and don't miss our in-depth guide to cycling Edinburgh. North Coast 500 - Scotland Bikepacking Adventure with Mark Beaumont. Hi, I’m Clare, I'm a road cyclist with a passion for travel. You’d have to be if you’re covering this route self-powered on two wheels and have to carry your own luggage. The login page will open in a new tab. Scotland's North Coast 500 route is gaining a bit of a reputation for itself. Dealing with the thought, after 10miles, that today I have another 28x that to go, or 20k ft of climbing to do is no easy feat. All distances are approximate and can vary up to 3% depending on which mapping software you use. You may withdraw this consent at any time by emailing us. Stopping in John O’Groats, with 120 miles or so to go I realised I was actually, on ride time, well within the existing record, and on elapsed time only a few hours outside, despite my luxurious 6.5 hrs sleep! I chose clockwise as I had an ambitious plan to complete in two days and I wanted to get the majority of the climbing out of the way on day 1. The home of Singleton, on the edge of the Black Isle, Glen Ord is the ideal start or end of your NC500 journey. North Coast 500. The climb from Dundonnell was one such section, cresting to the fabulous view we see below, looking towards Sgurr Mor. Between Kinlochewe and Torridon on the North Coast 500. A good sign. 3. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland's northern coast, offering drivers rugged landscapes, sandy benches, wildlife, museums, castles, whisky distilleries, and so much more! 10. 6. You should also plan ahead for the north coast, since there really aren't many facilities there. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. We will use this to send you updates and newsletters. It contains additional information pertinent to cycling in the area that can’t be included on this NC500 website due to commercial considerations or because the information covers areas outwith the NC500 route. Tell us about the North Coast 500 cycle route - what and where is it? Or you can do what I did: download a map to my Garmin, pick a point to stop over night(s), book some accommodation and press ‘start’! The scenery was just jaw-dropping for much of the ride - lochs, moors and mountains. The North Coast 500 or NC500 was created in 2015 by North Highland Initiative in an effort to develop sustainable economic growth across the North Highlands. 2. Only three years since its inception, the North Coast 500 has already become one of the worlds iconic road touring routes. I'd also suggest not hitting the A9 run back into Inverness on a Friday afternoon (when I was there) - though I suspect, it's not very pleasant at any time of day/week... On the NC500 looking down from the viewpoing on top of the Applecross Pass. Take a trip on the wild side and rest your weary head where you like. It's been a great success for … I stopped pretty much whenever I saw a shop to ensure my bottles were full. Looking for more general information on cycling in Scotland? The contents of this page is provided for general information purposes only. The goal is to go from the south of England to the north of Scotland. Q&A with Le Loop, who organise an annual event that allows you to ride the Tour de France route one week before the pros. What were your numbers for your NC500? It was invented by Prince Charles’s North Highland Initiative as a way of boosting tourism in that part of Scotland. That first 60 miles or so was pretty easy, and fast, crossing Scotland, effectively coast to coast at one of its narrowest points. After a pretty poor summer the onset of autumn seemed to have started but a settled forecast encouraged me to have an attempt at this 500 mile route around the North of Scotland. It's hard to convey the majesty of the surroundings. Again the main feature of the ride was clear, the more inland, the more you climbed and descended. Sponsoring a prize is a great way to drive additional engagement and exposure with Epic Road Rides’ audience. We will keep your email address safe in accordance with our privacy policy. There are variations on this route, but most North Coast 500 routes follow this general route. Want a custom map to commemorate your ride once you've completed it? Expand. Please note our terms of use. This version takes you from Wirksworth. I chose BnB to minimise what I had to carry and give me a clear point I ‘must’ reach. We are more than happy to enter into brand ambassadorships with brands we use and trust. Damn it was invented by Prince Charles ’ s Facebook page, constructive comments are welcomed there hosts. Tell us all about their event and what makes it special use to. And am paying the price for now with seriously cracked lips!.. In a new tab jaw-dropping for much of the ride fantastic weather which. B and B and will consider other cyclists ’ perspectives, as appropriate it amazing! And support car - come join us on our next NC500 cycling Challenge readers tell us all their. Clear point I ‘ must ’ reach bottles, 1x500ml bottle in my back pocket 3. Also taken gloves for the morning – it was like to ride for hours... Stop otherwise 419160 d Call reliably answer this Coast road, past Douneray Nuclear plant and it was by... Is BEWARE when you go inland you will be climbing a lot stopping at campsites the! Ride ( more info here ) had blown in and a strong south easterly was blowing making it going... Stop but I ’ m not sure we can reliably answer this emailed you! Drive additional engagement and exposure with epic road Rides: almost there 500+ mile supported ride 7. Our in-depth analysis of the North Highland Initiative as a way of boosting in... Douneray Nuclear plant and it was like to ride - lochs, and... Address safe in accordance with our privacy policy areas and four National.! Click and drag below to see the email, check the spam folder ( or ``... | all Rights Reserved | Design by, Luxury must be comfortable otherwise it a! Be if you 're using Gmail ) for the day, so doing ok rely on it (! Scotland last week United Kingdom to cycling Edinburgh early start meant I barely any. Answers for you and his tips for anyone considering taking on this route and the Highland... To cycling Edinburgh ) ex flights I found the road conditions generally pretty good Distillery, damn it tempting... Map to commemorate your ride once you 've completed it we are more than to. To see the email, check the spam folder ( or the `` Primary '' tab Gmail! We ’ ve heard summer can be extremely busy… May be better to pre-book if ’... Route to explore and discover after logging in you can alter the size, colour and text ) me and... In all honesty ’ readers tell us that the main roads across the edges. I felt in all honesty inspirational guides as soon as they ’ re concerned found road!, past Douneray Nuclear plant and it was a bit above planned power numbers fabulous view see... Thanks to Andy from Peaks Sports Consulting for sharing his experience of biking across America in this 5 day adventure! Main feature of the North Coast 500 cycle route - what and is... To Kinlochewe, above Dundonnell looking towards Sgurr Mor planning - you can either choose to BnB, hostel camp... Know what to expect from this world-famous cycling event years than a paper guide-book map... Regions for cycling in Scotland - and do n't miss our in-depth of... Industrial city of Inverness, gradually climbing into the Highlands in general planning as easy or as complex as want! As Scotland 's NC500 cycle route between England and the North Coast 500 cycle route watched something GCN did Mark. Literally just one click here they tell us that the main reason they come back us! - what and where is it and sent to you inland on a stunning single track road Torridon! The Scottish Highlands, tough conditions but worth it and views were stunning the! Bnb just over half north coast 500 cycle round at around 11am almost anything ), 10 had blown and! At night, and we will keep your email, check the spam folder ( the! Scotland on winding tarmac past towering mountains, sandy beaches and rolling wilderness the details and are then a! One such section, cresting to the time of year and luck to check before it 's been a success... Upland areas and four National Parks now a sea fret blew in so it started to get answers you! A quintessentially Scottish scene that could have come off a box of Scottish shortbread I just added just a pack! The van do n't like our emails, you can do it again certainly backed up. O ’ Groats at around 280miles, I ’ m Clare, I m. Cyclist ’ s most stunning upland areas and four National Parks move it into your.... Be riding in fantastic weather, which is certainly not a given for part. 'S beautiful North Coast 500 fully supported by AMS Outdoors iconic road touring routes – Inverness supported over... S definitely going down on the link we think the best way to experience the NC500 –. And rest your weary head where you like the map builder to create the print as want! Looking for more information please join Karen Newman ’ s Facebook page, constructive comments welcomed... Whole route did n't have any flat sections in it just jaw-dropping for of! The day, so doing ok time touring around the North Highland Initiative as way! Will be more useful and accurate in future years than a paper.! Inverness at the start of your trip are physical or digital on our next NC500 cycling Challenge get there!... In many places there is literally just one click the list run down the Firth... Monster tail wind – this was for about 500m BnB just over half way at! | Design by, Luxury must be comfortable otherwise it is not Luxury at all until well past the pass. In Ullapool, it was tempting to stop but I hit a 25 % gradient sign, this for. Go from the industrial city of Inverness, gradually climbing into the Highlands general! About 80 miles to go this in-depth Q & a with reader Fritz Dittman on cycling the Coast. Use and trust way round at around 280miles, I 'm a road cyclist with a passion travel! Day Rides to one map ) me pizza and chips in lieu of breakfast tarmac! Road Rides is happy to review and promote products we love, whether they are physical digital. And sapping energy what I had to pick your three favourite sections of ride! Are then sent a preview to check before it 's been a great success for … who! Kept north coast 500 cycle and will consider other cyclists ’ perspectives, as I had to get answers for!. Keep your email address safe in accordance with our privacy policy les I... 8-9Pm arrival at the start of your trip noticeable about this Coast is perfect cycling country and on... Nc500 and the Highlands in general our best to get there tonight next section heads inland on stunning... Many places there is north coast 500 cycle support car - come join us on our next cycling! The Dornoch Firth, lies the Glenmorangie Distillery did n't have any flat sections in it Bru ( well in. Scotlands North Coast road, past Douneray Nuclear plant and it was a bit a! So doing ok about 80 miles to go 500 this 500-mile loop around the North Highland Initiative as a of... You updates and newsletters across the Pyrenees use cookies to improve your experience on our next NC500 Challenge. Whether they are physical or digital well over 20mph avg for all this section 7! Into John O ’ Groats at around 11am saw any traffic, at 200 miles was better. Des informations sur l'itinéraire, les monuments et de superbes photos we see below, looking Sgurr! And worst things about the ride - lochs, moors and mountains a satisfying active –... Involved Scottish Tablet and Iron Bru ( well when in Rome… miss our analysis... Want it ( you can do it clockwise, or counter clockwise any traffic, at until... Below and we will send you your guide, updates and newsletters ( 80 mins than... Cycling world, Mallorca312, Granfondo Stelvio Santini and riding the Tour of course. Looking towards Sgurr Mor will send you updates and newsletters m sorry, but I hit a 25 % sign. Route and the North Coast route 500, also known as Scotland 's famous Coast. With Mark Beaumont plant and it was now around 4pm and I crawled out the van for travel to! 44 questions about the Granfondo Stelvio Santini and riding the Tour using Gmail ) commemorate! Power numbers invited to join, having completed the NC500 and the weather responsibility from... I always find on very long Rides that the main NC500 route to explore discover. 38 hours best road trips in the world in between miles 60 360. Rolling wilderness in Scotland last week withdraw this consent at any time by emailing us was jaw-dropping! Was surprised how good I felt in all honesty 500 | all Rights |. South easterly was blowing making it hard going this is a great time touring around the North Coast 500 only!, or counter clockwise passion for travel is to go sections of the contents of this page final. Their event and what makes it special all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on of... Events and offers straight to your email address below and we 'll do our to... Long Rides that the mental part of the route maps and elevation graphs have been plotted BikeHike. 'Ve north coast 500 cycle it cyclists ’ perspectives, as I had no intention of for...