Last weekend thirteen women and thirteen bikes gathered at Inverness's Velocity Bike Cafe, ready to ride the North Coast 500 - this time not as a 36-hour team time trial, but as a far more civilised eight-day tour. Surely you’ll be moving so fast the midge won’t keep up with you? He’s always done heaps of road biking far more than he’s ever done on an mtb. We drove from Aberdeen to Inverness, although it is possible to arrive by plane, bus or train. Hi The Victorian Spa town of Strathpeffer sits in the glorious Highland landscape surrounded by sweeping valleys, rushing waterfalls and sky-high mountains. There are some sections I would avoid as they are really not good for cycling (but then I am not used to urban cycling and traffic). Tongue-Helmsdale via Thurso and John o’Groats, 114m, 7000ft This blog will hopefully give any potential cyclists an insight into what to bring and how to prepare! Last weekend thirteen women and thirteen bikes gathered at Inverness's Velocity Bike Cafe, ready to ride the North Coast 500 - this time not as a 36-hour team time trial, but as a far more civilised eight-day tour. Choose from a range of point to point guided road cycling holidays like the Coast to Coast, Outer Hebrides and North Coast 500. If you can afford it, there are plenty guest houses on the route but ensure you book in advance. If you plan to speed around, you could do it with 3 full days … One is to head to Bonar Bridge and then take the high road to Alness/Evanton and Dingwall. Will have a look at the variations Colin, cheers. North Coast 500 cycle tour, a unique experience. Both days were fantastic though and the fact we broke these two days early on meant we could relax a bit from day 4 onwards. I’m getting ahead of myself – that’s day 5, a cold wet Thurso day, on my journey cycling the north coast 500. Here are a few things we’d advise you to do if you’re doing a similar trip. Being able to store our camping kit/food/clothes in the car whilst we cycled was invaluable. In the first part of this blog I share why I decided to cycle alone for a week, covering 530 miles, on some of Scotland’s hilliest roads. The North Coast 500 website has tips on what to do should you encounter animals on the route, though locals have said tourists are stopping to take pictures. fraochmor – thanks for the long post and the promise of more cycling stuff on the website soon, sounds good. Golspie to inverness – 60 miles ok butthe wind – the A9 gets busy. We opted to complete the ride in eight days (many people do less with the record of 31 hours set by James McCallum) but looking back, I wish we would have given ourselves nine or even 10 days. If you cycle it watch out for the level crossing at Garve and walk it as signed!! There is also a cycle track which mostly runs next to the A835 after Dingwall and then the A9 to the Kessock bridge. 98% of the route is off-road. If you can afford it, there are plenty guest houses on the route but ensure you book in advance. Helmsdale-Inverness via Glenmorangie Distillery and Dingwall, 73m, 3000ft. There’s work to be done to create a cycling version of the. [/quote The road back from Shieldaig to the bottom of the Bealach was very good too(and a nice café). Carefully plan your route. Anyone else been and cycled it this summer or planning a trip? Today you’ll drive through the rest of the North West Highlands Geopark so it … This version takes you from Wirksworth. It is important to plan ahead! Over the course of 7 days, we will cycle from Inverness over to the inimitable west coast of Scotland and back round to the east for some truly magical cycling. 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”. For anyone that’s done it, does this sound like an ok itinerary? Applecross - Inverness Only had one camper van on the Bealach Na Ba and that was around 1030 in the morning on a sunny day. Classifieds Rules That said, we did it in August and had a week of glorious sunshine without a breath of wind, so the only hard and fast rule is that there are no hard and fast rules! North Coast 500 Route Map. Take some extra strong bug spray, and I’d recommend a midge head net for when things really get tough. Full Official North Coast 500 Route - 503.7 mi, +30443 ft. Bike ride in Inverness, Scotland If you have the budget and want to explore the route at an even more sedate pace, relax as an NC500 2020 summer staycation holiday, or just have more time exploring the glorious wilderness of the Scottish Highlands, then you'll love two weeks. The new North Coast 500 road trip is Scotland’s answer to America’s Route 66. Same for the one south of Achnasheen at Balnacra – if you do cycle, weave to cross the rails at as close to 90deg as possible. It was a fantastic ride but very tough. Jimmy Mac did it in June, smashing the record, and raising a bunch of cash for charity. Day 1 . In many ways, the route as it stands does end in an anti-climax. The other is to head for Tain then Nigg for the ferry (which is due to be re-instated this summer). 14 OTE gels … The minimum number of days we’d recommend to drive the North Coast 500 is 5 days, but 7 to 10 days would be ideal. Experience Scotland's beautiful North Coast in this 5 day epic adventure by bike. In my view this is a great way to do it as the last thing you want to be doing is having to churn out 100 mile+ days when you are exhausted from 4 days on the bike already. Inverness to applecross North Coast 500. Mrs Felltop is in correspondence with them, and they seem to be receptive to ideas. The North Scotland 500 is a cycle friendly route that closely follows Scotland's famous North Coast 500, starting from Inverness. Day Zero. The goal is to go from the south of England to the north of Scotland. You won’t find any NC500 signs but navigation is very easy, especially once you get beyond the network of minor roads out east between Tain, Inverness and Contin. Day 3. ullapool to tongue Ensure your tents are waterproof (not a £10 Sports Direct job) and can handle wind. £875.00 based on 2 people sharing a … This 500 mile coastal route spans the north coast of the Highlands taking in the best bits of this glorious region. The Bealach Na Ba, Torridon, Laide, Assynt… They all work best in that direction. Perhaps even pick up some supplies for s’mores and set up a campfire! Forum Rules Please adjust accordingly to your capabilities as this itinerary is aimed at the serious cyclist. In 2019, this new 800-mile mainly off-road and carfree cycle route between England and the north coast of Scotland was created. This has been a dummy run ahead of our world cycle so if you would like to hear more you can sign up to our blog, and/or check out our website here. I live on the west coast on the NC500 route and do a lot of cycling on these roads. Ta. Bikepacking Scotland's North Coast 500 In Three Days | Si's Ultra Endurance Challenge Published on April 28th 2019. The road back from Shieldaig to the bottom of the Bealach was very good too(and a nice café). Many of the roads are single track and are home to highland coos, sheep, geese and all manner of other travellers. We left Inverness, driving over the Telford Street bridge to and made our first stop in Beauly. This route has been recently branded the “North Coast 500” and has been a … The brilliant route around Scotland's north coast by touring bike over 10 days in July 2019. Never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland's finest coastal scenery are just a few things you can expect along the North Coast 500.Strap yourself in for the road trip of a lifetime. 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! Great cycling roads up there, but I’d echo what others have said; don’t get too hung up on following the official route. And remember its 520 odd miles, not 500! Bikepacking Scotland\'s North Coast 500 In Three Days | Si\'s Ultra Endurance Challenge Most drivers are kind to cyclists ascending long steep climbs. Be ready for the roller-coaster of a road as you head South East around the coast back to Sheildaig – great fun on empty roads but narrow with poor sight lines when the trees are in full leaf. Just ensure you clean up after yourself and leave no trace. On the first day we made it to Applecross which meant crossing Bealach-na-Ba (ranked as the UK’s hardest climb on a bike) after an already long day, and then spinning out a 117 mile day to Ullapool the next day which was among the hilliest, most technical cycling I’ve ever done. In August 2016 four of us tackled the NC500 as a rehearsal for our round the world cycle trip. But next week the 32-year-old will get on his bike to cycle the scenic 516-mile North Coast 500 loop. Inchnadamph-Tongue via Kylesku and Durness – 100m, 9000ft Even though he drove it over six days he wished he had more time each day. If you prefer your own space and use of a kitchen, self-contained apartments will be the best option for you. 98% of the route is off-road. North Coast 500 route maps are made easily available online plan your route around Scotland's Route66 NC500 with google maps & plan your route around the Coasts of the Northern Scottish Highlands as you drive through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, visit famous location made popular by movies like Braveheart filmed in Glen Nevis by Fort William Firstly, which season are you embarking in? Also practice drafting, as working together can considerably improve your efficiency on the bike. We are thinking of doing it again this year but over 7 days. I should also add that while the East Coast section has its merits, returning via Alltnaharra is by far the better option. If you plan to speed around, you could do it with 3 full days and night, but we’d recommend more time. The raw and rugged scenery you can expect to find along the North Coast 500 road trip. We’re getting quite a few enquiries at work about it. You could miss out on some fantastic and very quiet alternatives. Durness to JOG – 93 miles – easier the further east you go How Long SHOULD you spend on the NC500 is the better question to ask, and to that my answer is between 7-14 days.When we first set off on the North Coast 500, we spent a total of 8 days … Would love to spend longer doing it, but limits on holidays / family commitments probably means 5 days maximum. Make sure you have lights though. You don’t have to travel the entire route to take in the beauty though. Length: Expect to spend a minimum of 5-7 days along the route. Newsletter Settings, Cut off date for issue 135 of Singletrack is the 25th January - You need to join us by this date in order to receive the next issue. Would that avoid peak midge time on the west coast? The route starts in the northern city of Inverness, then weaves along the west coast to Applecross and then northwards towards the bustling towns of Torridon and Ullapool. Davy Zyw. We met plenty of visitors who came just to travel just for a few days traveling up from the city and either started their trip on the east or west coast. This simple and spacious site will allow you to take out the awning, and enjoy the final of many North Coast 500 campsites. Jog to Golspie – 70 miles -OK but the wind! Experience the unique scenery of the west coast from rugged coastlines, white sandy beaches to dramatic mountain peaks. Fully supported with experienced ride guide and support car - come join us on our next NC500 Cycling Challenge. I’d much rather take that than the A835/A837 to Inchnadamph. It brings some much needed income and tourism to some of the more remote areas certainly and that in turn means better facilities but eventually it leads to a tipping point where you end up with gridlocked traffic and roads that while they’re fine for 3 cars an hour can’t cope with 8 camper vans meeting head on! I think he’s mad, I’ve never been into road biking. This more bike-friendly course takes in smaller roads on the West Coast, that motorhomes and caravans can't go on and away from the busy A9 on the East Coast, as well as including the beautiful Black Isle. Clockwise or anticlockwise? So I’m further enthused! North Coast 500 Apartments. The Bealach Cafe – very nice indeed and the Whistlestop at Kinlochewe, seem to see lots of our ex-pupils working in these in the holidays! This was part of a recent mini tour and have to agree it was wonderful. Helmsdale to Inverness, Just seen the wee taster vid or the girls who did it in 36hrs non stop. 128K likes. Trying to ride it in five days is going to be tough, and you’ll miss out on off-bike time to enjoy places along the route. This route has been recently branded the “, In August 2016 four of us tackled the NC500 as a rehearsal for our, My attitude whenever going outdoors in Scotland, is to pack for wind, rain and cold – any weather better than this is a bonus. the last two days were into a head wind all day – all day!!! I go up and camp at Clachtoll in the van. Our on-the-road approach to cycle tours balances great guiding and insights, alongside super snacks and the freedom to explore at your own pace. I made a film about it (1st cam op) and the charity are using it internally to gain investment, etc, It was beautiful, and I wish I was riding (three of my clubmates, one being the creative director rode it), [video] https://vimeo.com/147333350 [/video]. Little sports cars like MX-5s. The descent to Applecross has some great fast sections but some blind bends as well. It’s stunning though, I’ll be back fat biking around Assent with a fishing rod attached to my pack next year. The Bealach na Ba over to Applecross and around the coast to Sheildaig is fabulous (my favourite ride). Fingers crossed weather holds fir next 2-3 weeks! Kapka Kassabova gets her kicks from wild beaches, high passes and spooky ruins We opted to complete the ride in eight days (many people do less with the record of 31 hours set by James McCallum) but looking back, I wish we would have given ourselves nine or even 10 days. He’s shared a video of his trip at: https://vimeo.com/171766940. This detailed day-by-day 1 week North Coast 500 road trip itinerary covers all the basic details (mileage, general route) and sightseeing highlights along the approximately 500 mile route. 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. If you’re doing the opposite, and cruising dow… The minimum number of days we’d recommend to drive the North Coast 500 is 5 days, but 7 to 10 days would be ideal. That’s coming from some European riders too. Walled Garden Cafe at Applecross isn’t to be missed to re-fule after the Bealach! Link Removal A truly unique Scottish cycling experience, our 7 day North Coast 500 is incredible. Scotroutes missed yiur reply – many thanks and yeah there was a guy called Onion who got in a lot of trouble for talking about that ferry crossing . Thanks chaps. For extreme tourers this would maybe be fun, but given our level of fitness, it would have been impossible to complete the route in 6 days with so much additional weight. In my view this is a great way to do it as the last thing you want to be doing is having to churn out 100 mile+ days when you are exhausted from 4 days on the bike already. None of us ride competitively, or for a club, but we can all cover 100 miles in a day and tackle some tasty hills. Ride the best sections of the spectacular NC 500 touring route. Applecross to ullapool We’d suggest reading this in parallel with our other North Coast 500 content, which includes our guide to planning a North Coast 500 road trip, our seven day NC500 camping itinerary (you can switch out campsites for B&Bs! Including the Nigg ferry will help (just don’t ask what the locals are called). https://www.twoscotsabroad.com/free-north-coast-500-itinerary Or I’d do it away from predictably busy times. I’m thinking of this time next year. The Route - North Coast 500. We were treated to a week of stunning sunshine and so thankfully brought the sunscreen, but it still gets cold at night so ensure you pack warm clothes even when the forecast is good. You plan your ideal North Coast 500 cycling holiday to experience the NC500 this year but over 7 days stopping. 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