As we reached the final leg of our NC500 road trip, we were ready for a couple of slower-paced days to rest and recharge. Our base for this stretch was a cosy little Airbnb in Lochinver, where we finally had a chance to catch our breath and catch up on some much-needed washing! From there, we began the journey south, travelling via Ullapool and the stunning west coast to Loch Carron, before leaving the official NC500 route and heading towards Fort Augustus on Loch Ness. We were kindly invited to spend a couple of nights with Abbey Holidays Loch Ness, staying in one of their beautiful self-catering cottages within the historic Highland Club — the perfect place to round off our adventure.

After driving up the east coast of Scotland on the NC500, we arrived at Halkirk, a small village in Caithness and were welcomed at the Ulbster Arms Hotel for a 3-night stay so we could explore this far north east corner of the British Isles.  The Ulbster Arms is the ideal mid-way stop if you are driving the NC500, it is also a popular hotel for fishing breaks and it is family and dog-friendly too.  It is located on the River Thurso and our room had a really pretty view from it's corner vantage point overlooking the bridge and river below.

I originally planned to stay in this area for 2-nights but when I discovered the Castle of Mey did not open to the public until 1st May ... I adjusted my itinerary.  We were still unable to visit on a public opening day but I was able to book a private tour ... more on that further down!

The north-east corner of Caithness offers rugged coastal scenery, windswept moorlands, and charming Highland villages. From our base in Halkirk, we passed through the vibrant town of Wick, visited the iconic John O’Groats, the north eastern tip of mainland Britain, and nearby Dunnet Head, the true northernmost point, with its striking cliffs and lighthouse overlooking the Pentland Firth.  This region is wild, remote, and full of surprises and was a a great introduction to the raw beauty of the Highlands.

Arriving at Eagle Brae truly took our breath away, it’s absolutely incredible, and I’m not sure any words (or even photos!) can fully capture the magic of this unique lodge accommodation in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. I’ll be sharing some  (a lot) of my favourite photos throughout this post to give you a glimpse into just how special this place is but really you need to visit and see it in person, it's one of those must-go to locations!

Planning our Scottish road trip took hours of research - from figuring out the best NC500 route to choosing where to stay each night - so if you’re planning your own adventure, I hope my series of Scottish blog posts will help save you some time and inspire your itinerary.  It is a very real account of our trip with all the best tips to make it a bit easier!

We left our home near Marlow in Bucks and stayed overnight in the Lake District before heading north to Scotland, with Eagle Brae as our first destination on this epic 11-day road trip. Whether you’re looking to start your NC500 itinerary from a peaceful base or simply want to slow down and explore the Highlands, Eagle Brae is perfectly located near to Inverness. For us, it was the ideal two-night stay to relax, recharge, and ease into the journey ahead.

We did it! What began as a simple PR invitation to stay at a hotel on the far north coast of Scotland turned into an unforgettable 11-night adventure - including 7 incredible days driving the iconic North Coast 500 Scotland route.

If you’re not yet familiar with it, the NC500, short for the North Coast 500, is a 516-mile scenic loop around the northern Highlands, often described as "Scotland’s Route 66." Starting and ending in Inverness, the NC500 route takes you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country - think rugged coastlines, dramatic mountains, peaceful lochs, ancient castles and sweeping beaches. It’s widely regarded as one of the most beautiful road trips in the world.

When the email from the Ulbster Arms in Halkirk, Caithness landed in my inbox, I had never even heard of the NC500. I looked at the map and thought, Wow, that’s a long way from home… but if I don’t say yes, will I ever get the chance again? I mentioned it to my son, and without hesitation, he said, “You have to do it and you have to drive the NC500!” Fortunately my husband was keen too!

With three PR stays confirmed, including the original invitation, I set about planning our NC500 itinerary. In this blog post and the following ones too, I'm be sharing our full route, how we tackled it in just 7 days, and everything we learned along the way. From the highlights we’d recommend to the things we might do differently next time, this is my personal travel guide to experiencing the NC500 in midlife.

If you’re thinking of adding the North Coast 500 Scotland to your travel bucket list — do it! It was a magical trip, and we loved every moment, even when the Scottish weather decided to show us all its moods - although I will be honest, we were very lucky in that regard!
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The NC500 was officially launched in March 2015 by the North Highlands Tourism Project Board, and they’ve done a brilliant job making the region accessible and enjoyable. Facilities were clean and easy to find, the route was well signposted, and despite my initial concerns - will we find enough toilet stops? Will we get lost? Will it be too much driving? - everything worked out better than I expected. Yes, it’s a lot of driving, but there are plenty of stops and scenic pauses to break it up.