North Coast 500: The Scottish Highlands Loop (5 Days)

The North Coast 500 loops more than 800 km around the northern Highlands from Inverness and back — one of Europe’s great coastal drives. You drive on the left, and much of the far north is single-track road with passing places, so be patient and pull in to let faster traffic by. Scotland has no road tolls. Five days is a comfortable minimum; a week lets you slow down.

Day 1 — Inverness to Applecross (150 km)

Head west into the mountains. The Bealach na Bà pass to Applecross is one of Britain’s most dramatic and steepest roads — skip it in a large vehicle or bad weather and take the gentler coast road instead. Sleep in Applecross or Shieldaig.

Day 2 — Applecross to Ullapool (150 km)

A spectacular coast road under the peaks of Torridon, past Gairloch, to the pretty fishing port of Ullapool.

Day 3 — Ullapool to Durness (150 km)

The wild far northwest — the strange isolated mountains of Assynt and the white beaches around Durness. Detour to the Smoo Cave.

Day 4 — Durness to John o’Groats (180 km)

The exposed north coast to John o’Groats, with a detour to Dunnet Head, mainland Britain’s most northerly point. Watch for surfers at Thurso.

Day 5 — John o’Groats to Inverness (200 km)

Down the gentler east coast past Dunrobin Castle and back to Inverness to close the loop.

Costs

Use the cost calculator to price fuel and nights for your exact dates. There are no tolls to budget for, but fuel stations are sparse in the far north — fill up when you can. Highland accommodation books out fast in summer, so reserve beds and a car early.

This trip is also in the free Roadcut trip planner: change the number of days and where you sleep each night, pick your vehicle to see the fuel cost, check the weather on the road, and open each day in Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.