- Joined
- May 27, 2010
- Messages
- 369
After cancelling our pre booked trip to Corsica in October 2020, we looked around for something to take its place, the restrictions at the beginning of the month were ok to travel round the north of Scotland, so, off we go.
We live in Essex and so we planned to make a stop in the Lake District as we travelled north. The fact was there was no accommodation available where we wanted to be, so, Carlisle it was. What a result! Lovely hotel great food, perfect for me and the Duchess.
We travelled in my 80 Bruiser and I don’t drive that fast as I like to enjoy the drive, we soon made it up to Inverness the start of the NC500.
The NC 500 is a route around the north coast taking in John O’Groats on the east / north side then going west around back to Inverness.
we chose to do it anti clockwise as we were told the West side was far more beautiful ( scenery wise) than the east and this is true, so as we travelled it became more beautiful, The route is not at all challenging, mostly narrow roads with passing places, but dramatic coastal views around Doun Reay Atomic power Station on the northern part, and the weather can be challenging, driving wind and rain, then lovely sunshine and blue sky.
so although appearing bleak at times strangely awesome at the same time.
For our accommodation we chose luxury hotels, very expensive, we had a big budget as we had the money we normally spend in Corsica, and this was the substitute holiday, Substitute? Well at first we thought the “ booby prize“ , Mistake!, it was great! We absolutely loved it. ( moral here, something about sausage and skins) We didn’t find it remote or cut off anything like that, eg there is a Tesco’s in Thurso not far from John O’ Groats.
but none can deny the stunning beauty of the country. Back to accommodation, as we are belt and braces we took quality stout camping gear as we also heard it can be difficult to find lodgings, well, it was, decent average price BnB was sparse, ( out of season, scared of Covid?) we don’t know, lots of places with “ No Vacancies” Signs up. High end hotels easier to find space, enough campsites but we also heard they only allow people with their own toilet facilities and locked up their toilets etc only to have chemical disposal, this is not “ official information“ and may be wrong. Lots of Camper vans ( we call them chip vans, don’t ask) we only saw one campsite with tents erected, not surprising with the windy condition.
we finished by going on to the Isle of Skye, good move as it’s lovely.
There are no highlights, it’s all great, It’s not froading I know, but I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed it. We met like minded 4x4 ers in both directions, we ate lovely seafood ( en route for lunch) the “Seafood Shack” in Ullapool was great, ( shuts at 6)
On the route if it’s your thing there are things to do and places to visit, Distilleries, Whisky, Gin and Rum. Loch Ness ( Inverness) various manor houses and Museums. You can be busy if you want, you can probably tell we had a great time.
wil I do it again? You bet.
Best regards to all, Bill Westley
We live in Essex and so we planned to make a stop in the Lake District as we travelled north. The fact was there was no accommodation available where we wanted to be, so, Carlisle it was. What a result! Lovely hotel great food, perfect for me and the Duchess.
We travelled in my 80 Bruiser and I don’t drive that fast as I like to enjoy the drive, we soon made it up to Inverness the start of the NC500.
The NC 500 is a route around the north coast taking in John O’Groats on the east / north side then going west around back to Inverness.
we chose to do it anti clockwise as we were told the West side was far more beautiful ( scenery wise) than the east and this is true, so as we travelled it became more beautiful, The route is not at all challenging, mostly narrow roads with passing places, but dramatic coastal views around Doun Reay Atomic power Station on the northern part, and the weather can be challenging, driving wind and rain, then lovely sunshine and blue sky.
so although appearing bleak at times strangely awesome at the same time.
For our accommodation we chose luxury hotels, very expensive, we had a big budget as we had the money we normally spend in Corsica, and this was the substitute holiday, Substitute? Well at first we thought the “ booby prize“ , Mistake!, it was great! We absolutely loved it. ( moral here, something about sausage and skins) We didn’t find it remote or cut off anything like that, eg there is a Tesco’s in Thurso not far from John O’ Groats.
but none can deny the stunning beauty of the country. Back to accommodation, as we are belt and braces we took quality stout camping gear as we also heard it can be difficult to find lodgings, well, it was, decent average price BnB was sparse, ( out of season, scared of Covid?) we don’t know, lots of places with “ No Vacancies” Signs up. High end hotels easier to find space, enough campsites but we also heard they only allow people with their own toilet facilities and locked up their toilets etc only to have chemical disposal, this is not “ official information“ and may be wrong. Lots of Camper vans ( we call them chip vans, don’t ask) we only saw one campsite with tents erected, not surprising with the windy condition.
we finished by going on to the Isle of Skye, good move as it’s lovely.
There are no highlights, it’s all great, It’s not froading I know, but I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed it. We met like minded 4x4 ers in both directions, we ate lovely seafood ( en route for lunch) the “Seafood Shack” in Ullapool was great, ( shuts at 6)
On the route if it’s your thing there are things to do and places to visit, Distilleries, Whisky, Gin and Rum. Loch Ness ( Inverness) various manor houses and Museums. You can be busy if you want, you can probably tell we had a great time.
wil I do it again? You bet.
Best regards to all, Bill Westley
