The best seafood platter I've had in my entire life (against stiff competition from Indonesia and El Salvador) was at the Kylesku hotel, in case that's useful infoAscender wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 9:48 am Holy thread bump Batman...
Was thinking how to get some miles on the Touring as it's a 1500 mile run-in period, so I think we'll go north and do this route in March. Both sets of parents live on the route, so will have a look about how best to break it up and maybe get a hotel at the start and at halfway. Head up from Edinburgh on the Friday, back on the Monday night I think.
NC500 - becoming too busy?
- Gavster
- Posts: 3876
- Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:31 am
- Currently Driving: A washing machine with heated seats
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
- Ascender
- Posts: 4327
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:07 pm
- Location: Proper Up North
- Currently Driving: Polaris ATV, Hilux, Navara, Dakar, M3 Touring
- Ascender
- Posts: 4327
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:07 pm
- Location: Proper Up North
- Currently Driving: Polaris ATV, Hilux, Navara, Dakar, M3 Touring
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
That's very useful info! Love a seafood platter....Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 10:42 amThe best seafood platter I've had in my entire life (against stiff competition from Indonesia and El Salvador) was at the Kylesku hotel, in case that's useful infoAscender wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 9:48 am Holy thread bump Batman...
Was thinking how to get some miles on the Touring as it's a 1500 mile run-in period, so I think we'll go north and do this route in March. Both sets of parents live on the route, so will have a look about how best to break it up and maybe get a hotel at the start and at halfway. Head up from Edinburgh on the Friday, back on the Monday night I think.![]()
Its all a bit surreal reading-up about the NC500 when I grew up there and it was the arse-end of nowhere, with nothing to do and I couldn't wait to escape.
Boutique hotels? Seafood platters? Does not compute...
Cheers,
Mike.
Mike.
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
With all of the single lane routes, passing places and bumps, I'd imagine it could be quite frustrating in a fast car anyway.
There was some parts I definitely didn't want to be going any faster on in a VW T6 LWB.
- Gavster
- Posts: 3876
- Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:31 am
- Currently Driving: A washing machine with heated seats
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
My main memory of the NC500 was incredible scenery, stunning food and awful roadsKevH18 wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:23 amWith all of the single lane routes, passing places and bumps, I'd imagine it could be quite frustrating in a fast car anyway.
There was some parts I definitely didn't want to be going any faster on in a VW T6 LWB.
- Ascender
- Posts: 4327
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:07 pm
- Location: Proper Up North
- Currently Driving: Polaris ATV, Hilux, Navara, Dakar, M3 Touring
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
Who doesn't like pies!KevH18 wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:25 am If you like pies - Lochinver Larder
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XaugVXticDV6HQ177
Cheers,
Mike.
Mike.
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
Whereas I've been up a couple of times and I enjoyed the roads immensely. 
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
Don't underestimate the amount of time it takes to get around. You might be aiming for somewhere that's 60 or 70 miles away, say for lunch but it can take 2 hours plus to make that distance
- Ascender
- Posts: 4327
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:07 pm
- Location: Proper Up North
- Currently Driving: Polaris ATV, Hilux, Navara, Dakar, M3 Touring
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
I do love the roads up that way, slow moving tourists, locals, tractors sheep and all of that. I learned to drive up there and even with all of that, even on a bad day there's so much enjoyment to be had on twisty stuff at sensible speeds.
Will do a bit of route planning at the weekend.
Will do a bit of route planning at the weekend.
Cheers,
Mike.
Mike.
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
If you go the right time of the year (out of holiday season) the roads are fucking magic. I found the only place where the roads are really battered is Skye, everywhere else in Scotland actually has pretty decent tarmac IMO...much, much better than in England anyway.Gavster wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:41 amMy main memory of the NC500 was incredible scenery, stunning food and awful roadsKevH18 wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:23 amWith all of the single lane routes, passing places and bumps, I'd imagine it could be quite frustrating in a fast car anyway.
There was some parts I definitely didn't want to be going any faster on in a VW T6 LWB.![]()
The good thing is being in a pretty fast car in Scotland is you can make progress and have fun when the roads are clear, and other times you can just take in the wonderful scenery.
Oui, je suis un motard.
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
I was hoping to get there over winter but doubt it'll happen
Mind you, decent wintery weather might mean I couldn't get round it anyway
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
If I get back there, I’d like to take that road that Clarkson et al took - The A835 was it?
- Ascender
- Posts: 4327
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:07 pm
- Location: Proper Up North
- Currently Driving: Polaris ATV, Hilux, Navara, Dakar, M3 Touring
Re: NC500 - becoming too busy?
F*ck me the roads are busy.
All the time.
In every direction.
Which is great for local businesses etc, but I was genuinely surprised by the amount of traffic and particularly camper vans up that way now. I was mainly on the east coast and on some of the non-NC500 roads, but I can only imagine how bad some of the smaller, narrower roads are.
Road surfaces were ok, but once you're off the main ones, particularly in Caithness, there's some that looks like they've been subject to a sustained carpet bombing campaign. The one out to John O'Groats was in a right state.
All the time.
In every direction.
Which is great for local businesses etc, but I was genuinely surprised by the amount of traffic and particularly camper vans up that way now. I was mainly on the east coast and on some of the non-NC500 roads, but I can only imagine how bad some of the smaller, narrower roads are.
Road surfaces were ok, but once you're off the main ones, particularly in Caithness, there's some that looks like they've been subject to a sustained carpet bombing campaign. The one out to John O'Groats was in a right state.
Cheers,
Mike.
Mike.