Category: NC500

Rough Plan of Attack

All subject to change, and the inevitable, “ooh, that looks interesting….”

Day 1 (9th May):
Home to Invernahavon (~6½ hrs, 338miles)

Day 2 (10th May):
Invernahavon-Inverness (~1 hr, 50 miles)
Inverness-Rogie Falls (~30 mins, 21 miles)
Rogie Falls-Portmahomack (~1 hr, 40 miles)
Portmahomack-Golspie (~35 mins, 26 miles)

Day 3 (11th May):
Dunrobin Castle -Crackaig Beach (~20 mins, 12 miles)
Crackaig Beach-Baile an Or (~30 mins, 16 miles)

Day 4 (12th May):
Helmsdale Bay viewpoint-Berridale-Dunbeath Harbour-Latheronwheel Harbour-Lybster Harbour-Whaligoe Steps-Old Pulteney-Wick Riverside Campsite (~1½ hrs, 50 miles)

Day 5 (13th May):
Noss Head/Castle Sinclair Girnigoe-Old Keiss Castle-Duncansby Head-John O’ Groats Signpost-Dunnet Head-Murkle Caravan Park (~2 hrs, 54 miles)

Day 6 (14th May):
Tesco Thurso-RSPB Forsinard-Bettyhill Harbour-Borgie Glen (~2¼ hrs, 72 miles)

Day 7 (15th May):
Borgie Glen-Smoo Cave-Balnakeil-Scourie Caravan Park (~2 hrs, 64 miles)

Day 8 (16th May):
Scourie-Kylesku Bridge-Allt Chranaidth Waterfall-Drumbeg viewpoint-Clashnessie falls-Stoer Lighthouse-Strone viewpoint-Shore Caravan site (Hermit’s Castle) (2 hrs, 45 miles)

Day 9 (17th May):
Lochinver-Suilvan paths carpark-Ardvreck Castle-Bones Cave-Port a Bhaigh (1¾ hrs, 48 miles)

Day 10 (18th May):
Stac Pollaidh car park (walk up Stac Pollaidh)-back to Port a Bhaigh (~30 mins, 12 miles each way)

Day 11 (19th May):
Ardmair coffee shop-Rhue Lighthouse-Tesco Ullapool-Falls of Measach car park-Gruinard Bay Caravan Park (~2 hrs, 68 miles)

Day 12 (20th May):
Beinn Eighe Woodland trail-Lake Falls-Red roof cottage-Applecross Campsite (~2½ hrs, 76 miles)

Day 13 (21st May):
Applecross- Red Squirrel Campsite, Glencoe (~3½ hrs, 121 miles)

Day 14 (22nd May):
Red Squirrel Campsite- Home (~6 hrs, 315 miles)

Compressed days

The new plan is in place to hire from RoadSurfer (thankfully having availability for the same two weeks).

Due to the van needing to be picked up close to home we will have a long drive on day 1 to our first pit stop at Invernahavon Caravan Park. This also impacts on the return as we'll need to be back home a day earlier so as to return the van.
A bit of route compression will be needed. Possible option is to get from Borgie Glen to Scourie in the same day. Not a huge distance, but with stuff along the way, it'll be a full-on day!

Some campsites…

Campsites along the way. Facilities listed:
T  = toilets
S = showers
W = fresh water
CW = chemical waste
E = electric hook-up

Invernahavon (T,S,W,CW,E)

Camping@Golspie (T,W,CW,E)
Wick Riverside (T,S,W,CW,E)
Murkle (limited S,T) (07522 313559)
Balnakeil Motorhome Stopover (W,E) (07597 192448)
Scourie (T,S,W,CW,E)
Shore (T,S,W,CW,E)
Port a Bhaig (S,T,CW,W,E)
Northern Lights (T,S,CW,W,E)

Stuff To Take (and to not take)

Getting the train also means all our gear needs to be on our backs! Efficient packing is a must and only the essentials will be coming. I'm not posting the list…

I say 'essentials' but amongst these, camera gear is a must. For those who know me, I like my photography, but this is one trip where it will be necessary to slim down on the bulk and weight. The solution? Return to film. Get the trusty Pentax K1000 out. 100% mechanical. No batteries, no charger and very little lens weight compared to my regular digital gear. The phone is good, but won't cover it all.

Travel Plan

Driving to Scotland is a long, tiring, but also enjoyable, effort. To make things easier, we'll be getting the train to Glasgow. 

The helpful folk at Fourseasonscampers.com offer transit from and to Glasgow Central railway station and airport. In taking up this option, we can arrive at the Four Seasons Campers base, just south of Loch Lomond, feeling relaxed and ready to start the real part of the adventure with the campervan!