It's one of the UK's most famous road trips and every year thousands of tourists head to the northern coast of Scotland to enjoy it.
The North Coast 500 ( NC500 ), Scotland's answer to Route 66, is a 516-mile route that starts in Inverness and heads north along the east coast before circumnavigating around the tip of the Scottish mainland and heading back down the beautiful and dramatic west coast of the Highlands.
Home to unspoilt beaches, rugged coastlines, stunning scenery, wonderful food and drink and of course that famous Scottish welcome, there is so much to see and do that it can sometimes be overwhelming to try and plan where to go.
To help, we asked the Operations Director of the North Coast 500, Craig Mills, to pick out five of his picks for things people should do while on the famous route.
And he's picked the perfect mix of food and drink, scenery, culture and of course beaches.
Craig's five ‘hidden gems’ on the NC500:
1. Inverewe Gardens, Wester Ross
Craig said: "You probably wouldn’t expect to find a garden full of exotic plants in the North Highlands, but an impressive range of trees and flowers from as far as New Zealand, China, India and Nepal are all thriving at Inverewe. It’s also a great place to spot Scotland’s elusive ‘Big Five’ – red squirrels, red deer, otters, seals and golden eagles!"
2. Sandwood Bay, Sutherland
Craig said: "You’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches along the North Coast 500, but Sandwood Bay is also one of Britain’s most remote.
"The four-mile walk-in is a highlight in itself, and once you reach the beach, you’ll really be struck by the wild beauty of this region of Scotland. There’s also next to no light pollution here, so it’s the perfect place to watch out for the Northern Lights."
3. Glen Ord Distillery and Visitor Centre, Black Isle
Craig said: "A stop-off at a distillery is a must-do on the NC500, and the Singleton at Glen Ord makes the perfect choice as it has just opened a brand-new visitor centre.
"The distillery offers tours combined with opportunities to taste their famous whisky, which makes for a very memorable visit."
4. Kishorn Seafood Bar, Wester Ross
Craig said: "There’s no better way to end a day exploring the NC500 than enjoying locally produced seafood on the veranda of Kishorn Seafood Bar, which overlooks the very same waters where much of the restaurant’s prawns, lobsters and scallops are sourced from."
5. Invergordon Off the Wall, Easter Ross
Craig said: "The result of the hard work of a group of volunteers, this public art project tells the story of the town of Invergordon through a series of eye-catching murals. It’s a unique way to learn about the town’s history, and also a great example of a community coming together to produce something amazing."
Explore more of what the North Coast 500 has to offer using its official Interactive Map here.
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