The North Coast 500's peak season is fast approaching with travellers from around the world gearing up to take on the iconic Northern route.
The NC500 rapidly became a Scottish tourism sensation after it launched in 2015.
Over the last couple of years, road trippers, campers and tourists have been kept away from the breathtaking 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland - but no more.
If you're planning on hitting the road for the first time this summer, here are eight tips you should know before heading off on your epic trip.
NC500 tips and tricks before you head on your road trip
1. Plan ahead
Sure one of the main points of a Scottish road trip is to be spontaneous and explore as you go but sometimes a little bit of planning can go a long way.
Before hitting the road, we recommend having a rough idea of when you want to travel, for how long and what sights you simply can't miss.
The stunning route is growing in popularity year on year so if you're not one for wild camping, booking accommodation, a car and some attractions should be done well in advance.
Check out the NC500's interactive map before heading off on your journey.
You can search the route by region including the Black Isle, Caithness, Wester Ross and more.
The handy map will help you narrow down what you're looking for be it a hotel, campsite as well as dog-friendly attractions and different points of interest for you to discover.
Don't get caught out scrambling to find a signal either, download the North Coast 500 phone app ahead of time.
The app lets you download your own digital copy of the NC500 map which is handy for when your wandering becomes lost.
2. Visit during the offseason to save money and avoid the crowds
Unsurprisingly, the NC500 is at its busiest during the summer from May to September - we can't imagine why!
The summer months benefit from most of the attractions and businesses being open on the route.
Not to mention, it is easier to spot the impressive variety of wildlife and the weather is (supposedly) better too.
That being said, there are plenty of advantages to exploring the route in the offseason.
There will be fewer people to spoil your Instagram snaps and you might end up saving a little on your trip by not having to fork out for expensive hotel rates.
3. Plan for your NC500 drive to be at least 5 days
According to the North Coast 500 website, you should leave a minimum of 5 days to drive the scenic route.
Of course, like anything, the more time you have the more you'll be able to see.
The travel site recommends 7-10 days so that you have time to see all the major attractions, everything from Dunrobin Castle to the Fyrish monument.
If you can't spare that amount of time, there's nothing stopping you from exploring one or two sections along the route and returning to discover some other spots at a later date.
4. Choose a base as your starting point
516 miles is a lot of ground to cover so to help make the most of your trip, there are a couple of things you can do to make it more manageable.
As mentioned above, if you don't have a lot of time you should break the route down into chunks and uncover the route region by region.
Alternatively, you can choose a spot along the route as your base.
This is where you would stay overnight for a comfortable place to sleep before taking off on daily adventures to somewhere new - repeating as many times as you like on your trip.
5. Pack for the unpredictable
Unpredictable weather comes with the territory and even travelling the route in the summer months gives you no guarantee.
Get your checklist at the ready and come prepared with plenty of layers, a waterproof jacket, and comfortable waterproof shoes.
If you're planning on driving the route from May to September, you'll also be joined by some merciless midges.
Come prepared with some repellent spray or lotion and you'll thank us later!
Having a versatile wardrobe is important but there are a couple of other things you need to consider when packing your bags.
The NC500 website has a trusty Rough Guides North Coast 500 guidebook that you might be grateful to have in your glovebox which you can order from its online store alongside some official branded clothes.
6. Become a member of the NC500 club
You can also become a member of the NC500 club and get access to tonnes of exciting benefits.
For £15 a year, the annual traveller's membership will give you several themed itineraries to browse as well as a discount card and monthly newsletter.
You'll get your own Rough Guide to the North Coast 500 eBook and official NC500 map.
Find out more about the traveller membership via the North Coast 500 website.
7. Book your accommodation in advance but be up for anything
Similar to the rest of the route, you should plan as much of your accommodation in advance as you can.
The official route website has rounded up some of the best B&Bs, hotels, log cabins and guest houses if you plan to explore the route without compromising on your luxuries.
However, there is something with all tastes and budgets and you'll also find plenty of choices of hostels, campsites and campervan pitches too.
Of course, you can wild camp along the NC500 but you should be aware of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code before you go.
If you're planning on taking in the tranquil rural landscape under the stars, we recommend having a couple of those hotel or hostel spots in your back pocket just in case!
8. Brush up on NC500 road safety guidelines
The NC500 is Scotland at its most beautiful with over 500 miles of stunning scenery and dramatic coastal landscapes to observe.
Despite how remote the route is, you will be sharing the roads with other tourists, locals, drivers, cyclists and of course, nature itself.
The rural roads can be a challenge with lots of narrow bends to navigate, changing conditions and single track roads to be aware of.
There are stretches of the route that are not suitable for larger vehicles like motorhomes, caravans and even inexperienced drivers.
For example, the NC500 team say the ‘Bealach Na Ba’ stretch has sharp bends and steep gradients which should not be used by these larger vehicles and instead, they should take the slip road up at the A896.
With this in mind, all drivers should look at the road safety guidelines for the NC500 ahead of their journey.
