A 516-mile loop from Inverness around the wild Scottish Highlands, past lochs, castles, single-track passes, and rugged northern beaches.
516 mi / 830 km
6 days
May to September
Moderate
Left
Toll-free
Iconic stops
Eilean Donan Castle (detour)
The picture-perfect castle on a loch islet.
Applecross Pass (Bealach na BÃ )
A hair-raising hairpin mountain pass with Alpine-style switchbacks.
Achmelvich Beach
White sand and turquoise water in the remote northwest.
Smoo Cave
A vast sea cave with a waterfall near Durness.
Dunrobin Castle
A fairytale château-style castle with falconry displays.
Stops on the map
Each numbered marker matches the list above, linked in driving order from 1 to 5. Hover or tap a marker to see the stop name, scroll to zoom, and download the map as an image.
Prefer turn-by-turn navigation? Open the full route in Google Maps with all 5 stops loaded as waypoints in driving order. It opens in a new browser tab.
Tolls & fees
The North Coast 500 is entirely toll-free. Scotland has no road tolls.
No tolls to estimate
Enjoy the drive. Budget instead for fuel, ferries, and parking.
Traffic & road alerts
Long single-track sections with passing places. Let faster traffic overtake and never park in passing places.
Best maps & planning
Plan your drive and check the latest conditions with these trusted maps and official resources.
Driving tips
- Drive clockwise for easier navigation of the west-coast single-track roads.
- Learn passing-place etiquette. Pull in on your left to let others by.
- Book accommodation early. Villages are tiny and demand is high in summer.
Distances, tolls, and seasons are curated planning references and can change. Always confirm current tolls, opening dates, and closures with the official sources linked above before you travel.