NC500

[Dod101]

I daresay many will be familiar with the name. 500 miles or so of fairly basic roads around the north of Scotland based on Inverness, in the summer filled with traffic, a lot being motor homes. Spectacular if driving in a quiet period but in summer definitely not recommended. Anyway I almost choked on my porridge yesterday morning just before chucking out the weekend paper. In the Travel Section the following:

'Chris Haslam was a guest of ****** which offers seven nights B & B self drive tours guided by ***** from £3,695 per person, including picnics etc'

Who in heaven's name would pay that 'per person' or even for a couple? For that, one person could have a two/three week long haul holiday almost anywhere in the world. Not only that but this tour operator apparently drives his own vehicle and gives the guest a running commentary by radio to the guest vehicle, thus doubling the number of vehicles added to this already over crowded route.

Dod

[Spet0789]

There’s this disease currently sweeping the world. It’s called COVID-19. Lots of people aren’t able to travel for holidays. In countries where people tend to go abroad, the prices of holidays at home have gone up substantially. This is due to demand….

[Spet0789]

There’s this disease currently sweeping the world. It’s called COVID-19. Lots of people aren’t able to travel for holidays. In countries where people tend to go abroad, the prices of holidays at home have gone up substantially. This is due to demand….

yeah, thanks for that professor.

Apparently, people have accrued a lot of cash in the COVID world. Hats off to those enterprising individuals that have found a way of relieving people/mug punters of that cash.

Personally, I'm not that desperate to traipse around the NC500 in an enormous plastic can on wheels, or donate a substantial pile of cash to hard necked Highlanders for a week in their granny's cottage.

Hence the £70k or whatever it was some chancer was trying to charge for one summer week in a cottage in Cornwall.

Apologies for the irony, I just couldn’t resist it! But I did think the elephant in the overpriced holiday room needed to be pointed out.

[Dod101]

yeah, thanks for that professor.

Apparently, people have accrued a lot of cash in the COVID world. Hats off to those enterprising individuals that have found a way of relieving people/mug punters of that cash.

Personally, I'm not that desperate to traipse around the NC500 in an enormous plastic can on wheels, or donate a substantial pile of cash to hard necked Highlanders for a week in their granny's cottage.

Hence the £70k or whatever it was some chancer was trying to charge for one summer week in a cottage in Cornwall.

Apologies for the irony, I just couldn’t resist it! But I did think the elephant in the overpriced holiday room needed to be pointed out.

Actually we are mostly well aware of that but I can assure you that £3695 per person is taking the p**s in a big way.

Dod

[Itsallaguess]

Personally, I'm not that desperate to traipse around the NC500 in an enormous plastic can on wheels, or donate a substantial pile of cash to hard necked Highlanders

Conner MacLeod...

Yes, I'll get my coat...

Itsallaguess

[swill453]

I guess this is the trip https://www.steppestravel.com/holiday-i ... and-rover/

It does seem to be at the luxury end of the market, you're given a Land Rover to drive, with a guide in their own vehicle as well. With a fair few excursions thrown in as well.

Scott.

[Spet0789]

I guess this is the trip https://www.steppestravel.com/holiday-i ... and-rover/

It does seem to be at the luxury end of the market, you're given a Land Rover to drive, with a guide in their own vehicle as well. With a fair few excursions thrown in as well.

Scott.

That actually looks quite good fun though certainly expensive. Hits a bit of a COVID sweet spot, hence the pricing. U.K. holiday, completely socially distanced. We have our own Discovery and have already been on holiday this summer but otherwise, maybe!

[Dod101]

I guess this is the trip https://www.steppestravel.com/holiday-i ... and-rover/

It does seem to be at the luxury end of the market, you're given a Land Rover to drive, with a guide in their own vehicle as well. With a fair few excursions thrown in as well.

Scott.

That is the one or at least the guy quoted works with them. I think the price is crazy but almost more to the point , they involve two vehicles on an already crowded road which is just nonsensical. I simply would not go there during July and August (and I have no doubt that it extends into September as well. For £3,695 I can have three weeks in the Far East with guaranteed hot weather, and travelling from London/HK/Melbourne/Singapore/Malaysia. Admittedly not at the moment, which is Spet's point, but who in their right mind would spend that sort of money in the west coast of Scotland midsummer, dodging other cars, nowhere to park etc? People with more money than sense and there seem to be plenty of them around. I could and have done the trip on a fraction of that for two people.

Dod

[jackdaww]

i did the nc500 about 50 years ago ( it wasnt called that then) , towing a small caravan .

delightful and interesting , but very tricky in places , much of it single track.

i think its hardly improved since then , so how it carries the present heavy traffic i dont know.

only recommended for box tickers ..

[monabri]

3 grand...ex flights! (for the soft Southerners who don't want to drive all that way up North ......for a 500 mile driving holiday).

edit: FROM £3695 pp.

[Dod101]

i did the nc500 about 50 years ago ( it wasnt called that then) , towing a small caravan .

delightful and interesting , but very tricky in places , much of it single track.

i think its hardly improved since then , so how it carries the present heavy traffic i dont know.

only recommended for box tickers ..

Most of the main route is now double carriageway but some not. They have though managed to tarmac it all, removing the gavel sections! The mind boggles though with the drive through Drumbeg from Lochinver!

Dod

[swill453]

i did the nc500 about 50 years ago ( it wasnt called that then) , towing a small caravan .

delightful and interesting , but very tricky in places , much of it single track.

i think its hardly improved since then , so how it carries the present heavy traffic i dont know.

only recommended for box tickers ..

Most of the main route is now double carriageway but some not. They have though managed to tarmac it all, removing the gavel sections! The mind boggles though with the drive through Drumbeg from Lochinver!

Dod

They have an alternative route for caravans that avoids that bit.

Scott.

[pje16]

I have just been invited to do this with a group of guys from a BMW forum
planning to go in September
any wise words on what to see/do/not do
would be greatly appreciated
thank you
PS I didn't ask on the BMW forum as it's being kept to a small group

[swill453]

I have just been invited to do this with a group of guys from a BMW forum

Cars or bikes?

Scott.

[pje16]

Cars as far as i know
I have met up with a crowd of them before at Bluewater and it's all cars
cheers
Paul

[swill453]

Either book all your accommodation in advance, or plan to camp in tents. Do BMW drivers camp?

Scott.

[pje16]

Thanks Scott
all that has happend so far is that I have accepted an invitation to go
so I have no idea what the arrangements are
the guy organising it has been before and I imagine it's accommodation
my camping days ended years ago

[pje16]

OK phew campings out
A Whatsapp group has been setup so that's a great way for 4 "strangers" to keep in touch

[servodude]

the guy organising it has been before and I imagine it's accommodation

furry boots tho?
actually don't worry you should be fine heading north or west from inverness - it's to the East it gets a bit weird

[Dod101]

I have just been invited to do this with a group of guys from a BMW forum
planning to go in September
any wise words on what to see/do/not do
would be greatly appreciated
thank you
PS I didn't ask on the BMW forum as it's being kept to a small group

What not to do is drive around it as fast as you are legally permitted, that is mostly 60 mph. Plan to take your time over the course of a week. Respect the locals and the fact that they are living and working in the area. Avoid John O' Groats or, if you must, see it take a look and move on. Do not plan to eat there. A good place to stay in that area is the Granary at the Castle of Mey. Hope I am allowed to mention it.

Contrary to what jackdaww has said earlier in the thread the main roads are pretty much all two way although there are plenty of single track roads as well where great care needs to be taken, and on those roads do not attempt to drive in convoy and for heaven's sake keep your speed down and be prepared to reverse at times.

Accommodation probably needs to be booked now if not before.

Enjoy.

Dod