However, in the spring, the area usually experiences northerly or easterly winds so use the weather forecasts to help you choose the direction of your trip. We opted to complete the ride in eight days (many people do less with the record of 31 hours set by James McCallum) but looking back, I wish we would have given ourselves nine or even 10 days. Learn more. Loads of elevation gain with a fully loaded bike make for long days in the saddle, especially when you factor in weather and the rough state of the roads (apart from the EU sponsored sections, ironically). This 500-mile loop around the North Highland coast is perfect cycling country. For those considering a ride around the North Coast 500, and I think you should, here are some tips based on what we learned along the way. 10 unique experiences to try along the NC500 in 2020 Whilst driving the North Coast 500 route is an adventure in itself, there’s so Read More. Also, you always have the coast on your left instead of across the road (you ride on the left side in Scotland, obviously). It was heartwarming stuff and made the daft mission all the more enjoyable. The NC500 route covers a very remote section of Scotland and hotels/B&Bs/hostels are not abundant, meaning they fill up quickly. But I reminded him straight away that today was not for any Strava KOMs, as I would still be on my bike the following evening. I was riding the same bike that I pedalled from Cairo to Cape Town earlier in the year, chosen ahead of my road bikes for its more comfortable geometry. Similar to the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, it’s really just putting a name to a route around a remote section of the country. By Henry M. Created on February 9, 2015. The North Coast 500 (The NC500) is an official route created by the North Highland Initiative to “bring together the best of the north Highlands of Scotland in one iconic tour”. It wasn’t until mid-morning that I managed to shake the slump and pick my speed up again by focusing on the next milestone, John o’ Groats. Road. Staring at the road under my front wheel, hurting deeply, I was unable to think about the 200 miles that still remained. It was a totally ‘on a whim’ decision. Explore opulent castles, sample a dram of whisky or take an exhilarating wildlife safari, enjoy a truly unique touring experience. The NC500 is first and foremost a driving route, evidenced by the abundance of Porsche, Land Rover, motorcycle, and camper van packs that passed us on a daily basis. You can also skip much of the A9 south of Tain and take the backroads into Inverness instead. North Coast 500. Make the most of your run or ride with Strava Routes. Twenty-seven years later, the North Highland Initiative created a 500-mile route around Scotland’s … In fact, the route remains hilly until Thurso. Long Skyline Loop (64 miles, 5200 feet of climbing) - take the (in)famous Redwood Gulch route up to Skyline, then head north along the ridge for great views of the bay and ocean. Moreover, their conversations were a very welcome break from my own thoughts. I really enjoyed the north coast to John O’Groats but once we turned down the east coast, it was heavy motorway traffic and industrial farmland most of the way — not my favorite section. Up there, we were removed from all the tourists of Edinburgh (though tourism is growing fast) and golfers headed to St Andrews. Seeing my heart rate soaring to 160bpm after 34 hours in the saddle was unwelcome. Covering close to 530 miles according to our GPS, the route naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the … ITINERARY Day 1 - 64miles (2450ft elevation gain) Day 2 - 69miles (7230ft elevation gain) Day 3 - 80miles (4552ft elevation gain) Day 4 - 81miles (4428ft elevation gain) Day 6: Tongue to Inverness. 500 miles ~ 6 days ~ 10,000m climbing. Reaching Durness, Scotland’s northwest corner, was a huge and long-awaited relief. Your plan may have to change to fit in with available accomodation if you don’t book early — we ended up having to do hours of extra miles on the bike some days just to reach a place that had an open bed. Cycling 500 miles around the Scottish coastline in 7 days is a tough ride but the spectacular scenery that you will cycle past is worth every pedal stroke. You might think that America’s Route 66 has existed for generations. Yet while the route from Chicago to California is indeed old, it only became ‘Historic Route 66’ after it was removed from the US Highway System in 1985. In May 2017 Mikaela Toczek cycled the North Coast 500, also known as Scotland's Route 66. Then I stared at the ceiling until 1am, terrified. The north feels like a place still waiting to be discovered, which makes for the perfect bike adventure. I cycled on, glancing into windows of roadside cottages looking snug and warm. Learn more. This 500-mile loop around the North Highland coast is perfect cycling country. The vast open landscape, also known as the flow country, is rich in archaeological remnants of a bygone age. It’s simply magical. Mark Beaumont's North Coast 500. The Highway 92 descent can have a lot of traffic, but a skilled rider can usually keep up. The NC500 website recommends riding in a clockwise direction from Inverness. Back in the daylight and dry, with the tough stretch behind me, I drifted into the mental doldrums. Regardless, scrutinize the necessity of absolutely everything in your bike bags. Unless, like adventurer, broadcaster and Cycling UK member Mark Beaumont, you do it in 38 hours. Most of the 439 hours I spent pedalling through Africa were spent on the tri-bars, efficiently spinning along in the same gear. As the hours passed, these windows also went dark and I was left with only the pool of my own headlight. Registered as a charity in England and Wales charity no: 1147607 and in Scotland The North Coast 500 route has been ‘created’ and marketed in the hope it too becomes a pilgrimage. Enjoyed reading your blog and glad to see that you recommended veering off the route – I think many cyclists do prefer taking the route through the ‘Heart of Sutherland’ via Lairg and Bonar Bridge to avoid the heavier traffic on the A9. All Rights Reserved, Our site uses cookies. Not ideal. Copyright ©2019, TheGearCaster. However, by the village of Tongue, dawn had at least brought a break in the weather. We ran into one gentleman who was doing just that — he would ride as far as he felt like it for the day and then camp. North Coast 500 Cycle Route Strava Routes. What a reception, not just at the finale, but also throughout. I was digging deep and riding into the unknown. ‘GO MARK’ read the homemade signs. Fellow cyclists often started cautiously, suggesting that they didn’t want to hold me back and distract. I guessed wrongly that I would turn east on flatter roads. As one of the women working at Clynelish Distillery in Brora put it, “You have more whisky casks in northern Scotland than you do people.”. View route map, streetviews, images, slideshows, videos and more for this cycling route to the top of Quimby Road, CA, USA. A local postman and his teacher wife joined me for about 20 miles, cheerily storytelling about the area and explaining how, as a couple from the Midlands, they ended up falling in love with and moving to these remote parts. On their blog, you’ll find a few posts from local cyclist Karen Newman with tips for cyclists on alternate roads and bike shops along the way. "I have 40 miles back to my car!". The entire coastal route around Sutherland and Caithness is scattered with evidence of yesteryear, now mainly vast Highland estates. Very quiet roads for most of the route, with some steep climbs on the west coast. North Coast 500 from North Coast 500 on Vimeo. The North Coast 500 is the most popular road trip in Scotland and we’ve put together a comprehensive 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary to help drivers navigate this driving route. Most people from the previously populated north emigrated to the Antipodes, the Americas, and further south in Scotland to make way for lots of sheep. After 37 hours 58 minutes, I climbed for the final time to Inverness Castle, with a police escort, to a welcome by the Lord Provost and a good crowd. Within a mile, we all took a wrong turn. Cycling UK is a trading name of Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) a company limited by guarantee, I was deeply grateful, but aware that my conversation was scarce. Completed in 37 hours and 58 minutes. I’m happy to answer any further questions you might have in the comments below. And yet Inverness is the gateway to some of the best roads, beaches and scenery in Britain. John o’ Groats was where I set off on my first serious cycle ride – to Land’s End. The ever-changing landscape will take your breath away, leaving you eager to get back in the saddle wanting more every day. And I was soon feeling optimistic – the first 50 miles passed quickly as I started through relatively flat farmland and then alongside the first lochs and forests as I reached the rugged west coast. This will be a challenging 500+ mile supported ride over 7 Days, stopping at campsites along the route. Always one for a challenge, but unwilling to walk 500 miles, I set about trying to cycle the route non-stop, laying down a time-to-beat on Scotland’s answer to Route 66. No mosquitoes, or midges as they call them in Scotland. Starting your NC500 adventure: Rather than take the main NC500 driving route – you may wish to take the head to Contin via the Sustrans National Cycle Route (more info here) registered in England no: 25185. The North Coast 500 or NC500 was created in 2015 by North Highland Initiative in an effort to develop sustainable economic growth across the North Highlands. View Our NC500 Cycling Tours. BRUTAL. I chose early May for a few reasons — the heavy tourist season was yet to start and supposedly May offers one of the more stable weather months in Scotland. You can just stop when you feel like it. Experience Scotland's beautiful North Coast in this 5 day epic adventure by bike. (full route below) Although fully supported, the tour has been stripped back to the essentials and as such will not have the same high level of comfort and support as our normal tours. I think this will be really useful for cyclists… Thank you. Ullapool was the biggest town on day one. Pockets of crofting – small-scale farming – remain, such as on the Assynt peninsula around the spectacular Summer Isles. Alex and I chatted our way to the top, swapping recent adventures as the drone buzzed noisily overhead, capturing my favourite climb in Scotland. It’s the third highest road in Scotland, with a stunning Alpine-style switchback section, accentuated by the singletrack road. The North Coast 500 is the new touring route covering the stunning coastal edges of … The Bealach Na Ba is the third highest road in Scotland, with a stunning Alpine-style switchback section. Ride Type. Covering close to 530 miles according to our GPS, the route naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-Shire. "Spare a thought for me," said Alex with a smile, as we reached the Kinlochewe T-junction in the now pouring rain. Mark Beaumont cycled 500 miles around the North Highland coast in 38 hours! The Applecross Peninsula remains constantly undulating, often steep and twisting, and for a few hours we were spoilt with sunshine and views around to the sleepy village of Shieldaig. It was not a promising start. And if you opt to camp, you can easily refrain from carrying days worth of food or even a stove unless you want it for coffee and tea in the morning. I had kept my focus very short through the night, not looking beyond the next few hours at a time. The spontaneous support from riders and roadside cheerleaders who started appearing from then onwards certainly helped me again. Travel our North Coast 500 cycling holiday to experience a satisfying active journey – swap four wheels for two! This slightly alternative North Coast 500 was made in collaboration with the people behind the official driving route, to make an official NC500 Cycle Route. I’m not just saying that to give my record a chance of surviving, as I am sure it won’t take long before someone else has a crack! Plus you want to be able to stop to take photos, hike to a castle, enjoy a lovely lunch, taste some whisky, etc. While we did experience a few days of rain, hail, and gaelforce wind, the rest of the trip remained cool but with plenty of sunny spells. I stopped and chatted to the first few well-wishers, but soon realised this level of sociability could seriously slow progress. This part of Britain was irreversibly changed after the failed Jacobite rebellion of 1745 and the ensuing Highland Clearances. Unless, like adventurer, broadcaster and Cycling UK member Mark Beaumont, you do it in 38 hours. Conditions: Be prepared for all weather conditions and four seasons in a day. Make the most of your run or ride with Strava Routes. I was going clockwise, motivated to get the fiercely hilly west coast out of the way during the daylight and whilst I was fresh. There’s a feeling of strength, purpose and oneness I found whilst cycling the North Coast 500 that’s hard to come by in other parts of my life. The final hours were brilliantly sociable, as local roadies took it upon themselves to give me an unbroken chain of support riding. I … Distance. It’s because this was at one point the lowest reach of the Vikings. A mighty 500 miles in just 3 days all around the coast of Scotland, with Mark Beaumont, the Round The World by bike World Record Holder? You’d have to be if you’re covering this route self-powered on two wheels and have to carry your own luggage. In every village, and in spite of the weather, locals and tourists alike lined the roadside, cheering me through. Sutherland has 2.2 people per km2, making the Lake District look like a hive of activity with 18.4 and London looking unfathomably packed with over 1,500 people per km2. No doubt stunning by day, at 4am in the pouring rain this was the toughest section yet. Our Community About Strava Community Standards Careers Pros on Strava Follow Blog Facebook Instagram One of the benefits of riding clockwise, however, is that you get the major climbing over with during the first few days when your legs are relatively fresh. Plus, springtime in Scotland is arguably one of the most beautiful times to be there, with blankets of yellow flowering gorse that fill the crisp, clean air with the scent of vanilla and almond, and the cuckoo bird whose call punctuates the bleating of the hundreds of lambs running around the fields or pestering their mothers for milk. Fully supported with experienced ride guide and support car - come join us on our next NC500 Cycling Challenge. A tiny shard of glass was hidden in the tyre and I needed a knife to lever it out. We opted to take the B&B route so we didn’t have to carry camping gear. What I hadn’t accounted for was the scale of public support. Anything less than five days by bike is a feat of endurance, considering the amount of climbing. Alongside Lochcarron, the first of the sea lochs, a roadie sped towards me, swung around and fell alongside. Next time I would: Take a week, take a few friends and enjoy all that this beautiful route has to offer. I am so glad we took his advice as it was one of the prettier sections of the route. The Bealach Na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) boasts the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level to 626 metres over 9.1km. The NC500 has ever-changing scenery, and whilst the road down the east coast is bigger and relatively busier, it has its own beauty. Cycling this journey does not require the most extensive experience for those that enjoy cycle tourer, you will, however, need to bear a few things in mind. Full Official North Coast 500 Route - 503.7 mi, +30443 ft. Bike ride in Inverness, Scotland I stopped for 15 minutes, my longest stop yet. I’m glad I had: A GPS tracker so people could see my progress on social media and come out to join me for sections. Strava athletes know the best places to ride and run, and with 50 million of you in total, that's a whole lot of routes – not just the world's must-do roads and trails, but also the easiest ways to get around town and the most bang-for-the-buck workouts from almost anywhere. They offer a detailed cycling itinerary for you to work from and also a Rough Guide guidebook that we found came in handy for finding lunch spots and sights of interest along our route. But the endless rollercoaster of egregiously steep hills that follow — thousands upon thousands of feet worth. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and shops along the route to restock or even eat all your meals out — just takes a bit of planning. I mentally multiplied this progress and started dreaming of a sub 35-hour finish. I’m used to multi-day, multi-week and multi-month rides. 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