The NC500 is said to be Scotland’s Ultimate road trip. Covering 516 miles to be exact, this road trip takes you the full North coast of the Scottish Highlands where you’ll discover the breathtaking coastline, quaint fishing villages, hidden coves, white sandy beaches and much much more! The best part about this trip is that you can tailor it to suit your individual needs and it doesn’t matter how you finish it. Drive the full 516 miles, choose part of it to explore, drive it clockwise or anti-clockwise – the choice is yours.
Coast to Glen Motorhome hire
We were very lucky to have been recommended Coast to Glen Motorhome hire. What also attracted us to this family business was that dogs were welcome at no extra charge; in fact, Fiona and her family are also dog lovers and loved meeting Bobby and Finn! It was our first time camping and driving a motorhome, so we were certainly novices. Nonetheless, meeting Fiona and her family near Inverness, the Highland capital, instantly calmed my nerves. Fiona’s warm hospitality and customer commitment shone through from the outset. On arrival, the motorhome we had expected was off the road with a broken boiler, so we were pleasantly surprised when Fiona upgraded us to a brand new 2024 plate Ford Zefiro 696. It was a luxurious experience on wheels, leaving us in complete awe. The modern amenities and sleek design made our trip even more special. As we drove through the rugged landscapes of Scotland, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for our lucky recommendation. And it was all thanks to Fiona and her impeccable service. She made it very clear we could contact her at any time for advice, and we certainly did. We started as worried beginners, but by the end of our trip, we were seasoned explorers, all thanks to Coast to Glen Motorhome hire.
Our Itinerary
Day one – Coast to Glen to Dornoch
Travelling anti-clockwise, Dornoch is just an hour’s drive from Coast to Glen, so we figured that starting with a shorter drive would help introduce us to motorhome life. We booked a dog friendly pitch at Dornoch Caravan and Camping Park. It boasts 120 pitches on a 25 acre park and is open from 25th March to 26th October. We spent £31 on a hard-standing pitch with electricity. As it was our first camping experience and we were using shared facilities, I was quite pleased that we chose this as our first destination. It definitely established the tone for our entire trip. The showers and toilets were spotless and cleaned regularly.
The little town of Dornoch sits on the north side of the Dornoch Firth. After we settled into our campsite, we couldn’t wait to check out the award winning beach just behind it. It’s a hit with dog walkers, and the sandy stretch goes from Dornoch Point all the way to Embo beach near Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. We took a nice stroll with Bobby and Finn who were loving all the room to roam. Then we headed into town to sample the drinks at the Dornoch Castle Whisky Bar —dogs are only allowed in the gardens. Even though Dornoch is just a small town, it’s home to the most northern cathedral and boasts stunning stained glass and detailed stonework. Plus, there are several dog-friendly pubs and cafes, like Cocoa Mountain and Dornoch Coach House Bar & Restaurant.
Day two – Dornoch to John O’Groats
We kicked off our nearly two-hour drive up the east coast to John O’Groats from Dornoch pretty early, making a pit stop at Dunrobin Castle and the cute little village of Brora for breakfast. Dogs are welcome in the grounds at Dunrobin Castle, and there’s a short woodland trail that leads to the beach, which is what most dog owners love to do. The castle is one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland. Standing before it, we felt as though we were standing in front of a chateau in France.
We cruised up the beautiful east coast and finally made it to John O’Groats Caravan and Camping Site. We had pre-booked a pitch with electric hook-up for £32 for the night, all sorted out in advance! While there may not be much there, the famous signpost is a must-see, so it’s certainly worth adding to your list of places to visit, even if you don’t stay overnight. Our campsite was another excellent choice, and walking along the coastal path gave us a wonderful sense of being so far north. We sampled a drink inside the John O’Groats Brewery where dogs were very welcome to join us inside. We were lucky enough to be entertained by live bagpipers just over the road too. As the sun was setting we walked along the white sands before heading back to the motorhome for a BBQ.
The next morning, we grabbed breakfast at Cafe Groats and then hit the road again.
Day three – John O’Groats to Sango Sands Oasis
The drive to Sango Bay along the North coast was a long haul, about two and a half hours, so we definitely needed to take a break for the spaniels. We had a couple of stops in mind, and the first one was Dunnet Bay—a surfer’s paradise. There was a tiny free car park, and we were lucky that day because it was quiet so we we managed to manoeuvre the motorhome in without any hassle. From the carpark we walked a short way over the sand dunes to the sweeping arc of sand. Stretching for over 2 miles this was another fantastic beach and other than a couple of surfers we were the only ones there. It was a fresh, windy day but nonetheless a beautiful stop off.
Bobby, living the dream at Dunnet Bay!
It was all about the breathtaking beaches on day three as we made our way to Ceannabeinne Beach. Nestled beneath the majestic Beinn Ceannabeinne, a towering mountain rising to 383m, the beach was captivating as it came into view. We parked again in a small free car park just over the road from the beach. You will see the Golden Eagle Zipline where you can take the thrilling zipline ride from one side of the cliff to the other over the beach. A notice of warning – there are sheep here. They come down the cliff side and onto the beach but if your dogs are good off lead you can let them off once you have passed them.
On the northwest tip of Scotland, we arrived at our third campsite perched on the clifftops at Sango Bay. The Sango Sands Oasis in Durness has stunning sea views, clean bathrooms, and a dog-friendly bar/restaurant on-site. We couldn’t have asked for a better spot to set up camp for just £30 a night with electric hook-up. Plus, it had everything we needed: toilet and shower blocks, waste disposal, dishwashing, laundry, a camper’s kitchen, and even a breakfast bar! The beaches here are absolutely unbelievable – think turquoise waters and soft white sand. The sun made an appearance, and we couldn’t resist kicking off our shoes and socks for a quick paddle with the spaniels.
Day four – Sango Sands to Ullapool
Another two-hour drive to Ullapool took us down the jaw-dropping west coast of the Highlands. The scenery along this part of Scotland was absolutely epic—definitely my favourite drive of the whole trip! The roads here are mostly single track, so if it’s your first time in a motorhome like it was for us, just a heads-up to be careful. Take your time; there are plenty of passing spots for letting cars behind you pass by or for pulling over to let oncoming vehicles pass. You’ll want to go slow and really soak up those views. There were lots of places to stop and take a breather in the motorhome, whether to admire the gorgeous sights or take a stroll along the shores of one of the many lochs we passed. That’s what made this trip so awesome—you can stop wherever you feel like it!
Once we reached Ullapool, we headed over to Broomfield Holiday Park. This campsite didn’t need any pre-booking; you just show up! It’s another beautiful spot right on the shores of Loch Broom, where we were lucky enough to catch a stunning sunset and even spotted a pod of dolphins swimming by. Ullapool is a lovely, bustling fishing town where you can hop on a ferry to Stornoway and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. We loved wandering around the cute shops and cafes and watching the boats coming into the loch. We were seriously craving fish and chips, so we bought some from one of the many fish shops and enjoyed it fresh back at the motorhome.
The sun setting over Loch Broom
Day five – The Isle of Skye
We really wanted to spend a couple of nights on the Isle of Skye during our trip, so on day five, we hit the road to the biggest of the Inner Hebrides. Of course, things didn’t go as we’d hoped, thanks to the classic Scottish weather. As we drove over, the wind picked up, the rain came down, and there was even a weather warning. Just one of those things you can’t control. Our plans went right out the window. We had booked a stay at Portree Campsite, which I bet would’ve been great if it weren’t for the rain. With winds hitting 60 miles an hour, campers in tents were piling into laundry rooms to stay dry. Our trek to The Old Man of Storr turned into a soggy stroll into town, where we spent the afternoon hiding in a dog-friendly pub chatting with the super friendly locals. Luckily, we’d stocked up on snacks for the night, and with our motorhome decked out with an oven and hob, we were all set for a cosy evening watching movies while the wind and rain howled outside.
Day six and seven – Loch Ness
Our last stop was at the stunning shores of Loch Ness. My favourite campsite of the trip was Loch Ness Shores, which Fiona, our awesome Coast To Glen holiday host, suggested. We were really glad we listened to her because this campsite was just perfect. The facilities were modern and kept really clean. Our spot was another gem, with views towards the Loch, and it was the ideal place to wrap up our NC500 road trip.
The campsite is situated on the southern side of the Loch, nestled under the charming village of Foyers. It cost a bit more than the other campsites we stayed at, but if you’re part of the Camping and Caravanning Club, you get a discount. With over 31,000 lochs in Scotland, Loch Ness has bagged the title ‘largest body of water’ in the UK. Meaning there is more water in Loch Ness than all the lakes in England and Wales put together. There were tons of options for walking the spaniels where we were staying, so on our first day, we strolled along the loch’s edge, soaking in the scenery and watching the spaniels splash their paws in the water. No sign of the Loch Ness Monster, though!
On our second day, we took a leisurely stroll through the beautiful woodland trails of Upper Foyers, making our way to the spectacular Falls of Foyers, where the waterfall plunges a whopping 140ft into the gorge below. The trail beyond the waterfall leads out of the woods and onto the road, we decided to walk south for about a mile to check out the dog-friendly Camerons tea rooms, which turned out to be the perfect spot for a tasty breakfast. The farm shop serves delicious homemade food and fresh produce, and we really enjoyed our breakfast while keeping an eye on the Highland cows in the field. What a fantastic way to end an amazing holiday!
If you are thinking of completing the NC500 as your next road trip then here are our top tips:
- Do your homework! There’s a ton of info online to help you prepare for your trip. YouTube videos, TikTok, books you can read, and loads of apps. It can feel a bit overwhelming since there’s just so much out there. Start by deciding what you want to do and sketch out your route. For us, and the spaniels we decided we wanted to spend most of our time exploring the gorgeous coastline, so that guided our plans. A useful app to help map out your journey is North Coast 500.
- Book your campsites! Because we were to hire a motorhome and it was also our first time taking up this road trip, we wanted to be extra sure we knew where we were staying each night. Some campsites encourage you to pre-book especially in high season, others don’t allow you to but you can check this on their websites.
- There is a lot of driving each day so use your time wisely. Luckily, despite us travelling in the summer holidays, Scottish schools had gone back so the roads were surprisingly quiet. We wanted to make the most of each day so we made sure to get a good night’s sleep so we were ready to set off to our next adventure after breakfast each day.
- Be prepared for the weather and midges. Yes even in summer you can’t guarantee the weather especially in Scotland. We had rain most days. Luckily there was a breeze every day too which kept the nasty midges at bay. You can buy midge nets and repellent before you go.
Overall, our bucket list road trip along the NC500 totally lived up to our expectations! There’s just so much more to see and do that it’s no wonder people go back to either redo the trip with a fresh route or return to their favourite spots. One thing’s for sure—Scotland, we’ll definitely be back for more adventures!
Spaniels By The Sea 
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