A 5-Day NC500 Itinerary by Motorhome from Yorkshire

Planning an NC500 motorhome itinerary from Yorkshire feels like a big undertaking, but it is more straightforward than you might think. The North Coast 500 motorhome route, often called Scotland's answer to Route 66, loops around the northernmost tip of the Scottish mainland, starting and finishing in Inverness. From our depot in Pontefract, Inverness is around six hours north via the A1(M) and A9. That is a long day behind the wheel, but break it sensibly and you will arrive fresh and ready for one of the finest road trips in Europe.

Day Zero: Pontefract to the Highlands

Collect your motorhome from Heath's in Pontefract and head north. The A1(M) takes you up through County Durham and Northumberland - familiar ground if you have driven to Scotland before. Cross the border into Scotland and pick up the A68 or continue on the A1 to Edinburgh, then the M90 and A9 northward through Perth and the Cairngorms.

Rather than pushing all the way to Inverness in one go, break the journey with an overnight stop. Blair Atholl Caravan Park in Perthshire is roughly four hours from Pontefract and sits in beautiful highland scenery beside the River Garry. It is well equipped, reasonably priced, and perfectly positioned to make the second half of the drive to Inverness a relaxed morning affair of about two hours. Alternatively, Aviemore has several options including Glenmore Campsite in the Cairngorms National Park.

Day One: Inverness to Applecross

Your NC500 motorhome itinerary begins in earnest here. From Inverness, head west on the A835 towards Ullapool, then south on the A832 and A896. Your target today is the Applecross Peninsula, reached via the infamous Bealach na Ba - the highest conventional road in Britain. This single-track mountain pass climbs to 626 metres with hairpin bends and gradients up to 20 percent. In a motorhome, take it slowly and use the passing places. The views from the top across to Skye and the Outer Hebrides are extraordinary. If the pass feels too daunting, the coastal road around the peninsula via Shieldaig is a gentler alternative and beautiful in its own right.

Applecross Campsite sits right by the shore with views across the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye. The Applecross Inn, a hundred yards from the campsite, serves some of the best seafood on the west coast - their king prawns and Applecross Bay langoustines are legendary. Book a table if you are visiting in peak season.

Day Two: Applecross to Ullapool

Head north through Torridon, one of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland. The mountains here - Liathach, Beinn Eighe, Beinn Alligin - are among the oldest rock formations on earth, and they look it: ancient, imposing, and otherworldly. Stop at the Torridon Countryside Centre for walking route information if you fancy stretching your legs.

Continue north through Gairloch, where Gairloch Sands offers a stunning beach stop, and on to Ullapool. This small fishing town on Loch Broom is the gateway to the Summer Isles and one of the most attractive settlements on the entire NC500. Broomfield Holiday Park on the edge of town has excellent facilities and loch views. Ullapool is well provisioned with a Co-op, fuel station, and several good restaurants - the Seaforth Inn does a fine fish supper, and the Arch Inn has a reliable pub menu.

Top up your fuel here. Filling stations become significantly sparser as you head further north, and some close at weekends or have limited hours. Do not let the tank drop below half on the north coast.

Day Three: Ullapool to Durness

This is the wild day. The A835 and then A837 take you through Assynt, past Suilven and the other Torridonian mountains that rise like sentinels from the moorland. Stop at Knockan Crag - a short walk with geological interpretation boards that explain how these ancient rocks ended up on top of much younger ones, a discovery that revolutionised our understanding of geology.

Cross the Kylesku Bridge - a modern curved bridge over Loch a' Chairn Bhain with a viewpoint that is worth stopping at even if you are not usually a bridge person. Continue north through Scourie to Durness, as far north-west as mainland Britain goes. Smoo Cave is worth a stop - a combined sea cave and freshwater cave system with a dramatic waterfall inside. Sango Sands Oasis Campsite in Durness sits on cliffs above a golden beach and is one of the most spectacularly positioned campsites in Scotland. If the weather is kind, the sunset from here across the Atlantic is unforgettable.

The single-track roads through this section demand patience and courtesy. Pull into passing places on your left to let faster traffic through, and never park in a passing place. Flash your lights to acknowledge when someone pulls over for you. Motorhome drivers who do not observe passing place etiquette are the single biggest complaint from locals - do not be that person.

Day Four: Durness to John o'Groats via the North Coast

The north coast section from Durness to Thurso is the most remote stretch of the NC500. The road hugs the coastline past Tongue, Bettyhill, and Melvich - tiny communities scattered along a coast that feels genuinely wild. Strathy Point offers a short walk to a lighthouse with views along the coast in both directions.

Thurso is the largest town on the north coast and a good place to stock up on supplies. From Thurso, it is a short drive east to John o'Groats. The famous signpost makes for the obligatory photograph, but nearby Duncansby Head is the real attraction - the sea stacks and cliff scenery here are far more impressive than John o'Groats itself, and the puffin colonies nest on the cliffs in summer.

John o'Groats Caravan and Motorhome Site is functional rather than glamorous but perfectly placed for the lighthouse and Duncansby walk. For something with more character, try Dunnet Bay Caravan Club Site a few miles west - set behind one of the finest sandy beaches in Scotland.

Day Five: John o'Groats to Inverness via the East Coast

The east coast return to Inverness is the most straightforward driving day. The A9 from Wick southward is a faster road than anything on the west or north coast, but there is still plenty to see. Dunrobin Castle near Golspie is a fairy-tale turreted pile with falconry displays and formal gardens - well worth an hour. The Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain offers tours if whisky is your thing.

This final stretch wraps up your NC500 motorhome itinerary. You will be back in Inverness by mid-afternoon, giving you time to explore the city, visit Culloden Battlefield, or simply find a campsite and reflect on what you have just driven. Bught Caravan Park is centrally located in Inverness and makes a convenient final-night stop before the drive south the following morning.

Practical Tips for the NC500 in a Motorhome

A note on timing: five days on the NC500 itself (plus travel days from Yorkshire) is tight. You will see the highlights but you will not linger. If you can stretch to seven days on the route, you will have time for more walks, more spontaneous stops, and less time pressure on the single-track sections. Our long-term hire rates make a 10-day trip (travel days included) very manageable.

When planning your NC500 motorhome itinerary, keep in mind that the route is busiest in July and August. June and September offer better availability at campsites, quieter roads, and often surprisingly good weather. May can be stunning but midges arrive towards the end of the month. Speaking of midges: bring repellent. Smidge or Avon Skin So Soft are the local favourites. They are worst in sheltered, damp spots near water - the coast tends to be breezy enough to keep them at bay.

Any good NC500 route planner for motorhome travellers will tell you to pre-book campsites in peak season. The best-positioned sites - Applecross, Sango Sands, Dunnet Bay - fill up weeks in advance. Our long-term hire options make a trip of this length more affordable, and checking our fleet page will help you choose the right motorhome for Scottish single-track roads. For more on the Scottish Highlands and NC500, see our dedicated destination guide. For more, see our parking guide.