United Kingdom to United Kingdom
Two and a half hours to the start line at Inverness, then the full 830 km loop around the top of Scotland.
Direct
250 km
155.3 mi
Scenic route
1080 km
671.1 mi
Days
6
about 2.6 hr direct
Tolls
£0
one way, per car
The drive
Edinburgh to Inverness is a straightforward 250 km up the A9. The journey proper begins there, with the North Coast 500 running clockwise or anticlockwise around the Highland coast.
Anticlockwise puts the Bealach na Ba early and saves the empty north coast for the end. Clockwise gets the easier east coast out of the way first.
Book accommodation well ahead between June and August. The route is popular and the villages are tiny.
May, June and September for long light and fewer camper vans.
Worth the detour
Applecross, Scottish Highlands
Bealach na Ba
Britain's highest road climbs via hairpins to a wild moonscape pass above Applecross.
9.9 / 10 · 18.5 km
Wester Ross, Scotland
Applecross Coast Road
A lochside single track with views straight across to Skye and the Cuillins.
9.4 / 10 · 25 km
Sutherland, Scotland
Kylesku to Durness
A remote NC500 highlight of sea lochs, switchbacks and empty moorland roads.
9.3 / 10 · 45 km
Caithness, Scotland
Berriedale Braes
Two tight hairpin descents drop the A9 into a dramatic cliffside river gorge.
8.5 / 10 · 6 km
Where to break the drive
Inverness
The official start and finish of the loop.
Applecross
Over the Bealach na Ba on day one if going anticlockwise.
Durness
The far north west corner, and the emptiest driving on the loop.
Questions
About 250 km, roughly 155.3 miles, by the most direct route. The scenic version described here runs closer to 1080 km.
Around 2.6 hours of driving on the direct route, which most people split over two days. The scenic route takes 6 days without rushing.
Budget about £0 one way per car in tolls, vignettes and crossings, before fuel and hotels.
May, June and September for long light and fewer camper vans.
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