Myriad Journeys: North Coast 500

Talk about closing the loop! We strapped ourselves in for a 516 mile circular trip along Scotland’s northern coast. With a trusty VW Transporter camper, five eager chaps, and some Myriad tees, we were ready for post-lockdown adventure. But with the route beginning and ending in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands, we had quite the journey just to kick things off. Bournemouth to Inverness in a single day… That’s 612 miles - the best part of 100 miles longer than the NC500 itself! Sorry Joe (lead driver)… but boy was it worth it.

Here’s some of our highlights:

The Film Set

What a wild camping spot this is! Just off Stac Pollaidh lies a gem now known as the ‘Film Set’. We discovered this in September last year but is now a NC500 staple, boasting a ‘private beach’, tree cover, a fire pit, a beautiful loch with mountains all around.

But with only the space for one tent, the Film Set is in demand, with more campers seeking it out year on year. First come, first served, of course!

The Bay

Not far away though lies a spot to rival the Film Set! The Bay, as we called it, gets you even closer to the loch. With no tree cover, we felt open to the elements. We didn’t mind too much, and were rewarded with some of the best views of the night sky. Scotland has some of the largest areas of dark sky in western Europe. These dark skies are found throughout the rural areas of the Highlands that are free of light pollution. Here, we saw superb starry skies and even the Milky Way.

Loch Lurgainn

We were lucky enough to catch this double rainbow when passing Loch Lurgainn. Double rainbows are formed when sunlight is reflected twice within a raindrop with the violet light that reaches the observers eye coming from the higher raindrops and the red light from lower raindrops.

A possible supernumerary rainbow - any rainbow enthusiasts or physicists able to confirm?

Dunnet Head

We couldn’t miss the most northerly point in Great Britain! Dunnet Head, that is, not John o' Groats!

John o' Groats lies on Great Britain’s northeastern tip, one end of the longest distance between two inhabited British points on the mainland, with Land End in Cornwall lying 876 miles (1,410 km) southwest. However, it is not the northernmost point of Great Britain, which is Dunnet Head.

This rugged peninsula in Caithness is a wild and untamed landscape, with stunning sea cliffs and coastal grasslands which are home to puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes. Above the cliffs are some very diverse coastal heathland and grassland habitats with special plants such as spring squill, thrift and roseroot.

Between May until August, puffins can be spotted on the cliffs that tower above the North Sea. We managed to catch them in their final week on the mainland before the colony flies off to sea to spend the majority of their lives.

Clashnessie | North West Coast

Situated ten miles north of Lochinver, it was a bumpy and winding ride up to Clashnessie Bay. Clashnessie is famous for its ever changing weather and water colour, from tranquil turquoise to white foamy waves. The area has a mild microclimate due to the closeness of the Atlantic Ocean Gulf Stream.

With a tiny population, Clashnessie has just nineteen houses distributed widely. Ten of these houses are original nineteenth-century crofters' cottages. The rocky inlet and big sandy shore made for a great opportunity to rest for an afternoon. We also took a 2km walk upstream to Clashnessie Falls, a fifteen metre waterfall. A great spot for a shower!

Old Man of Storr | Isle of Skye

The journey wouldn’t be complete without a slight detour across Skye Bridge.

Rugged, dramatic and raw. An area steeped in myth and legend - a place where giants and fairies roam. Bloody clan battles were fought here, and ancient castles still stand. The Isle of Skye is one of the all time greats. But it battered us. Left us soaked and almost carried us out into the Atlantic on a high wind. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We dedicated a morning to hiking the Old Man of Storr. This jagged outcrop of crumbling basalt is the highest point on the Trotternish Ridge, formed by a massive landslide in ancient times.

After any more info? Drop us a message here if you have any specific questions about the NC500 and we’ll do our best to help!

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Dominic HughesSeptember 9, 2020