6 Day North Coast 500 Experience

Tour Details

• Duration: 6 Days (7-8 hours per day)

• Departure From: Edinburgh or Glasgow

• Group Size: Private tour for up to 7 guests

• Included:

  • Private driver-guide

  • Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off

  • Bottled water and local snacks

• Not Included:

  • Accommodation (we are happy to suggest local options)

  • Meals

  • Entrance Fees

Experience the freedom of the open road and the majesty of the Highlands on Scotland’s legendary North Coast 500 route.

Set off from Glasgow or Edinburgh and journey to the very top of Scotland on the world-famous North Coast 500.

This six-day private adventure takes you through dramatic mountains, white-sand beaches, ancient castles and welcoming Highland villages. Every twist and turn reveals another postcard-perfect view. And with your own friendly local guide, you’ll discover the real Scotland, far beyond the guidebooks.

Highlights: Pitlochry • Dunkeld • Cairngorms • Inverness

Your adventure begins as we head north through some of Scotland’s most stunning landscapes. Leaving the city behind, we travel through Perthshire’s “Big Tree Country”, where ancient forests and rolling hills surround picturesque towns like Pitlochry and Dunkeld.

We’ll continue into the Cairngorms National Park, the largest in the UK, a landscape of dramatic mountains, heather moors, and tumbling rivers. There’s time for a stroll or a coffee stop in one of the quaint Highland villages before reaching Inverness, the capital of the Highlands and the official starting point of the North Coast 500.

Overnight: Inverness – a vibrant riverside city with excellent restaurants, boutique hotels, and traditional pubs.

Highlights: Black Isle • Loch Maree • Beinn Eighe • Sieldaig • Ullapool

Today, we head west into some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery. Pass through the Black Isle, known for its rolling farmland and dolphins, before entering the mountainous wilderness of Wester Ross.

We’ll stop at Loch Maree for a photo of its mirror-like waters and drive through Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, home to Scotland’s oldest pinewoods.

After lunch in the tiny fishing village of Shieldaig, we continue to Ullapool, a postcard-perfect harbour town set on the shores of Loch Broom.

Overnight: Ullapool – enjoy a stroll by the harbour and dine on the day’s catch.

Highlights: Ardvreck Castle • Achmelvich Beach • Smoo Cave

Leaving Ullapool, we journey deeper into the wilds of Sutherland, one of the most remote and beautiful regions in the Highlands.

Stop at the haunting Ardvreck Castle, perched on the edge of Loch Assynt, before continuing past the striking peaks of Suilven and Canisp.
At Achmelvich Beach, you’ll find turquoise water and pure white sand that look straight out of the Caribbean!

We end the day in Durness, the most northwesterly village in mainland Britain, where you can explore the vast and mysterious Smoo Cave.

Overnight: Durness – quiet guesthouses and sea-view lodges surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

Why You’ll Love This Tour

With breathtaking scenery, hidden gems, and warm Highland hospitality, this tour showcases Scotland at its best. From dramatic coastal roads to ancient castles and charming villages, every mile of the North Coast 500 tells a new story.

Highlights: Ceannabeinne Beach • Kyle of Tongue • Thurso

Travel along the dramatic northern coastline, stopping at Ceannabeinne Beach and Balnakeil Bay, both perfect for photos and peaceful walks.

Cross the Kyle of Tongue, where the sweeping views of Ben Loyal and Ben Hope are unforgettable. The landscape here is wild and remote. Keep your eyes peeled for red deer, golden eagles, and seals.

Arrive in Thurso, Scotland’s northernmost town, where Norse history meets Highland charm.

Overnight: Thurso – a welcoming base with sea views and hearty local fare.

Day 2 - Inverness to Ullapool: Into the Wild of Wester Ross

Day 1 – From Glasgow or Edinburgh to Inverness: Gateway to the Highlands

Day 3 – Ullapool to Durness: Into the Untamed North

Day 4 – Durness to Thurso: The Edge of the World

Day 5 – Thurso to Inverness via Wick & Dunrobin Castle

Highlights: Dunnet Head • John O'Groats • Dunrobin Castle

After breakfast, visit Dunnet Head, the true northernmost point of the British mainland, before heading to John O’Groats for that must-have photo at the famous signpost. Nearby, the dramatic Duncansby Stacks rise from the sea like ancient sentinels, one of Scotland’s best coastal sights.

Heading south, explore the fairy-tale Dunrobin Castle, home of the Dukes of Sutherland, with its grand turrets and manicured gardens.

We continue through Golspie and Dornoch, perhaps stopping at Glenmorangie Distillery for a well-earned dram before arriving back in Inverness.

Overnight: Inverness – relax and enjoy your final Highland evening.

Day 6 – Loch Ness & Return to Glasgow or Edinburgh

Highlights: Loch Ness • Culloden Battlefield • Clava Cairns

Our final day begins with a visit to the mysterious Loch Ness. See the ruins of Urquhart Castle, perched above the dark waters where the famous monster might lurk! Visit Culloden Battlefield and the mysterious Clava Cairns before we take the scenic route south, returning to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

By the time we reach the city, you’ll have travelled through the heart of Scotland, from mountain to sea and back again with memories to last a lifetime.