Cycling the North Coast 500

Cycle Scotland’s ultimate adventure on the North Coast 500, an 850km (528 mile) circular route around the northern Highlands. Starting and finishing in Inverness, this epic journey threads through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, and the Black Isle, offering wild coastal scenery, rugged mountains, remote glens, and quaint Highland villages. Suitable for cyclists with a good level of fitness, the NC500 can be completed in around two weeks, making it ideal for a challenging holiday or an extended touring adventure. The route avoids the busy A9 east coast road while offering it as an optional alternative and includes optional detours to bypass the steep ascent of Bealach na Bà or the undulating Assynt peninsula, giving riders flexibility to tailor the journey to their experience and preferences. Presented in 16 stages between 24 and 89 km (15–55 miles), covering the full 850km NC500 from Inverness through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, and the Black IsleEach stage includes distance, ascent, descent, waymarking, terrain summary, and elevation profiles to help plan daily rides and manage climbs like Bealach na Bà and the Assynt peninsulaDetailed 1:150,000 mapping for each route, showing the full NC500 and supporting clear navigation for every stageAlternative route options to avoid the steepest climbs or busy roads, ensuring a safer and more flexible NC500 experiencePractical information on accommodation, campsites, B&Bs, refreshment stops, and local facilities along every stage of the routeGPX files for the NC500 compatible with GPS devices and smartphone apps, allowing easy digital navigation and route adaptationHighlights along the route, including Inverness, Ullapool, Thurso, Tain, the Black Isle, and the spectacular coastal scenery, lochs, and mountains of northern Scotland Plan your NC500 cycling adventure with confidence and enjoy the remote Highland landscapes, coastal vistas, and iconic roads of northern Scotland with this comprehensive guidebook.