How fast can you really travel around the NC500?

A red sign at Bealach na Bà reads “Road normally impassable in wintry conditions”, with sheep grazing beneath a mist-covered hillside.

The North Coast 500 covers approximately 516 miles, or 830 kilometres, which may not sound particularly demanding to visitors accustomed to covering enormous distances across Australia or the United States. However, this is not a journey along long, straight highways where overtaking is easy and cruise control remains engaged for hours. The road repeatedly changes between good two-lane carriageways, narrow bends and single-track sections, so the distance alone tells you very little about how long the journey will take.

On the better roads between Inverness and John o' Groats, I plan around an average of 45 mph, or 70 km/h, rising to between 45 and 50 mph, or 70 to 80 km/h, across the north coast as far as Bettyhill. Between Bettyhill and Loch Eriboll, where the road moves repeatedly between two lanes and single track, I reduce the planning average to 35 mph, or 55 km/h. From Loch Eriboll to Rhiconich, I use 30 mph, or 50 km/h, because bends, livestock, approaching traffic and restricted views steadily reduce the distance covered.

The slowest major section is the Wee Mad Road through Drumbeg and Clashnessie towards Lochinver, where I plan for only 20 mph, or 30 km/h. I use the same figure for the Bealach na Ba, while Glen Torridon and the Applecross Peninsula generally produce averages closer to 30 or 35 mph, equivalent to 50 or 55 km/h. Better stretches between Lochinver, Ullapool and Gairloch may allow an average near 50 mph, or 80 km/h, although traffic, cyclists, roadworks and weather can quickly change that.

The season also matters. During July and August, the route carries more cars and campervans, including many driven by visitors who are unfamiliar with single-track roads, so progress inevitably slows. Late March and late September are usually quieter, and your average speed may rise slightly, but I would still use these figures when planning. Once you calculate the likely driving hours, you can decide how many days you need and how much time remains for walking, sightseeing and exploring. For a complete private tour, I recommend no fewer than six days, but the real question is not how quickly you can complete the NC500. It is how much of your holiday you want to spend behind the wheel.

To learn more, book one of our North Coast Explorer private tours.