I’m doing this trip in May with the mrs and a few mates, possibly 5 or 6 of us on bikes and having 4 overnight stops. Only just got confirmed dates and am now looking to book some B&B’s. Probably stopping somewhere in Ullapool, then at Holiday Inn on the A82 in Dumbarton on the final stop on the way home. Looking for recommendations for our 2nd night on a counterclockwise route between Inverness and Ullapool, or is that doable in one stint ? Dave
Doing it myself in June but I'm staying at a holiday cottage near Fort Augustus. Could in theory do it all in a day but I want to stop an look as well as ride. Two would be easy with early starts. May just take a tent and a sleeping bag and camp at the side of the road. Wouldn't need much kit for one night. This website is useful. https://www.motorcyclescotland.com/routes/north-coast-500/ I've read somewhere that you shouldn't trust your sat-nav for petrol stations as some of them have closed down. Check opening times as well. Still can't make up my mind whether to go clockwise or anti-clockwise.
I've done the NC500 for years before it became a thing usually between 10 and 16 of us. The whole route is easily done in a day if you want. One bunkhouse we regularly use is the ceilidh Place in Ullapool. It's basic but the rooms are a decent size even for 4 with all the bike gear. Also used the Royal hotel when I went up with my daughter as the bunkhouse was full due to the NC500. Frigate cafe does good breakfast, so do others. McKays in Durness is also nice and comfy for a bunkhouse. There is the restaurant next door or the campsite restaurant about 100m down the hill. We've regularly gone from Aviemore around the north coast to Ullapool but stopping at Durness make it more relaxed. If I were you I'd have a look at what you like to do and see, then fit that into your route with a stop at a suitable place. The A9 running up the east coast can get boring but if you've never been there before it's all new. There are good variations to get off the NC500 itself and this is recommended on their website. As far as fuel stops go if you're on the main route Skiach Services south of Alness is our regular fill up as we cut off the A9 at this point. Lairg has fuel over the bridge on the left as you enter. Tesco on the north side of Wick and then Thurso. All have food stops. From Thurso heading west there are less but so long as you have enough to get to Durness the fuel station there isn't 24 hour so long as you have a card and the phone line is working. There is a shop on the south side of Tongue with fuel but that closes at 4, if you're in the queue for fuel when it goes past 4 you won't be getting any. In short don't worry about fuel just be aware of where you are and how far you have to go. There are lots of other fuel stops but these are the ones I've used. Our digs will be booked this week and hopefully we will get when we are looking for. Last year we booked early for us, March, and we couldn't get some of the places as they were all full. Watch out for oncoming vehicles on the single track sections as three of us were run of the road last year because of driver who don't know how to drive on single track. Also if you're planning in doing the Bealach-na-Baa, pass to Applecross, check that it isn't open SSE are installing new cables starting 9th April, it will be open at weekends. They say for up to 6 weeks but that will be weather dependant. Hope the weather holds. https://www.theceilidhplace.com/food-drink/ https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Resta...tro-Ullapool_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html http://www.visitdurness.com/ http://durness.wixsite.com/durnessnew/tourism https://www.facebook.com/Skiach-Services-386492118187353/
Or look at staying in hostels , very cheap about £18.00 per night per person .Never stopped in a bad one yet.
