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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 11:43:40 GMT
Post by humphreythepug on Nov 21, 2020 11:43:40 GMT
Anyone done the NC500?
We are planning it for April 2021, it was Tina's idea as we are knocking Peru mkII on the head until 2022.
Would love to take the dogs however Barry just doesn't travel well in the car and I don't think he'd appreciate a car journey from Surrey to Inverness, shame as he'd love all the walks when up there.
So we are planning on flying up to Inverness, hiring a car to do the drive over 10 days, then driving to Glasgow to see friends for a few days, then flying back home.
The route is pretty much sorted, we are planning on booking accommodation along the route today.
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 11:58:19 GMT
Post by johnc on Nov 21, 2020 11:58:19 GMT
Despite the fact it isn't all that far away, I have never done it although I have driven most of it at various times. The bit south of Durness down to Scourie is the only bit I haven't driven at some time.
Sorry I can't help with suggestions for accommodation but I hope the April weather is kind.
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 12:13:01 GMT
Post by humphreythepug on Nov 21, 2020 12:13:01 GMT
Despite the fact it isn't all that far away, I have never done it although I have driven most of it at various times. The bit south of Durness down to Scourie is the only bit I haven't driven at some time. Sorry I can't help with suggestions for accommodation but I hope the April weather is kind. We are just going to B&B it, there are plenty and most places we'll only be there 1 night. |
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 13:08:46 GMT
Post by ChrisM on Nov 21, 2020 13:08:46 GMT
When I used to do a lot of work in Scotland.... it hadn't been "identifed" or signposted. It's kinda on my bucket list, but behind the coastal road in Norway that features on some clips on YouTube for example.
Having driven from Aberdeen to John O'Groats once, I have to say that I hope that the NC500 is a somewhat more pleasant experience !
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 15:05:23 GMT
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2020 15:05:23 GMT
The lovely A9? Lovely road as long as you are somewhere else that is.
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 17:33:34 GMT
via mobile
Post by Roadrunner on Nov 21, 2020 17:33:34 GMT
A number of people in the VSCC have done it in their proper cars and it is definitely on my List of Things to Do.
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 17:56:01 GMT
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Post by LandieMark on Nov 21, 2020 17:56:01 GMT
A friend in the village did it with her boyfriend in his M4. She said it a fantastic trip and it is definitely on my list.
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 18:06:01 GMT
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Post by michael on Nov 21, 2020 18:06:01 GMT
I think Kraftwerk has done it recently. Do it quick before they go independent and the English are banned!
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 21:21:21 GMT
via mobile
Post by PetrolEd on Nov 21, 2020 21:21:21 GMT
I’d love to do it. Just a long way up there. Would be a great boys trip
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 22:45:42 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Nov 21, 2020 22:45:42 GMT
Despite the fact it isn't all that far away, I have never done it although I have driven most of it at various times. The bit south of Durness down to Scourie is the only bit I haven't driven at some time. Sorry I can't help with suggestions for accommodation but I hope the April weather is kind. Can't claim to have driven quite as much of it as John, but probably not far off and, likewise, never in one go. April is probalby a good time to go, before too many eejits in hired motorhomes they can't drive get on their way!
As re Mike's comment, the A9 can be soul-destoying in parts, but it's not all bad and been better since they raised the lorry speed limit to 50mph. Being April, there will hopefully not be too many wobble-boxes, and the scenery can be amazing! Enjoy.
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 22:51:36 GMT
via mobile
Post by bryan on Nov 21, 2020 22:51:36 GMT
We did part of it last summer and it is epic, we had a week in Newtownmore and did a lot of touring, including driving party of the NC500 from Inverness round to Skye.
Stunning roads and scenery, although a little congested it was nowhere near as bad as the ring of Kerry, and one to do whilst there are fewer American/Chinese tourist about in Hire cars
Would love to do the whole thing one day
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NC500
Nov 21, 2020 22:53:36 GMT
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bryan likes this
Post by michael on Nov 21, 2020 22:53:36 GMT
Forum road trip!
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NC500
Nov 22, 2020 22:39:40 GMT
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Post by Andy C on Nov 22, 2020 22:39:40 GMT
BTCC at knockhill next august . Weekend of 14th and 15th. We could stop there on the way up and watch the racing before heading on to the roads
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NC500
Nov 23, 2020 2:55:20 GMT
Post by scouse on Nov 23, 2020 2:55:20 GMT
3 of our hirers for the camper did the nc500 earlier this year.
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NC500
Nov 23, 2020 9:40:34 GMT
Post by Tim on Nov 23, 2020 9:40:34 GMT
I haven't done it all.
Quite a lot of the furthest north sections are single track so watch out for impatient locals travelling at high speed.
The top right bit is a bit underwhelming compared with the western side.
There was a lot of annoyance from the locals this year due to the huge volume of 'staycationers' clogging everywhere up, leaving their rubbish lying around, crapping in carparks and generally being thoughtless.
There's a whole thread dedicated to the NC500 in the Scottish section of Pistonheads forum with plenty of helpful advice.
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Post by PetrolEd on Nov 23, 2020 10:00:11 GMT
BTCC at knockhill next august . Weekend of 14th and 15th. We could stop there on the way up and watch the racing before heading on to the roads Sounds a plan though we might have to put Colin at the back of the convoy |
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NC500
Nov 23, 2020 11:47:16 GMT
Post by Tim on Nov 23, 2020 11:47:16 GMT
There's a whole thread dedicated to the NC500 in the Scottish section of Pistonheads forum with plenty of helpful advice. Aha, I see Humphrey has already been on that thread. |
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NC500
Nov 23, 2020 11:48:11 GMT
Post by johnc on Nov 23, 2020 11:48:11 GMT
I always consider the 2nd half of May to be the best bet for great weather in Scotland. A 2 week window and then it's anyone's guess!
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NC500
Nov 23, 2020 13:23:34 GMT
Post by PG on Nov 23, 2020 13:23:34 GMT
We did quite a bit of the western side in 2005, well before it became the NC500 I think, on a touring holiday. The scenery is very beautiful. I think it was July time, as it hardly got dark at all at night. You'd come out of the pub at 11pm and it would be just a slight dusk feeling in the light. But by heck I bet it's dark in winter.....
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NC500
Nov 23, 2020 20:34:25 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Nov 23, 2020 20:34:25 GMT
We did quite a bit of the western side in 2005, well before it became the NC500 I think, on a touring holiday. The scenery is very beautiful. I think it was July time, as it hardly got dark at all at night. You'd come out of the pub at 11pm and it would be just a slight dusk feeling in the light. But by heck I bet it's dark in winter..... I'm guessing you just missed the midge season then! Or, maybe not .. .. .. ? |
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NC500
Nov 23, 2020 22:00:41 GMT
Post by ChrisM on Nov 23, 2020 22:00:41 GMT
Just looked, and the NC500 passes by the Castle of Mey. Don't miss it - Queen Mum's old place and very nice it is too
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NC500
Nov 24, 2020 9:07:58 GMT
Post by PG on Nov 24, 2020 9:07:58 GMT
I'm guessing you just missed the midge season then! Or, maybe not .. .. .. ? Quite a few of the buggers about. |
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NC500
Nov 25, 2020 20:34:50 GMT
Post by Stuntman on Nov 25, 2020 20:34:50 GMT
BTCC at knockhill next august . Weekend of 14th and 15th. We could stop there on the way up and watch the racing before heading on to the roads Sounds a plan though we might have to put Colin at the back of the convoy I would love to do it too. Ed - indeed  Humph - what are you thinking of hiring? Something like a Fiesta ST would be good I reckon. Small enough, fast enough, and roomy enough for your luggage and stuff. |
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NC500
Dec 21, 2020 11:23:13 GMT
Post by humphreythepug on Dec 21, 2020 11:23:13 GMT
Well this new "mutant" Covid and us being now in tier 4 has slowed us down in booking for our Scottish jaunt.
Was hoping to book flights and car hire this week but now not knowing what's going on with regards to tiers and/or lockdowns, where we will be in April and any potential hit to my earnings, we are playing it by ear!!
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NC500
Dec 21, 2020 12:04:19 GMT
Post by ChrisM on Dec 21, 2020 12:04:19 GMT
I wouldn't book any holiday or even a week-end away just yet. I fear that 2021 will be blighted by travel restrictions for many months
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NC500
Dec 21, 2020 13:09:19 GMT
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Post by Eff One on Dec 21, 2020 13:09:19 GMT
I wouldn't book any holiday or even a week-end away just yet. I fear that 2021 will be blighted by travel restrictions for many months Yeah, I've been idly looking at the Canaries for the Easter holidays - we have an easyJet voucher for a cancelled trip to Scotland last Easter - but wouldn't have dared booking yet even before the new restrictions. We're booked on a P&O cruise next August, which hopefully will be able to go ahead as planned. |
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NC500
Dec 21, 2020 13:40:34 GMT
Post by Martin on Dec 21, 2020 13:40:34 GMT
I wouldn't book any holiday or even a week-end away just yet. I fear that 2021 will be blighted by travel restrictions for many months Yeah, I've been idly looking at the Canaries for the Easter holidays - we have an easyJet voucher for a cancelled trip to Scotland last Easter - but wouldn't have dared booking yet even before the new restrictions. We're booked on a P&O cruise next August, which hopefully will be able to go ahead as planned. I've just cancelled our end of January trip to Tenegrief....really disappointed. BA should give me the deposit back as a voucher, which is fine as I'll easily use it, but worst case is I lose £400, because I booked the hotel and airport parking on a flexible rate so it's just the flight to get sorted. We were really looking forward to getting some sun and a proper break after a ridiculously busy 9 months. The Canaries has never been on my list before, but I'd found a really nice hotel that looked like a Bond Villains lair and we had a 2 bedroom suite with it's own heated pool, so may well try again in the future.   Hopefully we'll be able to travel at the end of August, as that's the next holiday we've got booked. |
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NC500
Dec 21, 2020 14:24:12 GMT
via mobile
Post by Andy C on Dec 21, 2020 14:24:12 GMT
Canary’s are awesome
- sun all year round, and some great roads especially in lanzarote . It’s also the one of the only places you get off the plane totally wankered as it’s such a long flight.
We were gonna go fuerteventura in jan/feb , don’t look like that will be happening .
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NC500
Dec 21, 2020 14:30:06 GMT
Post by Martin on Dec 21, 2020 14:30:06 GMT
Canary’s are awesome - sun all year round, and some great roads especially in lanzarote . It’s also the one of the only places you get off the plane totally wankered as it’s such a long flight. We were gonna go fuerteventura in jan/feb , don’t look like that will be happening . It's only 4.5 hours and they still use the small short haul planes, although that's probably why it feels so long. |
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NC500
Dec 21, 2020 14:57:30 GMT
Post by Eff One on Dec 21, 2020 14:57:30 GMT
We did a couple of cheap self catering weeks in Tenerife and Lanzarote in the early noughties, then the Canaries dropped off our radar completely until 2015, when we took advantage of a Secret Escapes offer on a lovely hotel in the hills behind Maspalomas in Gran Canaria. Then, when we couldn't go skiing because Mrs Eff was a) pregnant and b) broken, we googled 'sunniest place in Europe' and ended up in Fuerteventura in January 2016. We subsequently returned to the same resort twice more - always in Jan/Feb - until Mrs Eff was ready for the slopes again. All of the hotels we stayed in were sprawling places with multiple pools and buffet restaurants - not usually our thing (at least not since childhood) but we enjoyed ourselves.
For me, one of the harder things to accept about parenthood was that holidays as I previously knew them ceased to exist. But the sort of family friendly places I'd have previously scorned were far better than expected, and did afford some respite from the slog of keeping a small person alive in a foreign country. I do hope we'll be able to get back to Fuerteventura or Mallorca next year.
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