Scottish North Coast 500 Route and Orkney
Scottish North Coast 500 Route and Orkney
$1394
Scottish North Coast 500 Route and Orkney
8 Days
Visiting: Loch Ness and Inverness, Gairloch, Ullapool, Thurso, John O' Groats and Orkney, Dunrobin Castle and Black Isle
Tour operator:
Tour code:
nc500
Tour Overview
Taking in just over 500 miles of stunning scenery in the Scottish Highlands, the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips.
Itinerary
Day 1
Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then we journey north and cross the border to Scotland. We continue to the Fort William area where we will spend our first night.
Day 2 Loch Ness And Inverness
Location: Loch Ness and Inverness
Today, we’ll arrive at Fort Augustus before continuing along the breathtaking Loch Ness – have your cameras ready in case you spot the infamous 'Nessie.' We then have some free time in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands and the official starting point of the NC500 touring route, before continuing to our overnight hotel.
Day 3 Gairloch
Location: Gairloch
We travel to the western coast of the NC500 and to Gairloch. The village has a golf course, museum, hotels and restaurants. There are many stunning beaches nearby, such as Redpoint beach, which is well known for its red-hued sand and picturesque dunes.
We stay overnight at the Gairloch Hotel.
Day 4 Ullapool
Location: Ullapool
A relatively short journey to Ullapool takes us via some stunning scenery. We call at Poolewe, a pretty fishing village situated at the sheltered south side of Loch Ewe, before enjoying time at leisure in Ullapool.
Situated in one of the most unspoilt natural environments in the UK, the town boasts a wealth of things to see and do. There is a great choice of varied walks in the area and the harbour is filled with fishing boats of all sizes; spend some time watching the fishermen at work sorting out their catch for the day or perhaps enjoy them for lunch in a local restaurant. Ullapool is also an artist’s dream with many local painters, potters, musicians and free spirits residing or performing here.
We stay at the Caledonian Hotel for the night.
Day 5 Thurso
Location: Thurso
Sit back and relax as we journey up the eastern coast and marvel at the beautiful scenery. We call at Achmelvich Bay, where the clear blue waters and white sandy beaches may easily be mistaken for the Caribbean rather than Scotland. We then enjoy lunch at Smoo Cave Hotel before continuing to Thurso, where we stay for two nights.
Day 6 John O' Groats And Orkney
Location: John O' Groats and Orkney
Today, we continue to the very tip of Britain and have a photo stop at the famous John O' Groats sign.
We then leave the NC500 route and make the short crossing to Orkney, an archipelago of islands with incredible history. Our local guide joins the coach for a memorable day out. As the day unfolds, the islands' Neolithic ancestry is evident as we visit many ancient monuments, stone circles, settlements and tombs – a testament to its UNESCO World Heritage status. Our scenic circular tour of the island includes most of the main sights, including 5000-year-old Scara Brae, Standing Stones, and the Italian Chapel. Along the way, listen to the tales of Viking intruders and wartime exploits, immersing yourself in Orkneys' rich maritime heritage.
Day 7 Dunrobin Castle And Black Isle
Location: Dunrobin Castle and Black Isle
We begin our journey back south, following the eastern coast of the NC500. En route, we call at the fairy tale Dubrobin Castle and admire the scenery of the Black Isle, before continuing onto the Perthshire area for our final night.
Day 8
Today, we wave farewell to Scotland and make our way back home.
Accommodation
You will stay for 7 nights at a variety of Scottish hotels, all minimum 3-star, such as the Gairloch Hotel in Gairloch, the Caledonian Hotel in Ullapool, and the Station Hotel in Thurso, or similar.
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Low Deposit
Shearings requires a minimum deposit of 75 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of shearings charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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