Anyway, I don’t want to ramble too much! Following a route north of Inverness (anticlockwise) I want to share some of our favourite spots around and places on the North Coast 500 route in Scotland that you have to visit.

Plus, a few other little detours that are total gems to see. Have the best time exploring Scotland!

1.) Inverness

In lots of ways, Inverness is basically the gateway to the North Coast 500 route. In fact, Inverness is likely to be the first point where you start your road trip; either arriving by air (to Inverness Airport) or via train.

Now, either at the start (or the end of your North Coast 500 road trip, make sure to take a little detour east towards the Cairngorms. It’s one of the UK’s largest national parks and totally idyllic.

We had the best time exploring the Cairngorms, and it’s well worth popping over to Aviemore where you’ll find loads of trails, bike rental points and Loch an Eilein which is gorgeous.

Plus, you’ve got the tasty Kinrara Distillery that’s so close by. Their gin is so good and use foraged herbs to create their blend. 

After arriving back in Inverness, and before heading onto the NC500 route, make sure to see some of the city’s best spots. Be sure to check out Botanic Gardens, Inverness Castle and the Highlanders’ Museum, too.

If you’re short on time, you can also book this amazing guided tour from Inverness that drives you to Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye for a full-day trip. It’s great if you don’t fancy driving and don’t want to head off the wider North Coast 500 route.

2.) Glenmorangie, Dornoch and Dunrobin Castle

The whole area around Dornoch is well worth visiting as you drive from Inverness. You see, it’s got heaps of little (and big) places to see in the Scottish Highlands.

If you’ve crossed the Dornoch Firth, make sure to stop off at Dornoch Beach. It’s a huge white-sandy stretch that’s perfect for a stroll.

Though, always remember that the Scottish Haar (sea fog) can be thick and come in fast on the east coast route. So, be prepared that you might not see too much if that happens.

Whilst in the wider area, be sure to stop off at the Glenmorangie Distillery Whisky (on the other side of Dornoch Firth), too. You can learn most about the distilling process and have a wee sample of their amber nectar that’s known the world over.

Also, about a 20-minute drive north of Dornoch is the gorgeous Dunrobin Castle. It’s still on the North Coast 500 route and easy to see as you head further north.

You’ll get to see so much of the castle whilst exploring the 189 rooms (or at least a fair few of them). Plus, the gardens are stunning. It’s a totally unique castle in Scotland and almost looks like it belongs in the countryside in France.

It’s all quite different to the towering brick castles you tend to see in Great Britain. We love it here.

Afterwards, continue driving north and stop off at the quaint little tearoom of The River Bothy. We had the best homemade soup and haggis toasty.

3.) Old Wick, Old Keiss and Sinclair Girnigoe Castles

With thousands of years of history, the Scottish Highlands has loads of gems you can’t miss as you drive the North Coast 500.

In fact, I’d go as far as saying that the east coast has some of the best places to see on the North Coast 500 route in Scotland if you’re into your historical castles.

Around a 35-minute drive, north of The River Bothy tearoom, you’ll get to visit Old Wick Castle. Now in ruins, it towers over the rugged coastline, dating back to the 1300s. It’s well worth parking up and walking the coast to see – it really is incredible to see.

Afterwards, follow the North Coast 500 route further north and stop off at Sinclair Girnigoe Castle. It’s another gem and dates back almost 800 years.

Oh, and don’t forget about Old Keiss Castle, too. It’s on your route towards John o’ Groats and totally easy to find as you follow the North Coast 500 route in Scotland.

4.) John o’Groats and Duncansby Head

Okay, for me, John o’Groats is a little bit of a letdown. It’s often thought of as one of the best places to see on the North Coast 500 route in Scotland – but I’d beg to differ.

Still, you’re passing by, so you really should stop. 

There’s nothing really here than a sign pointing to other destinations across the world. Famed as being one end of the longest distance between two inhabited points in Great Britain, John o’Groats has become a photo spot for people who have also visited the other spot (Lands End, Cornwall). 

I’d say we spent about 15 minutes here, before heading for the views at Duncansby Head. Which, is known as the UK’s most north-easterly point and not too far from John o’ Groats.

Here, you can see the power of the North Sea’s waves, which have carved the rugged coastline over thousands of years.

Though it’s a fleeting stop, the views facing south, down the coast, are gorgeous.

Oh, and don’t forget you can book this Orkney Islands day trip from John o’ Groats, too. It’s so good and well worth joining if you’re wanting to visit the Orkney Islands.

5.) Driving to Loch Eriboll

After departing John o’Groats, head east on the North Coast 500 route towards Loch Eriboll. It’s about a 2-hour drive and you can easily stop off at places like; Castletown Beach, Dunnet Head and Drumhollistan for their rugged coastal beauty. 

Plus, you can grab a bite to eat at Côte Du Nord, a lovely fine-dining restaurant on the north coast.

Anyway, once you get to Loch Eriboll, make sure to stop off to see the Neakie Lime Kilns, which you can spot from this viewpoint. It’s a totally gorgeous area of Scotland.

6.) Durness, Balnakeil and Ceannabeinne Beaches

One of the most north-westerly coastal areas you’ll visit in the Scottish Highlands, Durness Beach is well worth a visit as you drive the North Coast 500.

Once here, be sure to take some time to chill on the gorgeous sandy beach and head over to the nearby Smoo Cave which is Scotland’s largest cave to see.

Oh, and don’t forget to drive a few more minutes west to Balnakeil Beach and Ceannabeinne Beach (a little east).

The former is a vast open and westerly-facing beach that is stunning at sunset. The latter has a huge zipline where you can glide over the beach area itself.

You can easily visit all three in a day and they’re all perfect stopping spots on your NC500 drive.

7.) Sandwood Bay

Sandwood Bay is another gem to see whilst driving the west coast of the NC500 route in Scotland. Over the years, it’s even been voted as one of Britain’s most beautiful beaches.

This being said, it does require a pretty hefty hike to get to; it’s around an eight-mile round trip hike to this place. Most people driving the North Coast 500 route in Scotland end up not visiting this bay, which means it’s mostly deserted.

Perfect if that’s the vibe you’re going for. You can have the place to yourself and enjoy the white sands and towering cliffs as long as you like.

It’s perfect if you want a day hike but if not, head to nearby Oldshoremore Beach instead. For the latter, you can park right at Oldshoremore Car Park which is really easy to get to if you’re shorter on time. 

8.) Achmelvich Beach

Following the B869 road, you’ll get to stop off at the utterly gorgeous Achmelvich Beach. It’s a totally beautiful beach that’s well worth visiting if you’re going to chill out or stroll for a few hours on a sunny day.

Trust me, it has a perfect combination of turquoise waters and white sand, which is beautiful. 

Along the road (and before you get to the beach), you’ll also find Clashnessie Falls and Clachtoll Beach.

Clachtoll Beach is perfect if you want to spend some time alone since this is a little quieter than some of the larger beaches close by. Though, saying that, none are busy!

Oh, and don’t forget to stop off at Lochinver Larder that’s past Achmelvich. It’s well worth stopping for one of the famous pies.

Finally, as you reach Loch Assynt, be sure to stop off at Ardvreck Castle. It’s one of our favourite castle ruins in Scotland and well worth visiting as it’s only a few minutes walk from the roadside.

Dating back to the 1400s, you can now walk around the castle and its old grounds. It’s so incredible to see.