Cycle Scotland’s ultimate adventure on the North Coast 500, an 850km (528 mile) circular route around the northern Highlands. Starting and finishing in Inverness, this epic journey threads through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, and the Black Isle, offering wild coastal scenery, rugged mountains, remote glens, and quaint Highland villages.

Suitable for cyclists with a good level of fitness, the NC500 can be completed in around two weeks, making it ideal for a challenging holiday or an extended touring adventure. The route avoids the busy A9 east coast road while offering it as an optional alternative and includes optional detours to bypass the steep ascent of Bealach na Bà or the undulating Assynt peninsula, giving riders flexibility to tailor the journey to their experience and preferences.

• Presented in 16 stages between 24 and 89 km (15–55 miles), covering the full 850km NC500 from Inverness through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, and the Black Isle
• Each stage includes distance, ascent, descent, waymarking, terrain summary, and elevation profiles to help plan daily rides and manage climbs like Bealach na Bà and the Assynt peninsula
• Detailed 1:150,000 mapping for each route, showing the full NC500 and supporting clear navigation for every stage
• Alternative route options to avoid the steepest climbs or busy roads, ensuring a safer and more flexible NC500 experience
• Practical information on accommodation, campsites, B&Bs, refreshment stops, and local facilities along every stage of the route
• GPX files for the NC500 compatible with GPS devices and smartphone apps, allowing easy digital navigation and route adaptation
• Highlights along the route, including Inverness, Ullapool, Thurso, Tain, the Black Isle, and the spectacular coastal scenery, lochs, and mountains of northern Scotland

Plan your NC500 cycling adventure with confidence and enjoy the remote Highland landscapes, coastal vistas, and iconic roads of northern Scotland with this comprehensive guidebook.

Cycling the North Coast 500 – Quick Facts

Trail name: Cycling the North Coast 500 (NC500) 
Location: Northern Highlands of Scotland, UK 
Total distance: ~528 miles / ~850 km 
Typical duration: ~10–14 days 
Start / Finish: Inverness (circular route) 
Route type: Circular long-distance road cycling route 
Difficulty: Challenging (frequent undulations, ~8000 m ascent) 
Terrain: Asphalt roads (mostly quiet, some steep climbs) 
Navigation: Guidebook mapping and GPX files available 
Best season: May to September

Author Highlight

“Imagine hundreds of miles of unspoilt wilderness with a varied landscape of craggy mountains, verdant glens and rolling open peat moorland dotted with lochs (lakes) and lochans (smaller lakes) from which clear mountain streams feed into salmon- and troutfilled rivers. All this is surrounded by rugged coastlines, with rocky cliffs interspersed with sandy bays and deep sea inlets that can shelter ocean-going ships. Dotted across this wilderness are tiny communities, where a modern form of crofting (subsistence farming) flourishes, and a few small towns that provide the accoutrements of modern-day life. A filigree network of narrow roads and country lanes links these communities, enabling access to the mountains and lochs. But you do not need to imagine, for it all exists and can be found in the north Highlands of Scotland.”

- Mike Wells, author of Cycling the North Coast 500 
 

Map key
Overview map
Route summary table
Suggested schedules

Introduction
Background
The route
Natural environment
Preparation
Getting there and back
Navigation and information
Accommodation
Food and drink
Amenities and services
What to take
Safety and emergencies
About this guide

The route
Stage 1    Inverness to Garve
Stage 2    Garve to Lochcarron
Stage 3    Lochcarron to Shieldaig (direct route)
Stage 3A    Lochcarron to Shieldaig (via Applecross)
Stage 4    Shieldaig to Gairloch
Stage 5    Gairloch to Ullapool
Stage 6    Ullapool to Lochinver
Stage 7    Lochinver to Kylesku
Stage 8    Kylesku to Durness
Stage 9    Durness to Tongue
Stage 10    Tongue to Melvich
Stage 11    Melvich to John o' Groats (coastal route)
Stage 12    John o' Groats to Melvich (inland route)
Stage 13    Melvich to Altnaharra
Stage 14    Altnaharra to Tain
Stage 12A    John o' Groats to Lybster
Stage 13A    Lybster to Brora
Stage 14A    Brora to Tain
Stage 15    Tain to Nigg (for Cromarty ferry)
Stage 16    Cromarty to Inverness
Stage 15A    Tain to Dingwall
Stage 16A    Dingwall to Inverness

Appendix A    Facilities summary table
Appendix B    Tourist information
Appendix C    Hostels and bunkhouses
Appendix D    Campsites
Appendix E    Cycle shops and cycle hire
Appendix F    Munros near route (mountains over 914m)
Appendix G    Distilleries en route
Appendix H    Useful contacts

Seasons

Best cycled between May and September

Centres

A circular ride starting and ending in the highland capital Inverness. Small towns are passed at Ullapool, Thurso and Tain

Difficulty

A challenging cycle route due to frequent undulations, with ascent totalling nearly 8000m. Climbs vary from steady climbs over low mountain passes to short steep hills. The road surface is asphalt throughout, presenting no problem. Suitable for all types of bike with a wide range of gears and appropriate tyres. Lights and high-vis jackets essential due to the possibility of misty conditions on narrow roads.

Must See

The beautiful and varied landscapes of the far north of Scotland. Major mountains are passed at Torridon, An Teallach and in Assynt. The route reaches both Durness and John o' Groats, near to the northwestern and northeastern extremities of Scotland.

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