Cycling the North Coast 500

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.

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.

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