NC500 & the Quiraing

7 days · 3 driving roads · 574 miles of them · best May–September

The North Coast 500 as a week, with the Road to the Isles as the way onto the west and the Quiraing as the Skye day you should not skip. Inverness around the top, Applecross and the far north already sitting on the loop, then Mallaig and across to Trotternish for the landslip ridge. Seven days is a driving week, not a sightseeing fortnight.

Worth knowing: The NC500 is 516 miles of mostly single-track in the north-west, and August is miserable with campervans. Bealach na Bà is on the loop and closes in winter weather. The Quiraing car park fills before nine; it is passing-place etiquette all the way. Fuel at Ullapool, Scourie, Thurso, Lochinver and Broadford — assume nothing in between. Book every night before you leave.

The roads, in order

1. Road to the Isles A830 · Fort William → Mallaig · 46 mi · 1 h 10 min 📷 Glenfinnan Viaduct layby · 🚻 Glenfinnan Visitor Centre · ⛽ Arisaig Service Station · 🍽️ The Fish Market, Mallaig
2. North Coast 500 NC500 loop · Inverness → Inverness (loop) · 516 mi · 3–5 days ⚠ Bealach na Bà can close in winter weather 🍽️ The Ceilidh Place · ⛽ Scourie Filling Station · ☕ Cocoa Mountain · 📷 Whaligoe Steps
3. Quiraing Road Staffin–Uig road · Staffin → Uig · 12 mi · 30 min ⚠ ⚠ Single-track with passing places; very busy with visitors in summer 📷 Quiraing viewpoint · ☕ Single Track, Kilmuir · ⛽ Staffin Community Garage · 🍽️ The Glenview, Staffin

Drive it

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