North Coast 500, The Route 66 of Scotland

This event can only be booked through the following link:
https://www.social-circle.co.uk/event/15274/North-...

ONLY ONE PLACE LEFT, WILL IT BE YOU?

Imagine 8 days and 8 nights touring a 360 degree route around the Scottish Coastline also know as ROUTE 66, There's nothing quite like the freedom of long open road's. Never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland's finest coastal scenery are just a few things you can expect along the North Coast 500 - Scotland's answer to Route 66.

Strap yourself in for the road trip of a lifetime. Discover Scotland and all her beauty and history, visit tranquil beaches, rugged mountains and the most breath taking views, relax and unwind as the scenic beauty, magical sights and ancient history soothes your soul.

Accommodation Description:

We will be staying in various types of local hotels along the way; much family owned and run offering excellent amenities and services, many with incredible views across the landscape. All rooms will be twin bedded with en suite facilities and include a cooked breakfast, unless otherwise stated, good accommodation is limited but be safe in the knowledge that we will not be camping out.

 Weekend Information:

 What is included?

 Steve your Social Circle host ‘who has local knowledge and experience will give you the attention to detail which will make this a thoroughly enjoyable trip, Steve your host will recommend and lead you to many places of interest over your stay, each evening they will take care of your dinner reservations at a restaurant offering the best in local cuisine. Steve will assist and answer any questions, Steve will enhance you enjoyment of your weeks holiday, and offer a first class servicee invite you to attend dinner each evening, when we can talk over the exciting days events sharing information and stories with your group of friends and companions.

 Starting our memorable adventure in Inverness we plan to visit over the course of 8 days the most spectacular sights, beaches, mountains, monuments, and historical sites, see below a sample of the itinerary covering most of the areas of natural beauty, local distilleries and places of interest. We will be travelling between stops in our mini bus allowing us the freedom to stop anytime and take in the sites. We will cover a full 360 degree adventure of Scotland, giving you the opportunity to view and stay in places you may have only heard off in stories and myths.

 Day One:

Location: Inverness

Inverness Castle

Although you cannot go inside the castle, a short walk up to the grounds is rewarded by the unique views over Inverness and is an ideal starting point,

 Jacobite Cruises

A cruise on Loch Ness will take you on a journey of discovery, as you soak up the scenery, historic monuments, Urquhart Castle, and intriguing tales surrounding our mysterious monster.

 River Ness Walk

A great short walk up the beautiful River Ness is highly

 Culloden Battlefield

With a new visitor centre and exhibition now open there's so much more to experience at Culloden Battlefield than before.

 Day Two:

Location: Inverness – Wick

Route Mileage: 103 Miles

Mermaid of the North / Black Isle Brewery, Cromarty

The brewery is the UK’s premier organic brewery making world class beers from the finest organic malt and hops grown on farms without chemicals, as nature intended.

 Cromarty cheese

The cheese house is renowned for doing things a bit differently

 Dalmore distillery, Alness

The Dalmore distillery is located in Alness, which is 20 miles north of inverness. It sits on the banks of the Cromarty firth overlooking the black isle, the "big meadowland", from which it takes its name.

 Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain

 Skelbo Forest Walk, Near Dornoch

Skelbo Is A Commercial Forest Plantation.

 Dunrobin Castle, Golspie

This spectacular, fairy tale castle is just on the outskirts of Golspie and offers up an amazing afternoon of discovery of the history of Clan Sutherland and the local community.

 Big Burn Walk, Golspie

Take a wee walk through an enchanting gorge, surrounded by trees and accompanied by the sounds of a rumbling river, until you reach the waterfall at the end of the route.

 Clynlish Distillery, Brora

Clynelish Distillery is located on the A9 at the popular coastal holiday town of Brora, Sutherland, around one hour north of Inverness.

 Badbea Clearance Village

Badbea is the haunting site of a now abandoned settlement. Though beautiful, it is a windswept and bleak spot.

 Dunbeath

 Is pretty village, with much to do and see? Dunbeath Heritage Centre is a hidden gem, and, further down the road, Dunbeath Broch is a glimpse into our Highland past. The harbour is also very attractive and makes for a lovely walk. Can you spot Ken and his salmon?

Day Three:

Location: Wick - Durness

Route Mileage: 107 Miles

Sinclair Girnigoe Castle, Wick 

As you like sites of historical interest then you should really check out Sinclair Girnigoe Castle ruins just outside

 Old Pulteney Distillery, Wick

Pulteney distillery is one of the most northerly distilleries on the Scottish mainland. The extreme location and unique stills have resulted in a Single Malt Scotch Whisky that is bursting with the power and subtlety of the sea.

 John O’Groats

Continue on to the route and you will find yourself in John O’Groats, the most northerly village in mainland Britain. Get your photo taken with the famous sign and enjoy the views over to the Orkney Isles

 Duncansby Stacks

A geological marvel awaits you at Duncansby Stacks! One of the ‘must-sees’ in Caithness – and the Highlands - the dramatic rocky outcrops of Duncansby may not be as well-known to tourists as John O’Groats

 The Castle Of Mey

Head here to the castle to discover the history and heritage of the late Queen Mother’s home- from-home and also enjoy the amazing gardens in the grounds.

 Dunnet Bay Distillery, Dunnet Bay

Rock Rose gin gets its wonderful flavour from a carefully selected and put together creation of local and traditional botanicals

 St Peter’s Kirk and Thurso Castle Walk, Thurso

This is an ancient church dating back to the 12th century, and has a beautiful stone frontage.

Borgie Glen Walk, Between Tongue and Bettyhill

 Castle Varrich, Tongue

Caisteal Bharraich is a prominent ruined tower house or castle in a superb position overlooking the Kyle of Tongue

 Visit Talmine and Melness

A little further on is the tiny hamlet of Talmine, with a much-photographed boat known as ‘The Reaper’. Heading out of Tongue is a particularly scenic part of the route includes the sights of Loch Eriboll, Ben Hope and Ben Loyal.

 Ceannabeinne Township Trail – Near Durness

Could you imagine a riot taking place in this tranquil area? In the 19th century it happened!

 Cape Wrath

If you’ve time to spare in the north-west, why not visit the most north-westerly point of the British mainland, Cape Wrath? Seasonal ferries and a bus will take you to your destination, and you can cross something off the bucket list!

  Day Four:

Location: Durness – Lochinver

Route Mileage: 60 Miles

 Smooth Cave

Has to be included in journey through Durness! A dramatic and spectacular sea cave, that is set into the limestone cliffs and can be explored by boat or by the path from the car park on the cliffs.

 Cocoa Mountain

Cocoa Mountain is the north’s premier chocolatier and is situated in the little Balnakeil Craft Village at Durness

 Handa Island Boat Trip, Tarbet

Magnificent Torridonian sandstone cliffs rise from the Atlantic on the North West Coast of Handa Island. Each summer, nearly 100,000 seabirds breed here, including internationally important numbers of guillemots, razorbills and great skuas.

 Kylesku Bridge

Keep an eye out for Kylesku Bridge as you head toward Kylesku! This is one of the most photographed sights along the route and it is not hard to see why

 Clashnessie Falls

On the way to Drumbeg you’ll see a sign for Clashnessie Falls.

 Achmelvich & Clachtoll Beaches

Achmelvich and Clachtoll Beaches are nestled next to each other and both offer unrivalled white sands with turquoise waters. This is one of our top recommendations

  Day Five:

Location: Lochinver - Gairloch

Route Mileage: 91.5 Miles

 Ardvreck Castle

A drive north will take you to the scenic Ardvreck Castle, a ruined 16th century fortification, and the remains of Calda House.

 Bones Caves

The walk up to the Bone Caves at Inchnadamph is a beautiful and popular walk. Leading you up a limestone valley to the dramatic bone caves, where the cave openings part way up a steep side of the valley.

 Explore Achiltibuie

Achiltibuie, a picturesque and often-overlooked part of the route.

 Corrieshalloch Gorge

Corrieshalloch may mean ‘Ugly Hollow’ in Gaelic, but there is nothing ugly about Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve, a deep tree-shrouded chasm and beauty spot that cuts through a Highland wilderness rich in flora and fauna

 Melon Udrigle Beach

To the north east the views include the distinctive side-on profile of Suilven, near Lochinver, some 25 miles distant, and carry on round taking in the mountains of Coigach, including - we think - a glimpse of the top of Stac Pollaidh.

  Gruinard Bay and Eas Dubh Falls Walk

This short walk combines a visit to a beautiful sandy beach and an attractive waterfall

 Isle of Ewe Smokehouse, Aultbea

If you are a fan of seafood, you may enjoy this smokehouse.

  Hebridean Whale Cruises, Gairloch

Want to spot whales? Look no further than the fast-paced sea tour with Hebridean Whale Cruises in Gairloch.

 Day Six:

Location: Gairloch – Applecross

Route Mileage: 62 Miles

 Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve, Kinlochewe

 Applecross Brewing Company, Applecross

The Applecross Brewing Company is a local croft brewery at the foot of the Bealach na Ba.

Why not drop in by the Potting Shed Café at the Applecross Walled Garden?

 Day Seven:

Location: Applecross to The Isle of Skye

If there's one thing about Skye that'll leave a lasting impression on you, it's got to be the scenery. Just driving around, you can see many of Skye's most majestic geological features, such as the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing and the Cuillin. But be sure to take your sturdiest of boots and explore these unique sights on foot for the real rewards.

Day Eight:

After leaving the Isle of Skye we will start on our journey but breaking off to enjoy and  explore The Trossachs, we still stay overnight and take in this breathless scenery and landscapes.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER

ROMANS, ROB ROY AND ROYALTY

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.