| Leaders | Simon Eaves & Craig Round |
| Day 1 | We meet for dinner at our hotel.
1 night Inverness |
| Days 2-3 | Travel to Caithness via John O’Groats and Duncansby Head. During our time here we'll visit the UK’s most northerly point, Dunnet Head; St John’s Pool and the RSPB’s Broubster Leans.
2 nights Castletown Hotel, Thurso |
| Days 4-5 | Travel to Sutherland visiting Loch Eriboll, Balnakeil Bay and Scourie.
2 nights Edrachillies Hotel, Scourie |
| Day 6 | Full day on Handa Island and then travel through Assynt to Ullapool.
1 night The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool |
| Days 7-8 | Travel to Gruinard Bay, Poolewe, Loch Maree and Torridon. Exploration of the Bealch na Ba and Applecross peninsula.
2 nights Tigh an Eilean Hotel, Shieldaig. |
| Day 9 | Travel back to Inverness via Lochs Kishorn and Carron. Visit the Black Isle area.
1 night Inverness |
| Day 10 | Depart Inverness. |
| Weather | Late May can be beautifully settled, although wind and rain is possible and snow can still be on the highest tops (10°-25°C) |
| Walking | Walks will be up to 5 miles on good tracks and paths, but some sections are rough and steep |
| Meals | All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 10. |
| Insects | Should not be a problem. |
| Accom | Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite. |
| Group | 12 |
| Route | The Official North Coast 500 route begins and ends at Inverness Castle. Created in 2014, the route brings together just over 500 miles of stunning coastal scenery, naturally following the main roads across the coastal edges of the North Highlands. |
The NC500 encapsulates everything that is special about
the wild Highlands in one superb road trip, as it follows
a spectacular coastal route.48uep6bbph|00000E4E|Spey_BESQL3|HolidayTypes|Subheading 48uep6bbphidval|NC500
| * Breathtaking scenery with vast mountainous views, on the most scenic roads
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| * Huge seascapes from wild headlands, with good chances of Otters and cetaceans
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| * Thriving seabird and skua colonies on Handa Island and Dunnet Head
|
| * Excellent habitat for raptors including Golden and White-tailed Eagles
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| * Pristine and deserted white sand beaches
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| * The highest mountain pass in the UK, with a good chance of Ptarmigan at the top
|
| * All three divers in summer plumage
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| Day 1 | We meet in Inverness for dinner and to discuss
the route and itinerary.
|
| Days 2-3 | Heading north, we shall stop under the
Kessock Bridge to scan the Moray and
Beauly Firths for Otter and dolphins. Continuing
up the coast, we shall visit the RSPB’s Reserve
at Nigg Bay for waders, wildfowl and maybe some
late Pink-footed Geese.
We shall stop at Loch Fleet for breeding Osprey,
as well as a reliable site for Greenshank. We’ll
continue to stop and scan the bays as we head
towards John O’Groats and the most north
easterly point on the UK mainland, Duncansby
Head. Our hotel is near Dunnet Bay and we’ll
spend the next day exploring the rich wildlife
of Caithness. The small Reserve at St John’s Pool is an absolute gem, with an enviable list of rarities
as well as breeding terns, waders and wildfowl.
Nearby Dunnet Head has spectacular views over
the Pentland Firth and the island of Hoy. Gannets
and auks fish in the Firth and recently there have
been regular sightings of Orcas.
The RSPB’s new Reserve at Broubster Leans,
is on a natural floodplain and is a fantastic habitat
for Short-eared Owls and Hen Harriers. We shall
visit this Reserve in the evening, to look for hunting
raptors as the light fades.
|
| Days 4-6 | Continuing along the north coast
towards north-west Sutherland,
the scenery becomes very dramatic, with
vast seascapes and towering mountains.
We’ll visit Strathy Point, where the seawatching can be excellent, with Kittiwakes, Shags, auks and
maybe cetaceans. We have seen a vagrant White-billed Diver here, so anything’s possible!
Further along the coast, we shall stop at the Kyle
of Tongue, overshadowed by the dramatic peaks
of Ben Loyal. This is eagle and Otter country, with
a supporting cast of all three divers, Mergansers
and breeding waders.
Our journey continues around the shores of Loch
Eriboll and on towards the village of Scourie,
where our hotel is perfectly positioned overlooking
Badcall Bay. There’s a good chance of Otters from
the hotel and we shall visit Scourie Bay where
calling Corncrake can occasionally be heard.
The next day we shall explore Balnakeil with
its beautiful beach. Some of the land at Balnakeil
is managed for Corncrakes and we’ll look and
listen for them amongst the nettle beds. The marsh
at Balnakeil is little known and can be excellent,
with scarce birds always possible.
The next day will be spent exploring the fabulous
Reserve of Handa Island. The ‘Bonxies’ own Handa
and their ever present shapes patrol the skies.
Arctic Skuas also breed and we shall get to within
a few feet of these birds, but there is much more
to Handa, with huge seabird colonies on vertical
cliffs. Hundreds of thousands of auks, Fulmars
and Kittiwakes breed here and the sights, sounds
and smells of Handa are simply incredible.
Our journey continues south through
the wilds of Assynt. A famed landscape, with the
iconic peaks of Suilven and Quinag rising from
tracts of bare moorland and blanket bog. There
are breeding divers and Greenshank here and the
chance of Golden Eagle is ever present. Seals haul
out on skerries and there is always the chance
of Otter. We shall spend the night in the scenic
port of Ullapool.
|
| Days 7-8 | The dramatic scenery continues
as we visit Gruinard Bay, overshadowed
by the huge rock walls of An Teallach.
This is White-tailed Eagle territory and
we shall scan the islands and peaks for eagles and
other wildlife. The route takes us through some
incredible vistas, before running along the shores
of Loch Maree Nature Reserve.
We shall stay for two nights in Shieldaig, where
White-tailed Eagles regularly breed on an island
in front of the hotel. The next day we’ll explore
the Applecross peninsula and drive over the
spectacular Bealach Na Ba, the highest pass
in the UK. The views from the top to Skye are
breathtaking and we shall walk to one of the
summits for Ptarmigan.
|
| Day 9 | Our final day takes us along the shores
of Loch Kishorn towards Inverness.
Once we have completed the route, we shall
have the opportunity to explore and look for
wildlife around Inverness and the Black Isle.
|
| Day 10 | After breakfast we say our goodbyes.
|
Just some of what we hope to see..
| Eider | Hen Harrier | Rock Dove |
| Common Scoter | Merlin | Cuckoo |
| Goldeneye | Golden Plover | Short-eared Owl |
| Ptarmigan | Greenshank | Whinchat |
| Black-throated Diver | Black-tailed Godwit | Ring Ouzel |
| Great Northern Diver | Whimbrel | Common Whitethroat |
| Manx Shearwater | Great Skua | Hooded Crow |
| Gannet | Arctic Skua | Twite |
| White-tailed Eagle | Arctic Tern | Otter |
| Osprey | Puffin | Grey Seal |
| Golden Eagle | Black Guillemot | cetaceans |
"Saw almost every bird that was on our wish list. Fantastic weather for most of the time."
Sonia & Clive Adkin
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"Eagles, Divers and Cuckoos. Who could want for more, except for brilliant sunshine on the West Coast of Scotland and we got that as well. The scenery was superb."
Melanie & John Parker
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"Excellent views of both White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagles, also Short-eared Owls."
Sheila Jones
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"What a fantastic holiday for wildlife and scenery and as a bonus staying in some amazing accommodation."
Franky & David Perry
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"Handa Island, Applecross peninsula, Loch Eriboll were the stand out highlights on the NC500-2017 for me, both in terms of landscape and birding opportunities. The photography hides at St John's Pool and the very passionate and friendly owner Julian who enthusiastically gave us a guided tour."
Paul Bamford
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"Handa even in the mist was a magical place and it was hard to tear ourselves away from the close views of the magnificent Great and Arctic Skuas and the seabirds on the cliffs, especially the Puffins posing in the pink thrift. St John's Pool was an absolute gem. The views all down the west coast were as majestic and beautiful as any in the world. We vowed at every stage to return!"
Gillian Bamford
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"The occasions when we were able to get so close to wildlife. The Skuas on Handa Island; The nesting Terns at St John's Pool; The Sea Eagle pursued by Ravens that we saw when we stopped for ice-creams at Shieldaig. And of course, the wonderful landscapes, particularly our great adventure visiting Cape Wrath!"
Judy Millson & Richard Thomas
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"We've had holidays all over the Scottish mainland and islands for the past 49 years. On this trip, we enjoyed some spectacular scenery, and wonderful places we'd never been to before ......... Handa Island ........ Applecross Pass (+ views to the Cuillins on Skye from the radio mast) ........ the northwest coast etc."
Gillian & David Smith
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With its guarantee of a good night’s sleep, a reputation for excellent customer service and a good restaurant, the Premier Inn is the ideal place to spend our first and last evenings.
There is free parking and a 24-hour reception at this Premier Inn. In-room amenities feature free WiFi, pillow-top mattresses and en suite bathrooms with showers, as well as tea and coffee-making facilities, TVs and desks.
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Set on the town's main street, this old-world hotel and restaurant with a grey stone facade is a 10-minute walk from the coast and 4.9 miles from Thurso. Traditional rooms with en suite bathrooms are individually furnished. All feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffeemaking facilities.
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Eddrachilles is a friendly hotel overlooking Badcall and Eddrachillis Bays, with a flair for thoughtful and generous Highland hospitality. Good food, a quality wine list, and a well stocked bar featuring many local whiskies, gins and craft beers. All rooms are ensuite with guest toiletries, TV with Freeview, radio clock alarm, tea/coffee making facilities and hairdryer.
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This quaint, literature-themed hotel was formed from a clutch of white-washed cottages with views of the Fannichs mountains, serving delicious, tasty food using locally sourced produce. Simply furnished ensuite rooms come with radios and compact libraries. There is a laid-back cafe and bar, as well as a lounge with free WiFi, tea and coffeemaking facilities and a bar.
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This family run hotel, nestled in the picturesque village of Sheildaig is set in a line of converted 19th-century whitewashed cottages overlooking Loch Shieldaig. The bright rooms have private bathrooms, Wi-Fi and sitting areas, most have loch views. The hotel is renowned for its food using the very best local ingredients they focus on seafood from the loch but have options for carnivores and vegetarians alike with daily menu changes.
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