North Coast 500 2025/2026

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From$660 pp
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1-888-597-3519

905-639-9954

dhtour@dhtour.ca

3 Days / 2 Nights (B 'n B or hotel)
Availability : Year round
Start: Inverness, Scotland
End: Inverness, Scotland

North Coast 500: 1 nt Ullapool, 1 nt Thurso

Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book. 

You clamber among scattered boulders and spot a beach so white it makes you reach for your sunglasses. You ramble along cliffs and find a village so small you try to pack it in your suitcase. And you travel along tumbling roads and see castles so ancient you rub your eyes in disbelief. This is the North Coast 500 and over every horizon, you find something surprising.

3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS / MAX 16 GUESTS / SMALL COACH

DetailItineraryDates & PricesMapPhotos
Tour Details
Places you explore

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe – Uninhabited since 1690 after damage from cannon fire, the ruined castle is one of the earliest seats of Clan Sinclair.

Bealach-na-Ba – This winding mountain road that takes hairpin turns through dramatic glacial landforms.

Shieldaig – Founded in 1800 this tiny village thrives as one of Scotland most picturesque villages.

John o’Groats – This remote coastal village in Scotland’s northeastern corner can feel like being on the edge of the world.

Kylesku Bridge – Take in breathtaking views as you cross this elegant, sweeping bridge, perfectly nestled within the wild, dramatic beauty of the Highland landscape.

Torridon – Nothing quite embodies the essence of the Scottish Highlands quite like the mountainous landscape of Torridon.

Corrieshalloch Gorge – Created by glacial meltwaters, this is one of Britain’s most attractive and photogenic gorges.

Applecross – Famous for the incredible drive and thought to be one of the earliest settlements in Scotland.

Pick Up Location & TIme

Inverness  (Google Map)
Check-in closes at 7:30am (tour departs at 7:45am) – Stance 7, Inverness Bus Station, Margaret St, Inverness, IV1 1LT

Drop off Location & Time

Inverness
approx. 7:00pm

Price Includes

  • 2 night Bed 'n Breakfast accommodation or hotel accommodation
  • Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Air conditioning as standard
  • Daily full Scottish breakfasts
  • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide

Meals

  • 2 breakfast
  • 0 lunches
  • 0 dinners
  • 0 teas

Price Excludes

  • Entry fees to visitor attraction
  • Airfare
  • Transfers
  • Pre / Post hotel nights
  • Driver / Tour Leader gratuity is at your discretion
  • Travel Insurance
What to Expect

Explore in 16 seat mini-coaches, always taking the scenic route, you have great views through large windows, and you’re free to sample the local tipple without worrying about driving. Our driver-guides are world famous for their knowledge, facts, quirky stories, history, and fairy-tales. They truly take you beyond the guidebooks and into your adventure. You make your trip your own. We provide the timetable; and you can choose where you want to eat and which attractions you pay to see. So, if you want to skip a castle and read your book by a mountain view, you can.

Itinerary

Day 1Ullapool

Set off from Inverness and embark on Scotland’s ‘Route 66,’ a journey through some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. With so much to explore, we’ll start our day early, traveling through gently rolling farmlands before transitioning into the dramatic terrain of the northern Highlands and Loch Carron. As the scenery becomes more remote and rugged, with vast moorlands, heather-clad hills, and streams meandering through the untamed wilderness, you’ll find yourself captivated by the unspoiled beauty of the Highlands—a place where time seems to stand still and nature reigns.

Next, prepare for the thrilling drive along Bealach na Bà, one of Scotland’s highest and most dramatic roads, once used to move cattle between the Applecross Peninsula and markets across the country. This exhilarating route takes us to the remote village of Applecross, which still retains the charm of traditional Highland life, with some residents speaking Gaelic. Get some refreshments at the popular Applecross Inn, before we continue with our adventure.

Next, we journey to the charming village of Shieldaig, framed by rugged mountains and a striking sea loch. We’ll stop here for lunch—be sure to sample some local seafood before exploring this picturesque place. Afterwards, we pass through the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve, where mountains rise above dark lochs and pristine forests. The North Coast 500 isn’t just about rugged terrain; it’s also known for stunning beaches. We’ll visit one of its hidden gems—Gairloch Beach—where you can reconnect with nature. Lastly, we visit Corrieshalloch Gorge, where a short walk through the forest leads to the dramatic cascade of the gorge, offering a breathtaking view of nature’s power.

We conclude the day with a scenic drive back to Ullapool, passing through untouched moorlands and peat bogs en route to the shores of Loch Broom. Enjoy a well-deserved rest among the charming, whitewashed cottages of this delightful fishing village. Or stay up for some stargazing and catching a session of live music in one of the many local pubs.

Your overnight accommodation will be in Ullapool.

Day 2Journey the NC500

It’s time to get ready for another exciting day of adventure along the North Coast 500. We leave Ullapool and head into the far northwest Highlands, where the wilderness of the Assynt mountains awaits.

We then step into history with a visit to the 15th-century Ardvreck Castle, perched on the shores of Loch Assynt. Once the stronghold of the MacLeods of Assynt, this haunting ruin is steeped in legendary tales of betrayal and the capture of the Marquis of Montrose, offering a glimpse into Scotland’s turbulent past. Next, we turn to the marvel of modern engineering with a scenic drive over the striking Kylesku Bridge that blends effortlessly into the rugged landscape, before we continue north to Durness.

It’s time for some fresh sea air so we head to Balnakeil Beach. You can go for a walk along its vast sandy beach and feel the cool breeze from the Atlantic on your face, or you can just relax and take in the beauty of the rolling dunes and the sound of the waves. Then we continue to see another natural marvel, Smoo Cave. Steeped in legends, stories of pirates and mystery, this awe-inspiring sea cave is one of our favourite places along the NC500. The rest of the afternoon is flexible and it depends on the weather and your group’s interests. We will stop for lunch in a Highland village and travel along more of the stunning landscapes before we arrive in Thurso.

You have a free evening to enjoy this wee town at your own pace. Will you take a peaceful stroll along its beautiful beach, or explore the streets to find a cosy restaurant for a relaxing dinner? The choice is yours to make the most of the evening. You have a free evening to enjoy this wee town at your own pace. Will you take a peaceful stroll along its beautiful beach, or explore the streets to find a cosy restaurant for a relaxing dinner? The choice is yours to make the most of the evening.

Your overnight accommodation will be in Thurso. (B)

Day 3Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

We start the day with visiting Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of the British mainland. With rugged cliffs towering above the Atlantic Ocean, this dramatic spot provides sweeping views across the coastline, the Orkney Islands, and beyond.

Next, we journey to John O’Groats, the northernmost village on mainland Scotland and a symbolic landmark for epic adventures, including the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats route. Take a moment to grab a coffee and snap a photo with the famous signpost, marking distances to renowned destinations, before we continue our adventure to the dramatic Girnigeo Castle.

Perched on windswept cliffs on the Caithness coast, Girnigeo Castle is our next stop. This ancient ruin, with its dramatic views of the North Sea, holds wild tales of the past. Walk along the wild coast to the eerie ruins and listen to the chilling tales connected to this place. The fresh sea air must have stimulated your appetite, so we head to Wick for lunch. Once a key Viking settlement, this small town’s strategic location shaped its storied past of trade and raids. Traveling south, enjoy the green valleys and coastal views en route to Dunrobin Castle, where you can snap a photo of this stately home. The journey continues through lands once home to Picts and Vikings.

We have a short break in Dornoch, a town blessed with a peaceful atmosphere and scenic surroundings before we resume our return journey to Inverness. And as we head back to ‘the Capital of the Highlands’ you can reflect on the towering mountains, winding coastal roads, and hidden gems that defined your journey along the North Coast 500. (B)

Dates and Prices - Authentic Bed 'n Breakfast accommodation
Departure Date Double/Twin (pp) Single Rate
2025: June to September – Monday & Thursday $830 $1,050
2025: October – Monday & Thursday $720 $940
2025: November – Thursday $660 $890
2026: February to March  – Thursday $660 $890
2026: April to May – Monday & Thursday $780 $1,060
2026: June to September – Monday & Thursday $920 $1,200
2026: October – Thursday $780 $1,060
Dates and Prices - Hotel accommodation
Departure Date Double/Twin (pp) Single Rate
2025: June to September – Monday & Thursday $960 $1,180
2025: October – Monday & Thursday $850 $1,070
2025: November – Thursday $800 $1,020
2026: February to March – Thursday $800 $1,020
2025: April to May – Monday & Thursday $910 $1,160
2025: June to September – Monday & Thursday $1,050 $1,300
2025: October – Monday & Thursday $910 $1,160

All guaranteed departures.

Pricing

Pricing is per person (pp) based on twin/ double occupancy.
Rates are in $ CAD.

 


Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca  to book.

Ask us for the best available pricing for your dates & choice of airline.

 

Notes
Mobility: All of our tours involve walking and require our guests to board and disembark our vehicles several times a day making this tour unsuitable for those with reduced mobility.

Luggage: You’re restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.

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