North Coast 500 Road Trip

Nestled on the east coast of the Scottish Highlands, Brora is the first stop on your North Coast 500 tour.

The Brora Caravan and Motorhome Club Site is in the perfect location for a wild, outdoor experience. Set just 300 yards from a sandy beach, next to a pristine golf course and within hiking distance of Brora’s river, loch and the mountains, there's plenty for any adventurer to get stuck into. On route here from Inverness, the magnificent 15th century Dunrobin Castle is well worth a visit, with something for all the family. If ghost stories are your thing, be sure to ask about the Lady in Grey or the spooky fingers on the windowsill.

When you arrive at Brora you can leave your motorhome on site as local buses stop nearby and Brora train station is only a mile and a half away if you're wanting to travel further afield. Golden beaches stretch miles from Brora through to Helmsdale to the North and Golspie to the South. Keep an eye out as it’s not unusual to discover fossils along these shores. For more treasure hunting, try gold panning on Kildonan Burn.

The local area is a wildlife lover's dream with a chance to see dolphins, birds, grey whales, otters, seals, deer and so much more. After all the adventuring a well earned trip to the Clynelish Malt Distillery is just a twenty minute walk from site where you can gain a new understanding of the whisky making process and set your taste buds tingling with a generous whisky tasting.

Dunnet is your second destination on the North Coast 500 tour. Stay in an area of immense natural beauty at the Dunnet Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club site and enjoy stunning views over Dunnet Head - the northernmost point of the British mainland. Stop en route at Thirle Door and the Stacks of Duncansby for more breathtaking views. Enjoy a clifftop picnic at Duncansby Head Lighthouse or head further along the coast to John O’Groats for a selection of cafés and restaurants.

You can leave your motorhome at Dunnet Bay as buses stop nearby to take you to John O’Groats or the centre of Thurso. In Thurso you can visit the magnificent Castle of Mey and wander the stunning gardens, or take part in a hands-on experience at the Animal Centre, where you can have a chat with Alice the Donkey or Beebee and Lily the alpine goats. For more animal antics, Caithness Wildlife Tours will introduce you to seals, seabirds and puffins and the abundant wildlife in the far north of Scotland.

Hop to the Orkney Islands to visit an array of historic attractions from the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae to the Orkney Museum and the Ring of Brodgar. If whisky wasn’t your thing on the last leg, then perhaps we can tempt you with gin and vodka? Dunnet Bay Distillery is just a ten minute walk from site and offers informative and friendly tours complete with tasting sessions. With so much to see and do you will almost certainly need to recharge your batteries, and the Northern Sands Hotel and Restaurant offers a great selection of food just half a mile from site, whether you're after breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This part of the journey takes you west along the North coast. There are plenty of places to stop on this part of your journey including the Strathnaver Museum where you can discover Scotland's vibrant culture inherited from Norse and Gaelic ancestors.

The scenery here includes views of Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, and breathtaking views of Loch Hope. For a quick thrill en route, the Golden Eagle Zip Lines will set your heart racing. If you'd rather delve beneath the ground than fly sky-high above it, Smoo Cave is well worth exploring - a geological wonder and one of the largest sea caves in Britain.

Stay at 94 Laid Certificated Location, a few miles south of Ceannabeinne Beach.

As you head south be sure to take the A894 rather than the B869 as this is a single track road and not suitable for motorhomes.

As you make your way down Scotland's west coast, you'll cross over the spectacular Kylesku Bridge just outside of Unapool. Continue on to Birchbank, a Certificated Location on a working farm, ideal for quiet stays.

A 45 minute bus ride from the site takes you to the small fishing port of Lochinver which offers wonderful views across to Suilven. Here you can take a boat tour with Inver Cruises or head south to see the Falls of Kirkaig. The bus also takes you past Ardvreck Castle, a magical and romantic ruin located just off the roadside.

Keen walkers should head to Stac Pollaidh car park to climb Stac Polly for fantastic views over Assynt, the Summer Isles and Achiltibuie. For a slightly less challenging walk, the Bone Caves circuit is around two hours long and starts not far from the site, which is perfect for all the family.

Kinlochewe is your next stop and lies two miles South East of the head of Loch Maree, one of Scotland's most scenic lochs. On the way here head to Corrieshalloch Gorge - walking over the suspension bridge provides a great photo opportunity but isn’t for the faint hearted! Set at the end of a beautiful drive, the Kinlochewe Caravan and Motorhome Club Site is based at the foot of the rugged slopes of Beinn Eighe.

The local town has all your basic necessities and a 40 minute bus ride on the local 700 bus takes you to the village of Gairloch, situated on the shores of Loch Gairloch. Here you will find Gairloch Heritage Museum, a quaint little museum that although small will take you hours to explore the interesting mix of local history, geology, religion and more. There are various trips available from Gairloch like dolphin and whale watching.

Half an hour away is Shieldaig Outdoor Adventures, who offer a range of activities from kayaking through to guided hikes and bespoke outdoor experiences. Another must nearby is Attadale Gardens, a 45 minute drive from site. Take a relaxing stroll around the beautifully crafted and unusual gardens, admiring the sculptures before stopping for refreshments at the local tea rooms. From here, either head back to Inverness to the Culloden Moor Caravan and Motorhome Club site or join the next leg of the Scottish Highlights road trip, heading straight to Edinburgh.