Full Description
A guidebook to the 850km (528 mile) NC500 cycle route around northern Scotland. This circular tour starting and finishing in Inverness and passing through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross and the Black Isle is suitable for all types of bikes, and cyclists with a good level of fitness. The NC500 can be cycled in 2 weeks.
Presented in 16 stages between 24 and 89km (15-55 miles)
Alternate routes are given to avoid the steep ascent of Bealach na Bà or the undulating Assynt peninsula
The busy A9 east coast road is avoided, but is described as an alternative route
Route passes Ullapool, Thurso and Tain
1:150,000 mapping and profiles are included for each route
GPX files available to download
Detailed information on accommodation, refreshments and facilities along the route
Contents
Map key
Overview map
Route summary table
Suggested schedules
Introduction
Background
The route
Natural environment
Preparation
Getting there and back
Navigation and information
Accommodation
Food and drink
Amenities and services
What to take
Safety and emergencies
About this guide
The route
Stage 1 Inverness to Garve
Stage 2 Garve to Lochcarron
Stage 3 Lochcarron to Shieldaig (direct route)
Stage 3A Lochcarron to Shieldaig (via Applecross)
Stage 4 Shieldaig to Gairloch
Stage 5 Gairloch to Ullapool
Stage 6 Ullapool to Lochinver
Stage 7 Lochinver to Kylesku
Stage 8 Kylesku to Durness
Stage 9 Durness to Tongue
Stage 10 Tongue to Melvich
Stage 11 Melvich to John o and amp;#39; Groats (coastal route)
Stage 12 John o and amp;#39; Groats to Melvich (inland route)
Stage 13 Melvich to Altnaharra
Stage 14 Altnaharra to Tain
Stage 12A John o and amp;#39; Groats to Lybster
Stage 13A Lybster to Brora
Stage 14A Brora to Tain
Stage 15 Tain to Nigg (for Cromarty ferry)
Stage 16 Cromarty to Inverness
Stage 15A Tain to Dingwall
Stage 16A Dingwall to Inverness
Appendix A Facilities summary table
Appendix B Tourist information
Appendix C Hostels and bunkhouses
Appendix D Campsites
Appendix E Cycle shops and cycle hire
Appendix F Munros near route (mountains over 914m)
Appendix G Distilleries en route
Appendix H Useful contacts
