🏴‍☠️ NC500 + Skye Adventure Itinerary 🚐🍻

Start/End: Inverness Style: East coast first (all the way to John o’Groats), with a 2-day Skye detour after Kinlochewe. Duration: 12 Days. Theme: Every campsite near a pub 🍺, drone stops included 🚁.

📅 Day 1 – Inverness ➜ John o’Groats (East Coast in One Hit)

Mileage: ~120 miles / 3.5 hrs driving

Route: A9 → A99, hugging the east coast.

Drone Stops:

Dunrobin Castle 🏰

Whaligoe Steps 🪜 (dramatic coastal cliffs)

Wick Harbour 🚁

Campsite: John O’Groats Caravan & Camping Site

Pub: Seaview Hotel Bar 🍺 / John O’Groats Brewery 🍻

Evening Vibes: Iconic “End of the Road” sign pic, then a pint by the sea 🌊.

📅 Day 2 – John o’Groats ➜ Dunnet Bay

Mileage: ~20 miles / 45 mins

Drone Stops:

Duncansby Stacks 🗿

Dunnet Head (northernmost mainland point) 🌍

Campsite: Dunnet Bay CAMC Site

Pub: Northern Sands Hotel 🍻

Evening Vibes: Beach walk at sunset 🌅, quiet pint in the village.

📅 Day 3 – Dunnet Bay ➜ Tongue

Mileage: ~55 miles / 1.5 hrs

Drone Stops:

Castle of Mey 🏰

Kyle of Tongue causeway 🌊

Campsite: Kyle of Tongue Holiday Park

Pub: Tongue Hotel 🍺

Evening Vibes: Mountain backdrop with a whisky by the fire 🥃.

📅 Day 4 – Tongue ➜ Durness

Mileage: ~45 miles / 1.5 hrs

Drone Stops:

Ceannabeinne Beach 🏖️

Balnakeil Bay + craft village 🖼️

Campsite & Pub: Sango Sands Oasis (on-site bar/restaurant 🍻)

Evening Vibes: Pint in hand, Atlantic waves crashing below 🌊.

📅 Day 5 – Durness ➜ Scourie

Mileage: ~25 miles / 1 hr

Drone Stops:

Kylesku Bridge (epic aerial!) 🌉

Campsite: Scourie Caravan & Camping Site

Pub: Scourie Hotel Bar 🍺

Evening Vibes: Tiny fishing village charm 🎣.

📅 Day 6 – Scourie ➜ Ullapool

Mileage: ~65 miles / 2 hrs

Drone Stops:

Ardvreck Castle ruins 🏰

Loch Assynt reflections 🌄

Campsite: Broomfield Holiday Park (right by the harbour)

Pubs: Ferry Boat Inn / The Arch Inn 🍺

Evening Vibes: Live music, harbour lights 🎶.

📅 Day 7 – Ullapool ➜ Poolewe (Inverewe)

Mileage: ~55 miles / 1.5 hrs

Drone Stops:

Gruinard Bay (pink sand) 🏖️

Loch Ewe naval base relics ⚓

Campsite: Inverewe Gardens Camping & Caravanning Club Site

Pub: Poolewe Hotel 🍺

Evening Vibes: Lochside calm, pint & log fire 🔥.

📅 Day 8 – Poolewe ➜ Kinlochewe

Mileage: ~30 miles / 1 hr

Drone Stops:

Loch Maree islands 🌲

Beinn Eighe ridge 🏔️

Campsite: Kinlochewe Caravan & Motorhome Club Site

Pub: Kinlochewe Hotel Bar 🍺

Evening Vibes: Quiet night before Skye detour ✨.

🏝️ Skye Detour (2 Days)

📅 Day 9 – Kinlochewe ➜ Skye (Sligachan)

Mileage: ~90 miles / 3 hrs (via A87, Skye Bridge)

Drone Stops:

Loch Carron 🌊

Plockton Harbour 🚁

Campsite: Sligachan Campsite

Pub: Sligachan Hotel Whisky Bar (300+ whiskies 🥃)

Evening Vibes: Pint under the Cuillin mountains 🏔️.

📅 Day 10 – Explore Skye (Portree & Quiraing)

Mileage: ~60 miles touring the island

Drone Stops:

Old Man of Storr 🗿

Quiraing ridge 🌄

Kilt Rock waterfalls 🌊

Campsite: Torvaig Caravan & Campsite near Portree

Pub: Portree Harbour pubs (e.g. Isles Inn) 🍻

Evening Vibes: Seafood + pint, colourful harbour lights 🐟🍺.

🔄 Back to NC500

📅 Day 11 – Skye ➜ Applecross

Mileage: ~75 miles / 3 hrs (via Skye Bridge & Bealach na Bà)

Drone Stops:

Lochcarron ⛰️

Bealach na Bà pass 🚐 (if brave!)

Campsite: Applecross Campsite

Pub: Applecross Inn 🍺 (legendary seafood).

Evening Vibes: Sunset pint with dolphins sometimes offshore 🐬.

📅 Day 12 – Applecross ➜ Inverness (finish)

Mileage: ~80 miles / 3 hrs

Route: Lochcarron ➜ Achnasheen ➜ back into Inverness.

Campsite (optional): Bught Park Caravan Site

Pub: Plenty in Inverness city centre — Hootananny for live ceilidh music 🎶🍻.

Evening Vibes: Raise a glass — you’ve completed the NC500 + Skye loop! 🏆

🧾 Summary Table

Day

Route

Campsite

Pub

1

Inverness ➜ John o’Groats

John o’Groats Site

Seaview Hotel 🍺

2

John o’Groats ➜ Dunnet Bay

Dunnet Bay CAMC

Northern Sands 🍻

3

Dunnet Bay ➜ Tongue

Kyle of Tongue

Tongue Hotel 🍺

4

Tongue ➜ Durness

Sango Sands Oasis

On-site bar 🍻

5

Durness ➜ Scourie

Scourie Site

Scourie Hotel 🍺

6

Scourie ➜ Ullapool

Broomfield Park

Ferry Boat Inn 🍺

7

Ullapool ➜ Poolewe

Inverewe Gardens Site

Poolewe Hotel 🍺

8

Poolewe ➜ Kinlochewe

Kinlochewe Site

Kinlochewe Hotel 🍺

9

Kinlochewe ➜ Skye

Sligachan Campsite

Sligachan Hotel 🍻

10

Explore Skye

Torvaig Site

Portree pubs 🍺

11

Skye ➜ Applecross

Applecross Campsite

Applecross Inn 🍺

12

Applecross ➜ Inverness

Bught Park (optional)

Inverness pubs 🍺