THE ROAD NORTH
Staffordshire to Inverness, the NC500 start, a first night beside the Cromarty Firth and sunrise before the Highlands properly opened up.
SCOTLAND · SEPTEMBER—OCTOBER 2025
NIXNC500
THE WILD NORTH. THE LONG WAY ROUND.
Two weeks in Vanilla across Scotland’s north coast and Isle of Skye—wild beaches, single-track roads, mountain passes and weather with a mind of its own.
SCOTLAND DOESN’T
NEED A FILTER.
This page is built from John’s original FindPenguins GPX: 4,282 recorded track points and 117 public diary moments from 21 September to 3 October 2025.
The route has been simplified for speed and scrubbed around home for privacy. Everything that matters—the coast, the passes, the stops and the story—remains.
READ THE ORIGINAL FINDPENGUINS LOG →THE NORTH,
ROAD BY ROAD.
JOHN O’ GROATS & THURSO
The far northeast: John o’ Groats, Thurso, the first Tennents and the first drone flight of the run.
DURNESS & CAPE WRATH
Kyle of Tongue, Loch Eriboll, Durness and Smoo Cave—with the road pushing toward the edge of the mainland.
KYLESKU & ACHMELVICH
The west coast turned cinematic: Kylesku Bridge, Drumbeg, Clachtoll and water clear enough to earn the name Scottish Caribbean.
ULLAPOOL & GAIRLOCH
Ardvreck Castle, Ullapool harbour, seafood, a ferry diversion toward Stornoway, Gruinard Bay and Gairloch.
APPLECROSS & BEALACH NA BÀ
Loch Maree and Shieldaig led to Applecross, then the famous pass, views toward Skye and Eilean Donan Castle.
THE ROAD HOME
Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Glencoe and Loch Lomond carried Vanilla south before the final fuel stop and home.
PLAY THE
ROAD NORTH.
Follow the recorded route on the dark NIX map. Tap a numbered stop to jump straight into that chapter.
NIX // MAP READY WHEN YOU ARE
PROPER MOMENTS.
NO FILLER.
Nice morning
German Bus
Cromaty Firth
Monday Sunrise
Hairy
Last curry for a while
First Coos
Highland Chicken
Lerin
Beach
Battery joy
Drumbeg
Scottish Caribbean
Me and me mate Torcall
4th Fill
Loch Maree
Applecross Inn
Scottish Water
THIRTEEN DAYS.
ONE FRAME AT A TIME.
Public Flickr photographs captured during the exact journey dates, in chronological order.
DEVELOPING THE NC500 PHOTOGRAPHS…