Tag Archives: NC500

UK, Wild Camping

New Lanark UNESCO Site

We stopped here to walk the waterfalls and visit the Old Mill, there is a large main car park that is quite uneven and 3 overflow car parks that are quite flat, you can either pay for 24hrs or 28days parking for cars or coaches, I paid for a coach @£5 but had to use the machine as my number plate on the app wanted to charge me £3 for cars.

I checked with the visitor centre that what i had done was ok and informed them i would like to stay over and they were very happy for me to do so. (we stayed in the flat overflow car park no2)

The Mill is amazing with so much to do including a cafe and lots of areas for kids to play.

Just adding a small addendum here: We found the actual buildings all dog Unfriendly, cafe, shops and most buildings were not accessible if you had a dog.

We walked upstream towards the hydro electric power plant through a fantastic riverside path that was very well maintained and laid out, the waterfalls were spectacular and that was without too much rain.

Follow the badger along the trail to the waterfalls
Campsite, NC500, UK

NC500 2021 Day 9, Ullapool

We left the cragg nice and early to head into Ullapool, there is a large free car park behind Tesco, also note there is a laundry service available on the right as you pull into the car park and well worth a visit to get all that washing done.

We headed into town to get a coffee and a wander with a view to stop at the SeaFood Shack for lunch, they open at 12 and by 11:30 had started queuing, we joined them at around 11:45 and they opened promptly at 12.

I ordered the haddock wrap for my wife and 6 langoustines for myself, while I was ordering Karen found the pop up Gin booth and had a taster.

We stopped at Ardmair Point Caravan & Camping park, £27.50 for the night, hard standing, EHU, Showers, Toilets, Washing up and CDP, amazing views across the water.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2021 Day 8, Knockan Crag Nature Reserve

We left Kinlochbervie and headed south to Kylesku Bridge where we had tea and homemade cake for a mid morning stop.

At newton we branched off right on the B869 headed towards Clashnessie and Lochinver, the road was very narrow with some scary hills and bends, plenty of passing places and quiet roads enabled the wife to keep her eyes open most of the way, Clashnessie Beach was lovely.

We then headed into Lochinver but never stayed long as raining and couldn’t really find the right place to stop.

We continued on towards Ullapool and found a lovely stop over at Knocken Crag Nature reserve, a tarmac car park with toilets and fresh water set up out the of the way with amazing views over a loch and some great information regarding the rock formations.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2021 Day 7, Loch Clash Kinlochbervie

We left Altnaharra and headed across NW along the A838, the midges were out in force so we barely stopped except for brunch tucked away overlooking Loch Stack.

Osprey or Eagle Nest

We arrived at one of our favourite stops Kinlochbervie, a night stop well worth a visit, £15 a night with EHU, £10 without or £5 if you just want to empty and top up.

Fresh water and CDP, bins and a very well stocked shop, the views across the harbour are fantastic, this plays fills up quick so I would aim to be here between 12 and 2 if you can, after that you may struggle.

CAMC, NC500, UK

NC500 2021 Day 6, Altnaharra CAMC

We left Bonar Bridge and headed to Lidl at Tain to stock up, we then headed to Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve.

We were amazed at how many seals were lying on the sand bars, we counted 63 about 100 yards from where we were parked.

We had brunch and walked along the side of the loch taking photos.

We then headed to our night stop at Altnaharra Caravan and Motorhome Club site, right on the edge of Loch Naver, CDP, water and a small shop, NO toilets or showers.

Please note the water is pumped from underground and although I am assured it is safe to drink, looking like apple juice I decided not too.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2021 Day 5, Bonar Bridge

We left Fortrose and headed north, just a short 1 hour drive to a lovely spot called Bonar Bridge, as you approach from the south there is a turning into the car park area on the right, there are concrete bays as you enter but if you go all the way through it turns to a gravel area right at the end and opens up into a viewpoint of the water and valley.

Amazing Views as we headed through the mountains down towards Bonar Bridge
The view from our Motorhome Window.

There are toilets here but currently closed, no facilities but the town is a very short walk across the bridge with conveniences store, take away and a pub.

Seal’s catching fish and swimming in the water.
Campsite, NC500, UK

NC500 2021 Day 4, Fortrose Bay

We got up early to head down to the lighthouse for a spot of dolphin watching, we witnessed a few pairs breaking the service and a seal bobbing around but nothing spectacular, the view however was indeed gorgeous, the walk was about 20 mins to the point across the edge of the golf course.

After a well earned cooked breakfast we decided to walk into Rosemarkie, a 20 minute walk along quiet roads and through the Camping and Caravanning site on the waters edge, we stopped at a lovely coffee shop called Crofters, a nice selection of coffees, cakes and meals.

We walked down into the village and decided to walk to Fairy Glen Falls, the car park was only 3-5 minutes from the village centre but it was a long walk to the actual falls through gorgeous woodlands along the brook/river.

With over 20,000 steps under our belt we headed back to the van to moan about how much we ached and asking “is it bedtime yet”

Campsite, NC500, UK

NC500 2021 Day 3, Fortrose Bay

We left the viewpoint at Loch Lochy around 7:30, through past experience we realised Fort Augustus Motorhome bays in main car park get busy fast so planned to be there between 8 and 8:30, arrived with plenty of spaces. £3 for 4 hours was nice and cheap.

We had breakfast and took a wander down to the town, headed out towards Loch Ness, it was beautiful.

We then headed up along the loch to have a nice morning coffee while watching the boats coming through the locks.

We left Loch Ness heading on to Inverness and our stop for the night Fortrose Bay Campsite, a lovely stop over right on the edge of the water @ £25 a night with EHU and all the usual amenities you would expect from a campsite, nice clean hot showers and amazing views over the Moray Firth.

Up early in the morning for a walk to the point to see Dolphins hopefully.

NC500, UK

NC500 2021 Day 2, Loch Lochy

We left Cumbria nice and early with a 5-6 hour journey ahead of us, traffic was surprisingly light, we stopped a couple of services on the way up but especially liked Cairn Lodge.

We made our way up and along Loch Lomond, stopping along the way to get some photos

We stopped off at the Falls of Falloch for a cuppa and a walk to the falls

Finishing off for the night along the edge of Loch Lomond, a free viewpoint overlooking the water.

NC500, UK, Wild Camping

NC500 2020 Day 13, Final Day.

We left Loch Tulla Viewpoint heading towards Killin, we had breakfast before we left but did find an American Diner on route that had a great breakfast menu and coffee.

We arrived in Killin and managed to find a space in the small car park, not many places you could fit a 7.1m Motorhome but we were lucky.

Amazing Waterfalls after the rain.

The Village is beautiful and definitely worth a wander, food, coffee and gift shops.

The Falls Of Dochart were truly spectacular, we even watched salmon jumping.

We were supposed to stay here but decided to start the long drive home and ended up at the Forestry Commission Car Park at Ae-Naze, £3 to stay the night with no Services.

This was virtually the end of our NC500 Tour, just driving and sleeping left now, we had an incredible time and will definitely return, we personally preferred the Lochs and the East side and would concentrate on those areas when we return, possibly 2021.