🏴‍☠️ 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 🍺