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Scottish Highlands North Coast 500 Route
8 Days Starting and ending in UK
Visiting: Scotland, Perth, Cairngorms National Park, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Inverness, Loch Maree, Gairloch, Poolewe, Gruinard Bay, Ullapool, Smoo Cave, Thurso, John O'Groats, Dunrobin Castle
Tour operator:
Tour code:
nc500
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the Scottish Highlands on the North Coast 500 Route. This tour takes you from the ancient city of Perth, where you can see the historic Stone of Destiny, through the breathtaking landscapes of Cairngorms National Park. Experience the mystery of Loch Ness and explore the vibrant city of Inverness. Discover the charming fishing village of Poolewe and the artistic community of Ullapool. As you drive along the North Coast 500, enjoy stunning coastal scenery and pristine white sandy beaches. Visit the famous Smoo Cave and Cape Wrath, and capture a memorable photo at John O' Groats, the northernmost point of mainland Britain. The tour also includes a visit to the fairy tale Dunrobin Castle, with its beautiful gardens and museum. Enjoy comfortable accommodations and daily meals, making this a perfect getaway to explore the natural beauty and rich history of Scotland.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : To Scotland
Location: Scotland
Meals Included: Dinner
Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then we journey north and cross the border to Scotland where we will spend our first night.
Day 2 : Perthshire to the Scottish Highlands
Location: Perth, Cairngorms National Park
Accommodation Name: hotel for two nights stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast today we set off to travel through Perthshire. We make a stop in ancient Perth where you will have time to visit the free museum which is home to the "Stone of Destiny" which has seated all the ancient Kings of Scotland. There is a lovely coffee shop to enjoy before we depart and travel north through the Cairngorms National Park. Enjoy spectacular scenery as we travel deeper into the Scottish Highlands to our hotel for two nights stay.
Day 3 : Loch Ness and Inverness
Location: Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we enjoy a visit first to Fort Augustus before continuing along the breathtaking Loch Ness – have your cameras ready in case you spot the infamous 'Nessie.' We then have some free time in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands and the official starting point of the NC500 touring route.
Day 4 : Ullapool
Location: Loch Maree, Gairloch, Poolewe, Gruinard Bay, Ullapool
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we head for the North Coast of Scotland along the Western shores of Loch Maree to start our journey along the North Coast 500 route. We will pass Gairloch and call at Poolewe, a pretty fishing village situated at the sheltered south side of Loch Ewe, We continue with views of Gruinard Bay along the coast to our home for overnight in Ullapool. Situated in one of the most unspoilt natural environments in the UK, the town boasts a wealth of things to see and do. There is a great choice of varied walks in the area and the harbour is filled with fishing boats of all sizes; spend some time watching the fishermen at work sorting out their catch for the day or perhaps enjoy them for lunch in a local restaurant. Ullapool is also an artist’s dream with many local painters, potters, musicians and free spirits residing or performing here.
Day 5 : North Coast 500 Drive to Thurso
Location: Smoo Cave, Thurso
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sit back and relax as we journey up the eastern coast and marvel at the beautiful scenery. The coastline is stunning with the clear blue waters and white sandy beaches you may easily be mistaken for being in the Caribbean rather than Scotland. We then enjoy included lunch at Smoo Cave Hotel which is set in spectacular scenery close to the famous Smoo Cave and Cape Wrath, famous for puffins, fishing and golfing and in the heart of Scotland’s first Geopark. After lunch we continue to Thurso, where we stay for two nights.
Day 6 : Thurso Day at Lesiure
Location: Thurso
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today is a day at leisure. Relax and recharge in the hotel or for those wishing to explore there are plenty of lovely walks. Thurso is the northernmost town on the island of Great Britain and has scenic views of Thurso Bay and the Pentland Firth. It has a fine harbour and beach popular with surfers, that looks out to the island of Orkney and you can view the Old Man of Hoy. One of the attractions in Thurso is the Wolfburn Distillery which has been distilling Single Malt Scotch Whisky since 1821 and offers tours and tasting for visitors. A visit to Old St Peters Church is also popular. Dedicated to Saint Peter, it dates to at least 1125, and at one time was the principal church for the county.
Day 7 : John O Groats & Dunrobin Castle
Location: John O'Groats, Dunrobin Castle
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast we begin our journey back south but not before we travel to the very tip of Britain and make a photo stop at famous John O'Groats. Get your cameras ready for a photo of the famous sign.We then continue along the eastern part of the North Coast 500. En route, we call at the fairy tale Dubrobin Castle and admire the scenery of the Black Isle. Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands. The castle is also one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland. Entrance is included and visitors can take a self-guided tour through the state rooms on the first floor before making their way through the smaller rooms in the older parts of the castle plus formal garden and Victorian museum.We then journey to our overnight hotel in the highlands area.
Day 8
Location: Scotland
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we wave farewell to Scotland and make our way back home.
What's Included
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Accommodation
You will stay for 7 nights at a variety of Scottish hotels, all minimum 3-star.
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Meals
Breakfast and dinner are included daily, with an additional lunch included on Day 5 at Smoo Cave Hotel.
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Entrance to Dunrobin Castle
Entrance to Dunrobin Castle is included, allowing visitors to take a self-guided tour through the state rooms, smaller rooms, formal garden, and Victorian museum.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
Mode of Transport
Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then journey north to Scotland, with travel through Perthshire, Cairngorms National Park, and along the North Coast 500 route.Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
You will stay for 7 nights at a variety of Scottish hotels, all of which are a minimum of 3-star.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, breakfast and dinner are included daily, with an additional lunch included on Day 5 at Smoo Cave Hotel.
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Is entrance to Dunrobin Castle included in the tour?
Yes, entrance to Dunrobin Castle is included, allowing visitors to take a self-guided tour through the state rooms, smaller rooms, formal garden, and Victorian museum.
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What is the mode of transport for the tour?
The tour includes a local departure by coach or Home Connect service for the journey north to Scotland.
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Is travel insurance included in the tour package?
No, travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
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What activities are available in Ullapool during the tour?
In Ullapool, you can enjoy varied walks, watch fishermen at work, or explore the local art scene with painters, potters, and musicians.
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What can I expect to see at John O'Groats?
At John O'Groats, you can take a memorable photo at the famous sign, marking the northernmost point of mainland Britain.
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Do I have to do the excursions?
Certain excursions are included in the price of your holiday. If you choose not to go on an included excursion, for whatever reason, no refunds will be made.
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How much are the optional excursions?
This depends on which tour you book. Prices are given with the itinerary for the tour and sent out with Travel Documents 5 days before departure.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
If you are a British citizen and are going on a UK holiday, you are not required to have insurance. If you are a non-British citizen and are going on a UK holiday, you are required to have an insurance policy in place or return a signed indemnity form to us prior to travel. For all travellers on European tours, you must either have a travel insurance policy in place or return a signed insurance indemnity form to us prior to travel.
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Will there be a toilet on-board the coach?
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer vehicles to and from the interchange may not have on-board toilets.
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Can I pay for the optional excursions when I make my booking?
Optional excursions can be booked with your coach driver or Tour Manager and operate strictly subject to availability and demand. Some optional excursions are pre-bookable due to demand when making your reservation. The running order of included and optional excursions may be altered without prior notice.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No, we do not. However, we only ever charge a supplement if a hotelier imposes this charge to us as a company. Single room supplements are a bone of contention within the travel industry and we would like to assure you that we proactively seek accommodation with low or no single room supplements for our guests.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
You will receive a detailed itinerary alongside travel documents, and these will be sent 5 days prior to travel.
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Low Deposit
Shearings requires a minimum deposit of 75 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of shearings charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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