Cycling the North Coast 500

Map key
Overview map
Route summary table
Suggested schedules

Introduction
Background
The route
Natural environment
Preparation
Getting there and back
Navigation and information
Accommodation
Food and drink
Amenities and services
What to take
Safety and emergencies
About this guide

The route
Stage 1 Inverness to Garve
Stage 2 Garve to Lochcarron
Stage 3 Lochcarron to Shieldaig (direct route)
Stage 3A Lochcarron to Shieldaig (via Applecross)
Stage 4 Shieldaig to Gairloch
Stage 5 Gairloch to Ullapool
Stage 6 Ullapool to Lochinver
Stage 7 Lochinver to Kylesku
Stage 8 Kylesku to Durness
Stage 9 Durness to Tongue
Stage 10 Tongue to Melvich
Stage 11 Melvich to John o and amp;#39; Groats (coastal route)
Stage 12 John o and amp;#39; Groats to Melvich (inland route)
Stage 13 Melvich to Altnaharra
Stage 14 Altnaharra to Tain
Stage 12A John o and amp;#39; Groats to Lybster
Stage 13A Lybster to Brora
Stage 14A Brora to Tain
Stage 15 Tain to Nigg (for Cromarty ferry)
Stage 16 Cromarty to Inverness
Stage 15A Tain to Dingwall
Stage 16A Dingwall to Inverness

Appendix A Facilities summary table
Appendix B Tourist information
Appendix C Hostels and bunkhouses
Appendix D Campsites
Appendix E Cycle shops and cycle hire
Appendix F Munros near route (mountains over 914m)
Appendix G Distilleries en route
Appendix H Useful contacts