Driving the North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 is an epic driving route in Scotland, bringing together over 500 miles of coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, remote fishing villages and more. The full road trip takes 5 to 7 days to complete at a leisurely rate, and planning your accommodation stops in advance is essential. The Ulbster Arms Hotel is the perfect stopping point in Caithness. You’ll find us on the banks of the famous River Thurso, in the village of Halkirk, just a few miles off the beaten track.

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Arched stone bridge over the river in winter at Thurso

Caithness - our section of the NC500

Caithness is located on the northeastern part of the North Coast 500. It is the most northerly county in both Scotland and Great Britain. The NC500 route runs along the Caithness coastline, from Dunbeath to Dounreay. You can drive this distance in about 1.5 hours, but there is so much to see along the way. You need at least one full day to explore this region, but you could spend longer. One of the highlights is a visit to Great Britain’s most northern point, Dunnet Head, and the famous nearby village of John O’ Groats. Other popular attractions in Caithness include Duncansby Head, the Castle of Mey and Wolfburn Distillery. We also have plenty of beaches, great watersports, golf, fishing and so much more.

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Dunnet Head Lighthouse aerial view

Planning your NC500 adventures

Planning is key to ensuring you don’t miss a thing on your travels around the north coast of Scotland. You can check out the route in more detail and all of the attractions and activities on offer by using this North Coast 500 interactive map. There are six regions to explore, starting and ending in Inverness, passing through Inverness-shire, the Black IsleEaster RossSutherland, our own Caithness and Wester Ross. You can go either clockwise or anti-clockwise, following mainly along the coastline. The views are dramatic and spectacular, and there are so many wonderful places to visit, so be sure to schedule in plenty of stopping points. We recommend taking 7 full days to experience the North Coast 500 in all its glory.

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Book your NC500 accommodation

The Ulbster Arms in Halkirk, Caithness, just off the North Coast 500. We offer the perfect overnight accommodation for your travels through our beautiful region. Take a look at our hotel rooms and book your stay today. Book your stay today. Call us on 01847 831 641 or contact us for more information.

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Ulbster Arms Hotel Map

Accommodation

Discover our hotel rooms at Ulbster Arms Hotel on the NC500…

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Special Offers

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Testimonials

Went here today to celebrate Father’s 90th birthday. Had a lovely lunch, the food was excellent and so we’re the staff. They were very attentive, bringing the kids colouring books and crayons when they started getting restless. Lovely atmosphere in the dining room.

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