North Coast 500 by coach

Narrow twisty roads, hordes of motor homes, fed up locals. I'd find another coach tour to go on.

I’d say ‘pass the sick bag Alice!’ As Aveline says, the roads twist and turn and lurch up and down hills. You need a strong stomach.

We used to live in that area, decades before it became a tourist attraction, and drove parts of it regularly but it’s not a pleasure now, too much traffic and not enough facilities, though I guess a coach tour would have all that planned.

Rabbies Tours if your looking for a small, bespoke type company.
Parrys coach tours for the bigger tours. They cover Scotland but not sure explicitly NC5OO..
I haven't done a coach tour but I've worked with many operators and Parrys are outstanding (sure someone will pop up and say they are dreadful!)
Most of the larger coaches will go up through Perthshire and along the east coast to John o' Groats/Thurso and across the north, the roads are fine.

Yes it's busy - what tourist destination isn't these days? .

We did it by car last Autumn. Stayed in some delightful b&bs and small hotels. Roads were not busy, weather and scenery beautiful. We pre-booked our stays well in advance so that we had a good selection to choose from. More choice on the east coast than the west. Our schedule was gently paced with plenty of opportunities to stop and explore or sit and admire the beautiful scenery.

I think that's the problem with the NC500 though. The tourist infrastructure isn't there in a way that it's provided in other tourist hotspots. Mind you I'd avoid tourist areas like the plague myself!

Yes, the last time we were in the area we stopped in a village for a snack and the loo. We got there just in time - before a coach drew up and disgorged 40/50 people who wanted to use one or other of the two toilets!

It’s lost the magic it used to have, the wild and solitary atmosphere, though I suppose if you’ve never experienced that, you don’t miss it. It seems quite tame now.

I haven’t been up there and regret that I didn’t explore it decades ago when I was possibly braver. I dislike driving on steep twisty hills (Porlock terrified me), and I hate coaches!

I know a young woman who cycled the entire NC500 with her cycling club, but she used to do IronMan triathlons with ease.

It's easy enough to get off the beaten track and into the highland wilderness, just make sure you are suitably prepared.

Highland Council have heavily invested in infrastructure and with a recent grant of £7million continue to do so.

A link to public loos and comfort breaks for those worried their bladders won't be accommodated.
Public toilets - Highland Council share.google/djL6G2JZTw5Dz42Im

We did it by car in May a few years ago and it was wonderful. I'm not sure it would be the same by coach. One of the highlights was the (unpronounceable name beginning with B) pass leading to Applecross. I can't see a coach being able to do that, although a smaller group tour by minibus might be possible.

Bookwormbabe it's called Bealach na Bà, in Gaelic it means Pass of the Cattle as it was an old drovers road.

It's pronounced 'Bee-al-uch nu Ba if that helps