North Coast 500

if you go to "ridouts, trackdays touring and spotted" then click on the Touring logo on one of the touring posts.. then all of the touring posts will come up, then you can search them all,talk about making things easy to find...I know it's crazy and I've mentioned this to admin about having a separate "Touring" but to no avail myself and a few others have put up threads on the NC 500..i'll have a search and see if I can find mine and i'll stick a link up

 

https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/north-coast-500-part-1.7215/

 

Just a suggestion.
Come to the California west coast and to 500 miles down this. All you need to bring is $$ for beer!

 

done this road twice..i was lucky the first time it was like in your picture,the 2nd time the weather was terrible and you couldn't see much at all which I've been told is quite common for the PCH..stopped of at the Bixby bridge the first time I did it..would love to go back again some day..not as scenic as Scotland though

 

You are correct that the PCH can be cold and foggy. Glad you had a chance to do it once when the weather was nice.

 

West coast or North coast?

 

I think he means the North coast 500..unless there is a new route called the West coast 500!

 

some of the roads inland from the PCH I think are even better biking roads,particularly liked Alices restaurant on the Skyline Blvd and the Latigo Canyon RD that leads to Mullholland Hwy has to be my favourite

 

I thought there might be one in Ireland. Anyway see Dougies post and do yourself a favour @David Cooper and stick with it, instead ,all the imfo is there, and you need to change nothing.An improvement on the NC500. take it from me,and Im practically local too.

 

ah I never thought about there being one in Ireland..the link I put up is for the actual NC500 not the route we did in May

 

Leave yourself more time than you think you’ll need, due to stopping to look at the views, beware some of the roads a single track with passing points and that time of year will be busy, the passing points can be off the tarmac so there’s a bit of a lip onto gravel. Apart from that if the weathers good it’s a great trip

 

Don't take the A9 up to the start point in Inverness,the amount of folk that do this is unbelievable,if you want to stick exactly to the NC500 go up the A82 to Inverness and come back down via Tomintoul/Braemar ..for the best views do it clockwise

 

The Highland Council have developed a really annoying habit of filling the verges of single track roads with gravel. Of course in the dark it makes the road look wider so lorries drive on it. So, lots of loose gravel on bends.

Road conditions have deteriorated quite a bit over the last 12mths, so if you do much on the minor routes, watch out for potholes, and tramlines made by the snow ploughs.

Your other problem might be camping in August. Take plenty of midge repellent! They weren't bad last summer because it was hot and dry, but if its damp you'll know all about it. Mind you, hot and dry you get the clegs instead.....Also if camping rough, watch out for ticks. Lymes disease is quite prevalent up here.

Its all worth it though. Some spectacular scenery, and some nice twisty bits of road. The Berriedale Braes are good fun...

 

Sounds like the Third World to me, I wouldn't go there, watch out for the locals and they'll steal it, ( that's how @Rich Bryce lost his, their so slick you don't notice straight away). Get your Yellow Fever jab too.

Can someone link to Dougie's Scottish Trip 2018, please, I'm on my phone.

 

i've watched a few vids on youtube of folk doing the NC500 and everyone has missed out the Lochinver coastal road, a big mistake as the scenery there is fantastic,i'd only miss it out if the weather was really bad,i don't think they are missing out this road deliberately it's just they see the road sign for Kylesku and Durness and take that road thinking thats the way they should be going

 

Did it last year, DO IT! Your only regret will be you didn't spend enough time up there no matter how long you plan.