Yet another NC500 Trip!

[t15dja]

I'm off on a week-long solo trip of the NC500 this weekend...wish me luck....and give me a wave if you see me ! I'm on a red Highlander DCT reg AV70KKR. I did it 3 years ago on a hired bike, but by the time you've paid the hire charge plus, in my case, return air fare (chosen because it's much quicker than driving up) the best part of a grand has slipped through your fingers. So this time I thought I'd put that grand towards buying my own bike, hence the Crosstourer. Last time I did the route clockwise; which meant the best bits, in my opinion, i.e. the rugged west coast got done first. This time I'm doing it anticlockwise, so saving the best till last. Because I'm doing it on my own bike I'm starting from home (Staffordshire) which means I have the dreaded M6 to negotiate. Still, I'm riding up and back on Sundays so hopefully the traffic may be a bit less busy. I won't be following the "official route exactly. Having also done it by car and knowing Scotland reasonably well thanks to numerous family holidays, I shall be varying the route slightly to take in some nice areas along the way.
In summary the route, the Scottish bits of which I can highly recommend,  will be:
Home in Staffordshire > Edinburgh > Perth > Braemar > Tomintoul > Grantown on Spey > Inverness > Dornoch > Helmsdale > Kinbrace > Forsinard > Thurso > John O'Groats > then back west "along the top" through Bettyhill > Durness > Scourie > Kylescu Bridge > Lochinver > Ullapool > Gairloch > Torridon > Applecross > over the Bealach na Ba (pass of the cattle) > Plockton > Dornie > Fort William > Stirling > Home.
Please pray to the weather gods for me! Last time I did it was also in May....and it snowed heavily enough to settle and the temperature dropped to zero degrees C!

[Hound]

Wishing you all the best matey. Enjoy every moment! Give my old home Thurso my regards (16 Pennyland Drive!) I've put in my application to the weather gods, hope it's viewed favourably. 

[DE65Y]

We did this in 2016 when the route was just starting to be advertised as the NC500.
Roads were really quiet and could be enjoyed to the full.   

Considering doing it again so a report after would be helpful telling how busy it is.

Though there are so many good roads in Scotland that are now probably quiet as all the tourists are on the 500!

[DE65Y]

Originally Posted by Hound

I've put in my application to the weather gods, hope it's viewed favourably. 

Oh come on, who are you kidding?
We all know that if it's not p!ssing down in Scotland, it's just raining!!!
 

[t15dja]

The obligatory John O'Groats photo....proof that I made it up here!

[DE65Y]

Too late now but last time I was there I got my BIRD under the post.