North Coast 500 Bike Tour

There is a fresh feeling of clean air, water, and mind when you ride the less-traveled moorlands and coastlines of Scotland’s dramatic north. The isolated and profoundly scenic landscape, the ineffably polite and friendly inhabitants, and the echoes of the past among the ancient castles and Iron Age ruins will leave you with a deep appreciation for Scotland, as well as memories for a lifetime.

This challenging adventure starts in Inverness on the northern end of Loch Ness, where you can keep an eye out for Nessie in case she rises from the dark and mysterious depths. Riding north along the west coast you will pass sandy stretches of land that sometimes resemble the Caribbean more than northern Scotland. In Durness you will glimpse Tolkien’s middle earth, and the highest sea cliffs in Britain.

Pedal through John O’ Groats, the northernmost community in Britain, before veering south and plunging deep through the interior of the highlands all the way back to Inverness, thus completing the beautiful North Coast 500 loop. The combination of charming villages, gorgeous landscapes, and abundant wildlife on this adventure is likely to inspire your life-long love affair with Scotland, if it hasn’t taken hold already!