Will Lonely Planet deliver out of season boost to North Coast 500 communities?
Will Lonely Planet deliver out of season North Coast 500 boost to these Ross-shire communities?
TOWNS and villages across Ross-shire have benefited from the magnetic pull of the North Coast 500.
It is now recognised as one of the great road trips in the world and is included in a new Lonely Planet guide book series alongside the USA’s famous Route 66 and Spain’s Camino de Santiago.
Yet despite the cash tills ringing for hotels, businesses and visitor attractions around the route, the infrastructure of roads and communities along the way has not always been a match for that extraordinary pulling power, leading some to say the NC500 has become a victim of its own success.
Activists in some communities — such as Ross-shire’s county town of Dingwall — believe their areas could and should be making more of the opportunity the route presents. The planned re-opening of the Hector MacDonald Tower in Dingwall, it’s hoped, will help raise its profile amongst travellers hitting the NC500 and the thousands more cruise tourists disembarking at Invergordon.
Lonely Planet, a rigorously independent champion of sustainable tourism, has taken stock of the route’s attractions and offered canny travellers keen to dodge the crowds an alternative way to enjoy its delights.
Its new pocket-sized guide to the North Coast 500 recommends dodging the summer rush and sampling its charms in late autumn and winter.
A host of Ross-shire attractions, eateries and places to grab a drink are recommended in the new guide from the highly influential publisher.
Launched a decade ago by the North Highland Initiative to boost tourism in the region, the North Coast 500 (NC500), spanning 516-miles in a circular route from Inverness, has become a global phenomenon.
It takes in a massive swathe of Ross-shire, including some of the county’s most scenically stunning spots.
Muir of Ord, Marybank, Contin, Garve, Lochluichart, Achnasheen, Lochcarron, Applecross, Shieldaig, Torridon, Gairloch, Kinlochewe, Ullapool, Tain, Kildary, Invergordon, Alness, Evanton, Dingwall, Maryburgh and Conon are amongst Ross-shire’s many and varied communities through which it passes.
It has also attracted a backlash from many who live in the area and are fed up with the antisocial behaviour of a minority of people and the pressure on crumbling, pot-holed roads.
Lonely Planet readers are being enticed by a description of remote and spectacular roads weaving through landscapes rich with castles, whisky distilleries, rolling grain fields, dramatic cliffs and even UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The publisher said: “Lonely Planet is passionate about responsible travel and Journey North Coast 500’s top tip is to explore outside of the peak summer season, with winter being an unexpectedly rewarding time to visit the region.
“Offering a more peaceful experience, with quieter roads, empty beaches, vibrant heather-covered moorlands, snow-dusted mountain scenes and the bonus of fewer midges!
“With a little planning, a winter road trip can be enchanting and means supporting the local communities, and the people who call this region home, by visiting the locally owned accommodations, restaurants and attractions all year round.”
Lonely Planet’s top tips for where to stay and what to do on a spectacular winter NC500 road trip include suggesting going between October and February as “a fantastic alternative to the busier summer months, offering a quieter, more serene experience with fewer visitors on the roads and at popular attractions, as well as enjoying the dramatic landscapes, rugged coastlines, and charming villages without the crowds”.
It says the cooler months also bring a unique beauty to the route with the chance to witness the Northern Lights on clear nights.
It adds: “Accommodation and attractions are also often more affordable and easier to book, and the slower pace of travel lets you truly connect with the wild, untamed character of the Highlands.”
Visitor attractions recommended include “the fairytale-like Dunrobin Castle”, the world-renowned Glenmorangie Distillery, the towering Duncansby Stacks, mystical Smoo Cave, and the geologically significant Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve.
To an array of small businesses and community-driven attractions providing a deeper connection to Highland life.
It goes on: “Food enthusiasts will find no shortage of memorable stops, starting with Inverness' newest wine bar, the Walrus and Corkscrew, a cosy, independent bar that showcases 250 varieties from across the globe, alternatively, sample a glass of craft ale at Black Isle Brewing Co., before picking up seasonal local produce at The Storehouse, a beloved farm shop and restaurant near Evanton.
“Coastal dining is a highlight of the NC500, whether you’re indulging in freshly caught seafood at Platform 1864 in Tain or enjoying wood-fired pizzas and local shellfish at Sutor Creek in Cromarty. For an intimate farm-to-table experience, Crofter’s Kitchen in Scourie serves superb dishes crafted from homegrown and foraged ingredients, whereas Cocoa Mountain in Durness is a must-visit for its handmade artisan chocolates and their legendary hot chocolate.”
Along the way, travellers can pair their culinary adventures with cultural and historical stops, the guide advises. The Tain & District Museum and Clan Ross Centre offers fascinating insights into local heritage, while a visit to Clynelish Distillery provides a taste of one of Scotland’s most characterful single malts.
It says the NC500 “offers countless ways to stay local and immerse yourself in Highland hospitality” and goes on to flag the “elegant” Royal Marine Hotel and Castlecraig Clifftops in Nigg which it says “offers stylish, eco-friendly lodges with panoramic sea views”.
And there’s another nod for an upmarket Ross-shire hotel. It says: “For a truly indulgent escape, The Torridon, Britain's most northerly five-star hotel, is set against a dramatic mountain backdrop and provides world-class dining and outdoor adventures right on its doorstep”.
The guide comes out at the same time as two other iconic road trips: the cross-USA Route 66 and Camino de Santiago, the historic hiking pilgrimage trail across Spain.
The Journey guides are available from £17.99 at shop.lonelyplanet.com “or where all good books are sold”.
What’s your take on the North Coast 500 and the opportunities and challenges it presents? Drop us an email to hector.mackenzie@hnmedia.co.uk or write to us at the address on our letters page.
