 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > North Coast 500 |
 
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| AshTD5 Member Since: 23 Mar 2018 Location: Kent Posts: 6   
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Has anyone ever done this in a Defender? Looks like a great tour of north Scotland!
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6th Jul 2018 7:54pm |
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| VeeTee Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1512 
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Saw this post some days ago, NC500 in a Series One!
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic62363.html I plan to do this later this year in the Defender, but not in one day!  Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold) 1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold) 1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold) 1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold) 2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold) 2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold) MySite |
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6th Jul 2018 8:26pm |
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| AshTD5 Member Since: 23 Mar 2018 Location: Kent Posts: 6
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I believe they say a week! Not sure who they are!
Don’t know if I want to put the miles on my low mileage defender |
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6th Jul 2018 8:59pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1841 
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I think it took them a week from home base back to home, but a day for the actual NC500. You can do it in a day I guess, but much better I'd think to take a more relaxed pace and properly take in some of the scenery and places along the way.
Isn't mileage what a car is for...? Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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7th Jul 2018 6:40am |
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| Whirly90 Member Since: 01 Sep 2016 Location: Ampshire Posts: 405  
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We plan to do this trip next year, just need to do some research to find out the best time to go to avoid the midges.
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7th Jul 2018 11:10am |
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| shropshiredefender Member Since: 05 Jun 2017 Location: Shropshire Posts: 834 
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Have done parts of the NC500 in the USW and it's great!
Avoiding midges is a good idea - please let us know if you find a time that avoids bloody camper vans  |
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7th Jul 2018 11:20am |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3489 
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It looks a great drive.
There were reports that accommodation along the route can be at a premium. Definitely something I would like to do. It’s a long way from Norfolk so possibly a two week trip. |
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7th Jul 2018 1:15pm |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193 
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Last month my wife and I took my 110 to Norfolk from Luton, nice drive in a day, once you get off the motorways anyway... Regards
Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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8th Jul 2018 12:53pm |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3489
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Hope you enjoyed, Adam.
No motorways around here for miles. Our coastroad is nice, even if for the most part of it, you can’t see the sea! |
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8th Jul 2018 2:26pm |
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| sako243 Member Since: 08 Jul 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 1218  
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What's the point in having it then? Enjoy it. Ed 82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6 95 Defender 110 300Tdi |
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8th Jul 2018 3:35pm |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193
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enjoyed it very much, a lovely place, calm and peaceful, and very dog friendly which was nice. Regards
Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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9th Jul 2018 8:42am |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2295 
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We have been planning this trip since last year, and are off towards the end of
August running into September... with 2-3 weeks at our 'disposal'... Timing Lower 'midge count'  and tourists  , also most Scottish Schools are back
mid -2/3s through August, ahead of England... Route We are breaking the journey in the Lake District, over night, both there and back, and tackling the NC 500 Clockwise, if we explore for 2 weeks + on the West and North Coasts then that's fine by me, although my wife if from St Andrews, so we will probably get round to the East Side and complete the '500'. I have 30+ areas on our to-do list...but are viewing this as guidance only, the main plan for us is to explore the route as we go, even if this makes it a return trip to complete. Really looking forward to it... 
Mode of transport and accomodation...  Click image to enlarge Everywhere (probably) is possible apart from the Applecross Pass (although it say's 'ADVISED')...
https://www.northcoast500.com/ Click image to enlarge Prepare for some holiday snaps...  SKIP
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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9th Jul 2018 9:19am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665 
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Yes - done it all. TBH the route (IMO) is a bit of a tourist trap. The whole coastline of Scotland (West coast) mainly is just stunning. I've already done sections twice this year on my motorbike, and last year I did Durness down to Applecross in the 110 in 2 days (camping and hillwalking as we went), Also some more trips like this http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic31177....efendering
Everyone will have their favourite areas, and the NW500 does not necessarily include the best (based on your "likes"). Go and enjoy Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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9th Jul 2018 9:57am |
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| Alex1976 Member Since: 23 Jan 2013 Location: Buckingham Posts: 596
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I have completed this in two separate trips now and it is just stunning. To really make the most of it you need to take your time and explore either side of the route and stop and enjoy the landscape you are in. It took me two weeks and I felt that I could have spent much more time there to go and see things that I felt that I couldn't due to time. There are so many little roads and tracks to go off an explore and often you are rewarded with finding some secluded amazing beach or views to the Isles that you would easily miss by doing the 500 quickly.
Probably the right pace to do the 500 at is by cycling (literally or at the same speed as if you were) - that way you really get to see the point of the route. I really wouldn't try and take the caravan over the pass to Applecross - it has some tight hairpins and if you meet someone coming the other way it could get very tight. Best to plan to stay in Applecross for the night and leave the caravan behind for a trip over the pass and back. The view from the top across to Skye is worth it. The pub at Applecross is well known and a great night to be had there, but the food at the cafe in the grounds of Applecross House is worth it too. |
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9th Jul 2018 12:09pm |
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