 | Home > Expedition & Overland > NC500 - thoughts? |
 
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896   
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I’ve done it twice now. First time in June and second in September. Neither time was particularly warm. There was pretty much the same level of traffic both times. The west coast is definitely where all the best scenery is.
You could do the whole thing in 5 days and that would allow you to see quite a few things and not feel rushed. Once you get on the road, the miles pass quickly. The first time I went we used campsites. They’re all much alike and the only benefit of using a campsite is the showers. Wild camping allows you to have a fire, music, and do what you like. The second time we wild camped and, if you look hard enough, you can find some class spots. The thing that’ll make your life miserable is the midges. Take plenty of insect repellent. Preferably in an industrial quantity. I took my OzTent RV1 and that worked nicely. On the second trip, someone took a roof tent. On a couple of nights he decided to sleep inside of his 110 as the wind was so strong that the noise of the tent flapping around and the swaying of the car kept him awake. In terms of places to visit, all the highlights are along the route anyway. A bit of Google research will pull up a few good ideas. It’s possibly worth heading over to Skye whilst you’re up there. Applecross and the pass are must sees. I hope that’s of some help.  Charlie
1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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9th Feb 2020 2:48pm |
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| bankz5152 Member Since: 02 Feb 2017 Location: South London/North Kent Posts: 2168 
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Good info!
Should mean the Jet is up for the job, ive had that in some pretty intense wind and slept fine. Probably would see Sky and visit a vew distillerys make the most of being up there. So talking a week really start to finish from south london Instagram @defender_ventures Empire Tuning - Agent |
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9th Feb 2020 5:32pm |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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Yeah definitely doable in a week. Any longer and I think you might run out of things to do, if you’re sticking mostly to the main route. I drove from London to south of Inverness in a day. Stopped off in Newcastle on the way back as I couldn’t stand driving 11hrs at the end of the trip. Charlie
1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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9th Feb 2020 5:48pm |
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| Peregrine_White Member Since: 05 Feb 2019 Location: North West Posts: 68 
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I went up this august with the mrs and we slept in the back of my 90 using an air bed and the paranoid sleep system. Wasn't the comfiest but it was a fast set up which was what we were after as we found that after 10.30 ish the traffic got worse and we choose to drive early mornings then stop somewhere for most of the day before the afternoon when we carried on and found somewhere to stay. We did a mix of campsites and wild camping, mainly so the better half could have showers and we could fill water up. Like has been mentioned the west coast is the best part and we spent 5 days doing the west coast then did the north and east in 3. I would recommend buying a guide book and reading that in the evenings so you can plan what places you want to visit the following day. If i had the option of a roof top tent I would have gone down that route. The main thing is just to get yourself there and do it because the west coast really is something special.
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9th Feb 2020 5:55pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10756 
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The wife and i went up last year, the first two weeks in September, we did the route anti clockwise as that way round has the best scenery, as my wife does not do camping, i booked b & b's all along the route with plenty of time to explore in between them. Sadly we did not have enough time to visit Skye and do the Applecross pass, but we will be going up next year to spend time to do them and a bit more, we certainly had a cracking time and can't wait until the next time
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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9th Feb 2020 7:00pm |
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| Tim in Scotland Member Since: 23 May 2007 Location: The Land that time forgot Posts: 3753 
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Guys if you are doing a few distillery visits don’t forget that Scotland has a much lower blood alcohol limit for driving than England ..............
https://www.gov.scot/publications/drink-drive-limit-policy/ Pangea Green D250 90 HSE with Air Suspension, Off-road Pack, Towing Pack, Black Contrast roof , rear recovery eyes, Front bash plate, Classic flaps all round, extended wheel arch kit and a few bits from PowerfulUK Expel Clear Gloss PPF to come 2020 D240 1st Edition in Pangea Green with Acorn interior. Now gone - old faithful, no mechanical issues whatsoever ever but the leaks and rattles all over the place won’t be missed! |
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9th Feb 2020 7:10pm |
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| Mdm Member Since: 11 Sep 2013 Location: Sunny Lancashire Posts: 1599
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4-5 days is plenty of time.
applecross pass is good but can be busy and lots of folk (read tourists) who dont know hot to drive or use single track lanes. hot chocolate cafe is worth a stop (not cheap but...) plenty of camp-sites to split the trip works well for most folk whiskey distillery's galore less and less wild camping spots as far to many folk leave rubbish etc. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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9th Feb 2020 7:54pm |
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| RoadForce Member Since: 17 Jul 2014 Location: Holland Posts: 335  
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As far as those pesky midges are concerned, is there any time of year (or, and please excuse my ignorance, time of day?) that they are the most nuissance? Defender 130 HCPU Td5 MY2000
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9th Feb 2020 8:32pm |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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I’m no expert but I think they’re worst over the summer and early autumn. Anywhere there’s water there will be midges. You’ll find the rain and wind become your best friends.
 Charlie
1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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9th Feb 2020 8:50pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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Did it a few years ago but was all hotel stops.
On how long it will take, having done many long Euro touring trips in relatively fast cars on relatively small roads (Where's the fun in bashing down an autoroute), we generally plan for 30 miles in the hour, 2 hours of driving in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, so a daily total of 120 miles. Gives plenty of time for photo stops and the odd detour off route and means you are never really pushed to driving long distances into the night because at 3pm you realise your hotel is still 200 miles away! |
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10th Feb 2020 6:40am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17386 
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I think it would be a good time now, I like wild weather!
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10th Feb 2020 7:45am |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1841
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Midgies - usually any time from late May to mid/late September depending on the day. They don't like strong sunshine, so late morning, early afternoon can be OK. But a) but this is Scotland and b) if you step out of the sun, behind a car or in the trees, they'll find you.... They can't manage strong wind and even a moderate breeze will keep them down, but as above, if you step into a more sheltered spot they'll be waiting! But the main reason I was quoting BaronDef is about rain. They actually don't mind rain itself. One of my most memorable midgie experiences ( I have lots! ) was a camp site in Glen Nevis, surrounded by tall trees so quite sheltered, and  down. The midgies were giving it large!
So if I was out and about, choosing a campsite, during those months, I would definitely factor in midgies and choose a spot likely to catch any breeze. If you don't know about midgies, you're likely to think: Oh, there's a nice spot, sheltered behind those tall trees." Fail! Another thing relevant to the NC500 is that the wee are much less prevalent on the East coast - but still there depending on conditions.
So, apart from the repellent, some "midgie hats" are a good idea; long sleeved shirts; trousers; and maybe even light gloves. Seriously. You might not use them, but on the right evening, in the wrong place, you'll be grateful!! 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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10th Feb 2020 8:27am |
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| strang Member Since: 16 May 2012 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 1380 
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Some mates did it in a day.......
Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond..... |
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13th Feb 2020 7:18pm |
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| Tim in Scotland Member Since: 23 May 2007 Location: The Land that time forgot Posts: 3753
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You will struggle to find a single one of those in Scotland - they are all in the USA or Ireland............... but if you mean Whisky distilleries - yes there are plenty of those Pangea Green D250 90 HSE with Air Suspension, Off-road Pack, Towing Pack, Black Contrast roof , rear recovery eyes, Front bash plate, Classic flaps all round, extended wheel arch kit and a few bits from PowerfulUK Expel Clear Gloss PPF to come
2020 D240 1st Edition in Pangea Green with Acorn interior. Now gone - old faithful, no mechanical issues whatsoever ever but the leaks and rattles all over the place won’t be missed! |
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13th Feb 2020 9:30pm |
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