- Created: December 12, 2023 9:33 pm
- Updated: December 14, 2023 10:03 pm
- Distance 61.02 miles
- Time 24 h 44 min
- Speed 2 mph
- Min altitude 7 ft
- Peak 574 ft
- Climb 2575 ft
- Descent 2625 ft
- Distance Instructions
- Travel mode
- straight-line
*Currently, this is in process and is a placeholder we published so we can add to it without it accidentally ending up auto-posting anywhere.
Our intention is to gradually detail the route WE took from Edinburgh and up into and around the highlands. We drove more miles than the "official" North Coast 500 route, did not do some parts of it, and added others on.
You may note some map pins outside of our route which comprised what the "official" route was when we did our trip. At the time, they had a passport program where kids (and kidults) could get their passport stamped at the official locations. The passport program is no longer going, but if you DO hit all of these locations, you can be sure you've driven the "official" NC 500 route. For those locations, we have them on their own map here.
I would not recommend trying to use the exact routemap as a GPX or anything. I did not record our trip, though I know the route we went, and as Google will only allow so many waypoints for driving directions, so when we hand-draw routes, especially road trips like this, it will not reflect that we went around, for instance, one of the many roundabouts in a particular way.
Our trip started at the airport, then through Leith. We used the bus to get into old Edinburgh, then went to Rosslyn Chapel, and eventually headed out up past Stirling. So far, this is the only part of our drive that's reflected here. I plan to add waypoints and places as I go.
1. Edinburgh Airport Car Rental Centre/Start
Our journey, started here: the Edinburgh Airport Car Rental Centre. We were rented a diesel Vauxhall sedan, which we drove quite apprehensively as this was our first time driving with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, and on the left side of the road! Do you get more used to it? Yes. We saw many, many, other tourists en route that were obviously in the same predicament. Particularly in Fort William, my husband noted a bunch of car side mirrors in the street! Our car returned unscathed, I am happy to report.
*Currently, this is in process and is a placeholder we published so we can add to it without it accidentally ending up auto-posting anywhere.
Our intention is to gradually detail the route WE took from Edinburgh and up into and around the highlands. We drove more miles than the “official” North Coast 500 route, did not do some parts of it, and added others on.
You may note some map pins outside of our route which comprised what the “official” route was when we did our trip. At the time, they had a passport program where kids (and kidults) could get their passport stamped at the official locations. The passport program is no longer going, but if you DO hit all of these locations, you can be sure you’ve driven the “official” NC 500 route. For those locations, we have them on their own map here.
I would not recommend trying to use the exact routemap as a GPX or anything. I did not record our trip, though I know the route we went, and as Google will only allow so many waypoints for driving directions, so when we hand-draw routes, especially road trips like this, it will not reflect that we went around, for instance, one of the many roundabouts in a particular way.
Our trip started at the airport, then through Leith. We used the bus to get into old Edinburgh, then went to Rosslyn Chapel, and eventually headed out up past Stirling. So far, this is the only part of our drive that’s reflected here. I plan to add waypoints and places as I go.