Finding the best Scotland North Coast 500 accommodation can be tricky since it’s such a popular route, but here’s where we stayed and some alternatives should they already be booked up!
You can also check out our full itinerary for this incredibly scenic 516 mile road trip around the north coast of Scotland here.
The Best Scotland North Coast 500 Accommodation
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Coming up in this article
- The best accommodation in Fort Augustus
- The best accommodation in Inverness
- The best accommodation in Gairloch
- The best accommodation in Ullapool
- The best accommodation in Durness
- The best Accommodation in Wick
- The best Accommodation in Dornoch
- The best accommodation in Glasgow
The Best Accommodation in Fort Augustus
The start of the North Coast 500 is technically Inverness Castle however there was little choice when we looked so we stayed 40 minutes down the road in the very cute village of Fort Augustus.
It’s also at the bottom of Loch Ness so a good excuse to squeeze that into your trip too!
Where we stayed
Monk's Retreat
Fort Augustus
£86 a night including breakfast
Unfortunately, Monk’s Retreat isn’t bookable at the moment but here’s a couple of other options in the area.
Alternative Options
Loch Ness Guest House
Fort Augustus
From £50 a night
Foyers Lodge
Foyers (14 miles from Fort Augustus)
From £175 a night including breakfast
The Best Accommodation in Inverness
Of course, there are also plenty of options in Inverness if you want to begin your NC500 road trip off as close to the start line as possible!
pentahotel Inverness
Inverness
From £56 a night
The Glenimoriston Townhouse Hotel
Inverness
From £79 a night
The Best Accommodation in Gairloch
For our second night we stayed in Gairloch, a village on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross. With a scattering of B&Bs and hotels, it’s a perfect place to stop on your road trip.
Where we Stayed
The Mountain Lodge B&B
Gairloch
£91 a night including breakfast
We had amazing views out across the Loch from our 4 poster bed room and as it’s above a coffee shop, you get a voucher for breakfast the next morning which was really good and without the awkwardness of sitting in someone’s living room!!
Alternative Options
Loch View
Gairloch
From £85 a night + service fee
An Cois Na Mara
Laide (14 miles away)
From £103 a night including breakfast
The Best Accommodation in Ullapool
On night 3, we stayed in Ullapool which is the largest settlement for miles around so a great chance to stock up and enjoy some amazing food too.
Where we Stayed
Foinaven B&B
Ullapool
From £105 a night including breakfast
Our room had a great modern bathroom and I got Ullapool smoked salmon for breakfast the next day which is pretty special considering it was included in the price!
Alternative Options
The Arch Inn
Ullapool
From £115 including breakfast
The Snug
Ullapool
From £90 a night + service fee
The Best Accommodation in Durness
Night 4 for us was Durness! It’s a great stop off due to its beautiful award winning beach complete with a campsite overlooking the sea! If you don’t fancy pitching a tent, you best book quick as there aren’t too many options that allow 1 night stays and you may, like us, have to stay further away than first planned. For us, this was an hour drive away in the remote township of Talmine.
Where we Stayed
Island View Glamping Pod
Talmine
From £110 a night + service fee
Our first time in a glamping pod was a great success – I was very impressed with how much you could fit into a small space, including a really nice modern bathroom. Whilst a cooked breakfast wasn’t included, there were a few treats left for us including COCO POPS!
These days, there’s a 2 night minimum on many dates but if you were booking last minute, you may be able to negotiate something.
Alternative Options
Holiday house with garden and sauna
Durness
From £90 a night + service fee
The Tongue Hotel
Tongue (29 miles from Durness)
From £129 a night
The Best Accommodation in Wick
Our fifth night was in Wick and as far as the NC500 goes, it’s a pretty big town! Plenty of options to stay and a great point to rest for the evening after exploring the many sites nearby.
Where we stayed
Cosy Croft B&B
Wick
From £57 a night + service fee including breakfast
Sadly, this B&B isn’t running anymore which is a shame as Lisa it was the BEST HOST EVER.
Alternative Options
Langley Cottage
Wick
From £115 a night
Many nights are 2 night minimum
Mackays Hotel Wick
Wick
From £136 including breakfast
The Best Accommodation in Dornoch
Our final night was spent in the beautiful seaside town of Dornoch, complete with cute shops, hotels, restaurants and even a golf course!
Where We Stayed
Dornoch Castle
Dornoch
From £180 a night
We decided to treat ourselves by checking into a CASTLE on our last night that also had a very well stocked whiskey bar! We enjoyed our stay and it was amazing to be so central to Dornoch but for the price, it was difficult to not compare it to the great the service (and the breakfasts!) we’d experienced at all the B&Bs. So, if you’ve got the budget – go for it! But if not, don’t worry that you’re missing out too much.
Alternative options
Eagle Hotel
Dornoch
From £86 a night
Royal Golf Hotel
Dornoch
From £119 a night
The best accommodation in Glasgow
Where we stayed
As I mentioned, Inverness is the official ‘start’ of the North Coast 500 – meaning it’s the end too!! However, as we had a big trek home to London we ended up getting on the road and staying in Glasgow for the evening.
Dakota Glasgow
Glasgow
From £117 a night
The reason I’ve included this is to make a point. A lot of the accommodation on the North Coast 500 is cute and cosy with exceptional service but it’s not going to be a stunning 10 out of 10 room unless you’re willing to spend a lot. If you’re wanting that chic hotel stay, keep your money for the journey back home where your money will go further in cities like Glasgow.
Our room at the Dakota was… STUNNIN’ 10 OUTTA 10 LADS.
Alternative options
Stay At The Best Scotland North Coast 500 Accommodation For Your Driving Adventure
The main event of the North Coast 500 is definitely the views from the open road, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate where you lay your head! These accommodations are the perfect spots for resting and recharging before you continue your North Coast adventures.
