A road trip planned by John Nickolls over 11 days with 30 stops.
Countries: GBR
From 2025-09-20T23:00:00.000Z to 2025-09-30T23:00:00.000Z
Castle, Inverness, UK
Inverness Castle is the official start and finish of the NC500
East Street, Balintore, Tain, UK
East Street, Balintore, Tain, UK
Sitting on her own waterside rock, the Mermaid of the North is a statue rooted in Easter Ross mythology. Commemorating a legend of a mermaid being stolen from the sea by a fisherman, the ten-foot bronze mermaid has been overlooking the waves at Balintore since 2007.
Tain, UK
🥃 Glenmorangie DistilleryIf you like your whisky smooth, elegant, and just a bit posh (like it should be served wearing a dinner jacket), Glenmorangie is right up your street.📍 Where it isLocated in Tain, in the Highlands of ScotlandOverlooking the Dornoch Firth (which gives it that fresh, coastal character)🏭 What makes it specialFamous for having the tallest stills in Scotland→ About the height of a giraffe’s neck 🦒 (they actually say that… not me being poetic for once)These tall stills create a lighter, smoother spiritKnown for precision and consistency – very “engineered” whisky🥃 Signature styleThink:SmoothFruityCreamySlight citrus + vanillaIf whisky were cars, Glenmorangie would be a Rolls-Royce cruising quietly past, not a rally car bouncing off rocks.🧪 Famous expressionsThe Original (10 Year Old) – the classic, easy drinkerLasanta – sherry cask, richer and warmerQuinta Ruban – port cask, darker and more chocolateyNectar d’Or – dessert-like, sweet and luxurious👃 Why whisky geeks love itGlenmorangie are borderline scientists:They experiment heavily with cask finishes (port, sherry, wine)Run detailed wood management programmesKnown for innovation without losing tradition🧭 Visiting the distilleryIf you ever swing up there (worth it on an NC500-type trip 👀):Proper guided toursTasting sessions (the important bit)You’ll see those famous tall copper stills up closeCracking little shop for bottles you won’t see in Tesco🧠 Fun factThe distillery was founded in 1843, and the stills are so tall because they were inspired by old gin stills — which explains that lighter, more refined style.
Golspie, UK
Dunrobin Castle is one of the real showpieces of the north of Scotland — a grand, fairy-tale-looking castle near Golspie in Sutherland, and the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. Parts of it date back to around 1275, and visitors can tour the state rooms, older rooms, formal gardens, and Victorian museum. (Dunrobin Castle)For visiting, the castle is open seasonally from 1 April to 31 October. From April to September it’s open daily 10:00 am to 5:30 pm with last entry at 4:30 pm; in October it’s 10:30 am to 5:00 pm with last entry at 4:00 pm. Current standard admission is £16 adult, £14 concession, £10 child, and £47 family. Tickets include the castle, museum, and gardens. (Dunrobin Castle)It also has its own railway station — Dunrobin Castle station, near the A9 at KW10 6SF — which is a bit of a gem in itself. (ScotRail)Best way to think of it: if a French château and a Highland laird had a very ambitious child, you’d get Dunrobin.
UK
🌊 John O’Groats – The Very Top of Mainland BritainRight then, John — this is one of those places that feels like the edge of the world… because it pretty much is.📍 Where exactly is it?John o' Groats sits at the northeastern tip of mainland Scotland, staring straight across the wild waters of the Pentland Firth toward the Orkney Islands.It’s famous for being one end of the legendary Land’s End to John O’Groats journey — the full length of Britain.🚏 What’s actually there?📸 The Iconic SignpostThe famous sign shows distances to places like Land’s End and New York.Yes, it’s touristy… but you have to get the photo. It’s basically the law.🌊 Dramatic Coastline (This is the real star)A short drive east takes you to:👉 Duncansby StacksNow this… this is proper Scotland.Towering sea stacks rising out of the oceanClifftop walks that feel like a film setOne of the best sunrise spots in the UKIf you’ve got the drone up (I know you will 😏), this place is absolute gold.🚤 Ferries & BoatsYou can hop on a boat to the Orkneys from here — or just watch them battle the currents. The Pentland Firth is one of the fastest tidal races in the world.☕ The VibeLet’s be honest — the village itself is small and a bit… functional.A few shops, cafés, and gift placesA harbourThat famous signBut you don’t come here for a bustling town.You come here for the feeling of standing at the top of Britain with the wind trying to blow your socks into Norway.🚐 Perfect for a Campervan Stop (Vanilla would approve)This is peak “Vanilla territory”:Big skiesRaw coastlineProper sense of arrivalBest plan:Arrive late afternoonPark up nearbyEarly morning walk to Duncansby HeadDrone up at sunrise 🌅🎯 Quick Highlights🇬🇧 Northernmost mainland point (well… almost — that’s actually nearby Dunnet Head, but don’t ruin the moment)📸 Legendary signpost photo🌊 Wild, cinematic coastline🚁 Drone heaven🌅 Unreal sunrises👍 Honest VerdictIf you just roll in, snap the sign, and leave… it’s a 6/10.If you do it properly — coastline walk, sunrise, a bit of wind in your face — it becomes a solid 9/10 experience.
Thurso, UK
Thurso, UK
📍 Farr Bay, Bettyhill — one of Scotland’s proper “stop and stare” places🌊 The Big ViewFarr Bay sits just outside Bettyhill on the north coast of Scotland — and it’s the kind of place that makes you quietly put the kettle down and just… look.We’re talking:🏖️ A huge, sweeping golden beach🌬️ Wild Atlantic winds (the hair doesn’t stand a chance)🌊 Proper rolling surf — not your polite seaside ripple🏔️ Backdrop of dunes and hills that feel almost untouchedIt’s a classic North Coast 500 highlight — and one of the spots where you realise why people bang on about the NC500 so much.🚐 Why it’s perfect for a “Vanilla stop”🧭 The FeelThis is prime campervan territory:Pull up above the bay → instant cinema viewEarly morning = glassy calm, golden lightEvening = that deep orange glow on wet sand (your NIX poster moment)It’s one of those places where:You open the sliding door, step out… and suddenly you’re in a BBC nature documentary.📸 Drone & photography heavenIf you’ve got the drone up (and I know you will… 😏):📷 Best shots:Low tide patterns → insane texturesLong shoreline tracking shotsWaves breaking in parallel lines (very satisfying footage)⚠️ Just watch:Wind — it can get spicy up thereSeabirds nesting in warmer months☕ Nearby bits worth knowing🏛️ Strathnaver Museum – small but packed with Highland history🍽️ Bettyhill has a couple of cafés/hotels for a brew and something solid⛽ It’s remote — fuel up before you get too adventurous🧠 Proper old-school truthThis isn’t a “tourist attraction” in the modern sense — no flashing signs, no overpriced coffee vans every 20 yards.It’s just:Big skyBig seaAnd space to thinkThe kind of place Britain used to have more of — and thankfully, still does up there.🎯 Nix VerdictFarr Bay isn’t somewhere you visit. It’s somewhere you experience.If you’re doing the NC500 (which you’ve already smashed, fair play 👏), this is one of those stops that quietly becomes a favourite — not because it shouts the loudest, but because it feels the most real.
Hostel and Campsite, Tongue, Lairg, UK
📍 Kyle of TongueIf you’re after one of those “stop the van, get the drone up, and just take it in” kind of places… this is it.🌄 What it actually isThe Kyle of Tongue is a sea loch (basically a long inlet from the sea) sitting right up on Scotland’s north coast. It’s part of the famous North Coast 500, and honestly, it’s one of the standout moments of the whole trip.🚐 The iconic bit (you’d love this)The magic happens on the Tongue Causeway — a road that cuts straight across the loch.Mountains behind you (especially Ben Loyal, which looks like something from a fantasy film)Water on both sidesBig skies, reflections, and that proper wild Scottish feelIt’s the kind of road where even hardened HGV drivers slow down… and that’s saying something.📸 Why it’s famousMirror-like reflections when it’s calmEpic sunrise/sunset coloursPerfect for drone work (your Mavic 2 Pro “Nemesis” would have a field day here)🏕️ Nearby baseThe little village of Tongue sits just nearby:Quiet, remote, proper Highland vibeGood stop for a brew and a wanderHandy campsite options if you’re doing the NC500 properly (no cowboy parking needed)🧭 NIX-style verdictThis isn’t just a “nice view.”It’s one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve properly arrived in the Highlands.Wide, open, dramatic… and just a little bit humbling.
United Kingdom
A838, Lairg, UK
Durness, Lairg, UK
Lairg, UK
Scourie, Lairg, UK
Lairg, UK
Lairg, UK
Lairg, UK
Lairg, UK
Lairg, UK
UK
UK
United Kingdom
UK
Achnasheen, UK
Strathcarron, UK
Strathcarron, UK
Strathcarron, UK
Kyle, UK
Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh, UK
Castle, Inverness, UK
20 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2025