📓 Journals Late Autumn Scottish Road Trip

[geoffbland]

Day 7 – North East Highlands Loop​

Our final day of the road trip, and we have to visit John O’Groats. We’ve never been before, and I suppose it’s one of those places that simply has to be done.

As John O’Groats is on the NC500, we decide to follow that on the way back. However, as we need to start and finish at our cottage, we have to make a loop of it. Our plan is to take the A897 from Helmsdale to Melvich first thing in the morning, before joining the NC500 and following it around the north coast.

This turns out to be a very good decision. The A897 is a wonderful drive. It’s not particularly challenging from a driving perspective, with just a few gentle bends and changes in elevation, but the scenery is gorgeous, unspoilt Highland countryside. The weather is great, there’s virtually no traffic, and we have a perfect hour-long cruise through some beautiful scenery. Probably the best drive of the trip so far.

Photo: A897 – near the start

Photo: A897 – halfway-ish

Photo: A897 – near the end


Video: A897 – the whole hour-long cruise, as I couldn’t decide which was the “best” bit.

As soon as we leave the A897, we join the NC500 and the north coast road. We head a few miles in the opposite direction to our eventual route to find the Coastline Coffeeshop for breakfast. Great coffee and friendly service, and unbelievably the weather is good enough for us to sit outside and enjoy breakfast.

I decide to be brave and try the Haggis Toastie with my coffee. Not bad at all, actually!

Photo: Coastline Coffeeshop

While we’re there, two lads arrive in a 16-year-old Citroën C1, which they’re using to complete the NC500. Good lads! They’re showing that you don’t need a fast or expensive car to enjoy yourself.

I overhear them talking to the coffee shop staff about their route, and they also recommend taking the A897 down to Helmsdale rather than following the A836/A99/A9 route used by the NC500. So it seems I’m not the only one who rates the A897 so highly.

After breakfast, we set off again, following the NC500 towards John O’Groats. This must be one of the most boring sections of the route. The A836 all the way to Thurso is very straight and not particularly scenic.

In Thurso, we visit the North Coast Visitor Centre. It has some interesting exhibits covering local Highland history, as well as the Dounreay Nuclear Fast Reactor. Definitely worth a visit. We also pop into a couple of craft shops. The first two are rather touristy, but Coo’s Tail Gallery has some interesting work.

We then rejoin the NC500, following the A99 into John O’Groats. The A99 is a slightly better drive.

John O’Groats is, as you would expect, very touristy. There are several craft shops, but they’re mostly full of rather pricey tat. We spend a little time looking around all the same, as we’ve made the effort to get here. Being October, the place is almost deserted. I can imagine it gets unpleasantly crowded during the main tourist season.

Then it’s back onto the NC500, taking the A99 and A9 back to the cottage.

Photo: John O’Groats car park – nearly empty.

And that’s the end of the holiday. We’re up early tomorrow for the long drive home.

Picture: Today’s Route

 

[ZEKLUSE]

I'm very jealous, looks like an absolute blast.

 

[Beachbum]

A897 – near the end - Thats not an A road, that looks single track with passing places
Sounds like a wonderful, rather envious. Wish my Misses would be up for a road trip, but sadly not.

 

[geoffbland]

A897 – near the end - Thats not an A road, that looks single track with passing places
Sounds like a wonderful, rather envious. Wish my Misses would be up for a road trip, but sadly not.

That's what a lot of the A roads are like north of Inverness.
There's not many roads north of Inverness, as far as I can tell there are only 2 B roads (?) and these are pretty much the same. I think only the A9 and A99 allow traffic both ways.