Navigating the NC500 with Kids: Family-Friendly Activities
The North Coast 500 - Scotland’s answer to route 66 - is probably the most talked about road trip for campervans and road trip lovers alike. I will be honest, I really didn’t want to like this route, mostly because I am not a huge advocate of set routes. Mostly I prefer the idea of getting lost in Scotland and seeing where you end up. Also to confess, we didn’t complete the set route, but I like to think that we saw the very best of it.
There are a million and one blog posts and websites out there telling you which route to take the NC500 and complete itineraries, so instead I am going to pick out the best parts that we would recommend to other families. I have deliberately written these in a random order too, in a bid to try and not influence your route.
What are the best family friendly campsites on the NC500?
Fortrose Bay Campsite is a beautiful, peaceful campsite with spectacular views. We booked a shoreline pitch which looked over the water and it was wonderful to sit inside or outside and look out over the sea. One morning, we even spotted a couple of seals! At low tide, the girls enjoyed playing in the rock pools and searching for interesting rocks. Although on this occasion the showers were closed due to Scottish government restrictions, the toilets were very clean and there was a very handy little kitchen area with a washing machine and tumble dryer, microwave, kettle; also lots of touristy information and maps of the Black Isle. We particularly loved the location of this campsite because of the proximity to Charnory Point. We were able to walk to try and spot the dolphins on numerous occasions. If you have very small children, then it is also worth noting that there is a road that runs to the golf club between the shoreline campsite pitches and the facilities.
The drive there alone, makes a visit to Clachtoll Beach Campsite 100% worth a visit! The drive along the B869 was awesome and the girls loved the windy roads and spotting sheep. Located right next to the campsite is the stunning Clachtoll Beach - white sands and crystal clear waters…… we loved it! The bay is perfect for minke whale or basking sharks, but unfortunately we didn’t see any this time. The campsite has a really family friendly vibe and the owners were so welcoming and friendly, going above and beyond to be kind to the girls and make their stay fun.
❤️ This campsite is very Eco Friendly. The owners provide campers with free washing-up liquid and free detergents for the washing machines, all of which are eco friendly. Lots of recycling on site too.
❤️ Communal areas: we have never seen such a lovely outdoor area on a campsite where all campers are invited to come and spend their evenings. There is lighting, tables, areas to cook using disposable BBQs and a fire pit. It felt like a really lovely community.
❤️ There is a small onsite shop selling essentials.
❤️ Next to the campsite there are some chickens and children are invited to feed them.
Sands Caravan and Camping is situated on the West Coast of Scotland, this campsite just screams beauty!
I actually cried as we drove into Gairloch and to the campsite. The views across to the Isle of Skye and Outer Hebrides are just stunning! The campsite is a good walk or short drive from Gairloch, where you’ll find a chemist, some great little restaurants and lots more. There are lots of different designated areas of the campsite and a huge area where you can pitch wherever you like in the sand dunes. Beautiful views across to the beach makes you feel as if you are wild camping, but with all the facilities you could possibly need not too far away. The campsite is well established and much bigger than we would usually choose, but due to the layout, it never felt crowded at all. In fact, we mostly felt like we were wild camping!
❤️ The toilets and showers, although not the most modern, are immaculately clean; plus there is even a bath!!!
❤️ There is also an onsite restaurant, dog wash area, laundry room, a shop with all the essentials plus camping equipment and much more!
❤️ Just stroll over the sand dunes to a beautiful sandy beach! Plus don’t forget to visit Gairloch beach which is a little further down the road.
❤️ There is a fabulous play park for children and a bike park, with loads of ramps too!
Buy your Google Map guide to the NC500 here. It includes:
Campsite recommendations, overnight parking/ community wild camping spots, chemical disposal points, must see attractions and towns, beaches, hikes, food and drink recommendations, driving routes and blog post links.
What are the best family friendly beaches on the NC500?
There are so many stunning beaches on the NC500, that it is hard not to want to stop and build sandcastles on them all. We did have some firm favourites though. We loved Farr Beach. It was a bit of a walk to access, but that only made it quieter. The rocks, sands, crystal clear waters alone were enough to keep us all happy for hours. We also happened to witness one of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever seen.
Balnakeil Bay has been on our list of places to visit for a very long time and it didn’t disappoint! A huge expanse of white sands was enough to keep us happy, but the bay offered so much more. This beach draws you in and is asking to be explored. We found so many stunning caves to climb in and huge rocks to climb on that we were there for hours. Definitely not one to be missed!
Sango Bay is fairly popular on the NC500 route. Interestingly, over the two days we were there, the girls were the only ones playing on the beach. There are rocks to climb, waves to jump (some people were surfing) and plenty of white sand to build all the sandcastles with. We stayed at Sango Sands Campsite, so the location to the beach was perfect. We loved the beach, but the campsite wasn’t our favourite. You can read a full review here.
Gairloch Beach is probably one of my all time favourite beaches. The girls and I spent hours looking for tiny, beautiful shells. A real gem!
Clachtoll Beach is situated a short stroll away from Clachtoll Campsite. It was beautiful - a small bay with plenty of charm. It felt safe and was perfect for some family fun.
What are the best family friendly must see places?
Although the sheer cliffs might initially put you off, Dunnets Head is well worth a visit. Firstly it is the most northerly point of both mainland Scotland and Great Britain, which we felt was a lesson within itself. There is plenty of parking near the lighthouse and the ground is mostly even. Dunnet Head also attracts many thousands of breeding seabirds and is also one of the best places in Britain to see them, for example the Gillemot, Puffin, Kittiwakes, Razorbill and Fulmar. We had great fun watching the birds fly overhead, trying to identify them.
In clear weather, Dunnet Head offers superb views as far as Cape Wrath and north to the Orkney Islands. This is one of the reasons why Dunnet Head was particularly important during WW2. Servicemens’ stations here kept a close watch on the coast and the approaches to the Royal Navy’s base at Scapa Flow. We really enjoyed looking round all the derelict buildings that are scattered around the lighthouse.
Smoo Cave didn’t disappoint. The girls love visiting a cave anyway, but this one was just something else. Click here for a video tour. Sienna shook with excitement as she raced ahead of us to explore more. Smoo Cave is a spectacular sea cave set into limestone cliffs, a mile outside the town of Durness. The cave is fully accessible 365 days a year, with a public walkway into the waterfall chamber. There a lots of steps for little legs, but one to definitely add to your list to visit! I would suggest visiting early to try and avoid the inevitable crowds! There is also a small cove to explore with lots of other much smaller caves to investigate.
Chanonry Point is the only place in the North Sea that has a resident Bottlenose Dolphin population, so we decided to brave a wet and windy walk to the point from Fortrose Bay Campsite, just in case we might get lucky and spot some. Luck was on our side (or the weather, as apparently you are more likely to spot them in wild weather conditions) and we could easily see some feeding from the shore line. This was a truly magical experience - they were so close to the shoreline that we just couldn’t believe our eyes.
The Golden Eagle Zip Line at Ceannabeinne Beach is probably one of the girls’ most talked about attractions! This was such a great experience for us all! It is 37 meters high and 230 meters long and you can zip by at speeds of up to 45 kph with incredible beach views. It is family friendly activity, with no age limits, but there are weight restrictions. Minimum weight is 20 kilos which is about 44 pounds (you need the weight to propel you down so you don’t get stuck in the middle) and maximum weight is 115 kilos or around 254 pounds.
Golden Eagle Zip Lines provide you with all the safety equipment you need, including special helmets and harnesses for children. This attraction is not bookable - just simply turn up on the day and wait for your turn. Please bare in mind, that lines do not operate in severe weather conditions. The best way to keep up to date is though their Facebook page. Ceannabeinne Beach is also worth a visit. We have a lovely lunch stop here and the girls built lots of sand castles. This beach seemed to be one that people stopped for just to take a quick photo, so we basically had it all to ourselves.
At least one boat trip is needed on the NC500, so we opted for a family-friendly Inverness dolphin cruise. We chose a trip with Dolphin Spirit and it was fabulous. The boat was family and dog friendly and Debbie our guide was full of fascinating knowledge about the wildlife around the Inner Moray Firth. Although on this occasion we weren't lucky enough to see all the wildlife, we learnt about otters, seals, dolphins and an array of birdlife.
We would have loved to visit Dunrobin Castle, but unfortunately it was closed under the Scottish Government restrictions to suppress Covid 19. One to return to.
A NC500 tour wouldn’t be complete without a cheesy photograph next to the John O’Groats sign. John O’ Groats takes its name from John Groot - aka Jan de Groot, a merchant of Low Countries ancestry who was granted the franchise to set up a ferry from Caithness to the Orkney Isles but King James IV of Scotland in 1496.
Corrieshalloch is a slot gorge, that was cut as far back as 2.6 million years ago by Ice Age glacial meltwater. This is one for those who are not afraid of heights. It is a relatively easy walk from the carpark for maximum views, but the viewing platform did make me nervous. My girls thought the suspension bridge was fabulous.
In summary, we loved our NC500 experience. We didn’t travel too far each day and always had something fun for the children to do to keep it exciting. During our NC500 trip, we also visited Orkney which was really family-friendly. You can read more about our experience here.
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