• Ellen Withers
  • Andy Withers
  • Oliver Withers
  • Ellen Withers
  • Andy Withers
  • Oliver Withers
  • Oscar Withers

NC500 August 2022

Our first major road trip in our trusty T6. All 5 of us! Read more
  • Trip start
    July 30, 2022

    NC500 - DAY 1

    Jul 30–31, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Travelling, travelling and more travelling. Home to Penrith.
    We're breaking the journey up to (our) start of the NC500 by staying at a campsite at Penrith. Moods are high... And so is the chance of rain 🙄😂Read more

  • NC500 - DAY 2

    Jul 31–Aug 1, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Another day on the road... Penrith to Loch Ness. After reading lots of people's blogs of the NC500 we decided to start ours there.
    Penrith was WET, it rained all night and Oliver had forgotten to do up the little clips on his tent... He woke up very wet and grumpy 🤣

    We did eventually get everything sorted and got on our way.

    Two most exciting bits were: actually entering Scotland and getting Oliver a new sleeping bag! 😂
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  • NC500 - DAY 3

    Aug 1–2, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Loch Ness to Dornoch.
    Lovely weather, Loch Ness exhibition centre, fairy glen falls, me going the wrong way and us ending up on what felt like the smallest ferry in the world and awesome fish and chips with wine and gin 😁Read more

  • NC500 - DAY 4

    Aug 2–3, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Busy day today. Dornoch to John o' Groats.

    We had an awesome breakfast, a visit to the Whaligoe Steps where we met Dave who knew pretty much everything about them, we had lunch at Wick harbour, visited the Sinclair and Girnigoe castle and went to see the stacks of Duncansby.

    Pissed off at the lack of Highland Coos.

    We're camping at John o' Groats tonight so we set up and went for dinner, we saw the sunset and then the midges sent us to bed 🤣
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  • NC500 - DAY 5

    Aug 3–4, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    John o' Groats to Durness (Sango sands campsite)

    The days are getting busier. A longer drive today, but beautiful.
    We had breakfast at Thurso before visiting the beautiful Strathy Bay, then stopped and had a quick look at Bettyhill viewpoint. We Checked into the campsite and headed to get awesome cheese toasties (and a giggle) at Cheese 'N' Toasted before heading down to the amazing waterfall in Smoo cave!

    The most pleasant surprise today was the wonderful beach we're camped next to! Best site so far 😃

    Saw only 3 Highland Coos today... But actually got an explanation as to why there are hardly any up here... Basically it's economy - they don't mature fast enough!
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  • NC500 - DAY 6

    Aug 4–5, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Durness to Lochinver (Shore campsite)

    We had breakfast at the campsite before heading to Cocoa mountain ☕

    We drove over Kylesku Bridge twice to get some good drone footage 🙂 and then headed to Britains highest waterfall (638ft), at Loch Glencoul. We looked at the top and the bottom and both were a scramble to get to. After that we had a wander in Lochinver and had dinner.

    When we got to campsite it turned out that Andy had booked and paid for a pitch for the 4th June and not August 😂😂😂 thankfully they squeezed us in so that we could sit in the van for the next 45 minutes and watch the biblical rain and hail! 🤣
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  • NC500 - DAY 7

    August 5, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Lochinver to Ullapool (Ardmair Point campsite)

    We visited the beach at the campsite this morning as the weather was nice and after the tailgate of the van had fallen on Andy's head we headed to Lochinver to have breakfast before setting off for Ardvrek castle.

    Ardvrek castle was awesome considering it's 15th century 😂 While we were there we happened on a cute waterfall across the road and couldn't resist a little ramble to that.

    We headed to the campsite to check in early and went to ullapool for a wander and the most expensive meal in the world 💸

    Campsite is awesome and we have the best spot! ♥️
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  • NC500 - DAY 8

    Aug 6–7, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    Ullapool to Gairloch (Gairloch Holiday Park)

    We strategically packed up around the gale force winds and biblical rain and set off for breakfast in Ullapool. On our way to Gairloch we stopped at the falls of Measach and had a wander to see it over the suspension bridge.

    At Gairloch we checked in and set up and went for a wander in the small town and along the harbour in the gale force winds and biblical rain, ending up at the museum.

    After visiting the Rubh Re lighthouse (also in the gale force winds and biblical rain) we went for dinner before heading back to the campsite.
    Hoping for a drier day tomorrow! 🌧️
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  • NC500 - DAY 9

    Aug 7–8, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Gairloch Holiday Park

    We hit a bit of a wall with the weather this morning and so decided to stay in Gairloch for another night to dry some of our stuff and spend a day chilling a little in the hope that some of the worst passes. 🌧️

    We weren't disappointed. After chilling this morning we headed for a lovely lunch followed by a brisk walk along the shore and tea at the community cafe and gift shop. Everyone is feeling ready for the next stage now 😊
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  • NC500 - DAY 10

    Aug 8–9, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Gairloch to Applecross (Applecross campsite)

    Back to our itinerary today. We started off with Andy running over Grace's shoes 😂 to go in search for breakfast and didn't find any. As part of our search we found Badachro distillery and had a tour there (instead of breakfast 🤣).

    We stopped to look at Victoria falls and took in Loch Maree and wondered at Beinn Eighe (we'll walk that next time) and stopped at Kinlochewe Service station for a spot of lunch.

    The final approach to Applecross was beautiful so we took in all the beautiful views and got up close and personal with some Highland Coos! 🐮

    Lastly we had a fish and chip supper on the shore side and I had a chat with the fisherman who catches the shrimp and lobster for the pub.

    All in all a busy and wonderful day ♥️
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  • NC500 - DAY 11

    August 9, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Applecross to Skye (Reraig Campsite)

    A heavy day of driving today. We had breakfast at the campsite and headed out to drive over applecross pass... And we did the whole thing IN the clouds (which Grace thought was cool and insisted on getting out at one point to dance in the clouds! 🤣)

    From there we headed directly to the Isle of Skye where we walked to the fairy pools. After that we headed to the campsite and set up... In the SUNSHINE!!! 😲😁

    We're keeping our fingers crossed for a dry night tonight. We officially completed the NC500 in Applecross, however our adventures will continue for a couple more days as yet 🙂
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  • NC500 - DAY 12

    August 10, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Reraig to Fort William (Glen Nevis Campsite)

    Bacon sammiches in the camper followed by packing up and heading to visit Eilean Donan castle, which was awesome 🏰

    Travelled to glen Nevis Campsite and checked in and went up to Sgurr Finnisg-aig Viewpoint on the gondolas at Nevis range (where Andy posed at the starting gate for the downhill world cup and sulked at the fact he didn't have his bike 🤣)

    Went to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct and then headed back to the campsite for tea and a glass of wine 🍷

    Sad that it is our last night camping, but we have one more night on our way home tomorrow night!
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  • NC500 - DAY 13

    August 11, 2022 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Fort William to York (Air BnB)

    Packed up for the last time and headed for the cheapest breakfast in the world, readying ourselves for the looooong drive to York we stopped off at Glencoe to take in the beautiful view!

    Just lots and lots of driving!

    Tomorrow we're doing the Jorvik Viking Centre and a little mooch around the city before heading home to a massive mountain of washing!

    I can honestly say we've had an amazing adventure, with breathtaking views and wonderful family time, thank you so much Andy Withers ❤️
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  • NC500 - DAY 14

    Aug 12–13, 2022 in England ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    York - Home!

    Last day and a visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre, which was awesome. York is beautiful and it was lovely to stay in a bed over night... despite the heat in the house we rented!

    The travel home was long, but it was good to get home ❤️Read more

    Trip end
    August 12, 2022