life - live it
Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Behind you
Posts: 1022
  
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Well, we have taken the plunge.
My two bothers and myself including the little ones have decided to have a males only trip around the NC500 in July. 7 nights in the top end of Scotland
We have decided to go in convoy
Defender 110 double cab pickup 54 reg
D3 09 plate HSE
D3 06 plate SE
Photo's will posted as and when.
Has anyone else done the trip, advice, suggestions etc
cheer
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 15th Jun 2017 8:20 pm |
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galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
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jimmy mac cycled it last year in 33 hours and set new time
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| 15th Jun 2017 9:16 pm |
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life - live it
Member Since: 14 Apr 2017
Location: Behind you
Posts: 1022
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Well, he's beat my time of 7 days lol
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| 15th Jun 2017 9:30 pm |
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Notanotherhobby
Member Since: 18 May 2016
Location: Middlesbrough
Posts: 39
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SWMBO and I did the NC500 at the end of April, and we took it steady taking seven days, and both thought it one of the best things we've ever done. Although we had snow, which made the Pass of the Cattle route to Applecross "interesting" the scenery is simply stunning. The locals were amazingly friendly, the B&B's really good. If there was a disappointment at all, we reckon John O Groats was it. Slightly "tacky" and underwhelming pretty much summed it up really.
You can travel miles and not see another vehicle, which is amazing. Be aware that much of the route is single track, but there are oodles of passing spaces. I hope you enjoy it, I'm sure you will.
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| 15th Jun 2017 10:15 pm |
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Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
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Yes, well it's not like that now! Hoards of mental motor cyclists, large camper vans and idiots in sports cars.
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| 16th Jun 2017 12:03 am |
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Rmacaul
Member Since: 05 Apr 2017
Location: Angus
Posts: 136
 
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Ah the summer in the north of Scotland, 
Just get you News paper on the dash for when the "  " misses four passing places and pulls up in front of you expecting you to reverse your truck down a single track road.
Nope mate not happening engine off news paper out.
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| 16th Jun 2017 7:43 am |
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Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
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Already this morning had 4 Italian motorcyclist pull out from a layby in front of me, travel two abreast. then emergency stop all over the place for the next layby. They were lucky l managed to stop with a fully laden trailer behind me. ers!
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| 16th Jun 2017 12:17 pm |
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hugeviking
Member Since: 08 Jun 2010
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 1482
 
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NC 500, potentially destroying the attraction.
Let the road "improvements" begin.
Andi.
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| 17th Jun 2017 4:43 pm |
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Rmacaul
Member Since: 05 Apr 2017
Location: Angus
Posts: 136
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During the summer months they do a weekly repatriation service for motorbikes into the continent.
Oh and they fill a big truck every week, crashed, bashed and broken. 
the carnage has been going on for years before the NC500 was even invented, so don't think the roads will get improved.
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| 17th Jun 2017 10:01 pm |
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hugeviking
Member Since: 08 Jun 2010
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 1482
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TBH, its an awkward one. I love going up there, and, on an individual basis, I would encourage anyone to go and experiance the west coast, its just when the authorities seem to be encouraging an en mass invasion using a jaunty name etc, that i wonder how long it will last.
Andi.
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| 18th Jun 2017 9:28 pm |
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Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
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Andi, you've got it right, the NC500 is killing the place tbh. It's destroying the very thing it promotes. This year is worse than the last and I have no doubt it will go on and on.
Personally, if I were a visitor doing it now, the high volume of traffic would spoil it for me. The place isn't built for it. How long before it's a route to be avoided?
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| 18th Jun 2017 11:51 pm |
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HughMartin
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 751
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I used to go over to Lochinver area quite a lot in my younger days when there was very little traffic. I would love to go back for old times sake but I fear I will be grossly disappointed with the situation now. I can imaging driving some of the roads will be very stressful and frustrating now.
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| 27th Jun 2017 10:20 am |
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RONCH
Member Since: 12 Feb 2015
Location: Oberwil via North Wales
Posts: 83
 
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Did the NC500 with my "soon to be" wife in and old Seat Ibiza back in August 1991. I'm pretty sure it hadn't been identified as such then. Didn't book anything just started looking for a B+B in the late afternoon each day. No navigation aids then just the missus and an AA map. Sitting on deserted beaches miles from anywhere watching the seals. Took us three weeks and the weather was perfect. Such memories............ Ahhhhhh..............
Oops, just remembered the damn midges!!!!
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| 27th Jun 2017 12:43 pm |
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Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
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Well I've just done a couple of hundred miles on the NC500 today, business rather than pleasure - all West Coast. Started off at 7.30am and just home.
The roads were reasonably quiet early on, but you then notice loads of camper vans and tin tents blocking up the passing places and a pile of mess on the verge.
Later on, the roads were busy with the driving Miss Daisys or alternatively the Hell For Leather Brigade, the only point of interest was I saw three vintage Citroens doing the circuit.
Was talking to some locals who were dreading the school holidays, in particular the English schools for the mega increase in traffic.
I'd prefer the midges to the visitors tbh. 
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| 27th Jun 2017 2:44 pm |
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hugeviking
Member Since: 08 Jun 2010
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 1482
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Perhaps the authorities should think again, and drop the idea.
Andi.
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| 27th Jun 2017 7:01 pm |
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