North Coast 500 Journey

Edinburgh – Inverness – Wick – Pitlochry

North Coast 500 Journey

Welcome to Scotland

Highlights

This North Coast 500 Journey is a great introduction to the country, where you will be able to experience their most beloved cities as well as their dramatic countryside.

Consult with your Travel Specialist to ensure the top places you are eager to visit are included in your trip and booked in advance! There will be a lot of time for leisure where you will be able to get to know Scotland on your own and at your own speed.

*Please keep in mind – This is a SAMPLE itinerary and is meant for inspiration only!

All of our tours are created on a custom basis to ensure the ideal trip that’s only for you. The itineraries on our website are intended solely as inspiration and are not available for purchase as a set package.

Make it Yours

  • Accommodation- Scotland offers multiple types of lodging such as luxurious and boutique hotels as well as castle properties!  Juniper will select where you stay based on your preferences.
  • Transportation- Juniper will provide transportation throughout the tour while traveling to the different locations based on your budget, as well as airport transfers if needed.
  • Day Tours and Entrance Tickets- Juniper ensures all selected tours and experiences are pre-scheduled to provide a smooth and exhilarating travel experience!

North Coast 500 Journey Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh

Welcome to Scotland! Upon arriving, check-in to your accommodations, and feel free to familiarize yourself with the capital by exploring with a Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour. Visit Edinburgh’s Acropolis and soak in the panoramic views from Calton Hill.  Finish the day in one of Edinburgh’s renowned restaurants.

Overnight in Edinburgh

Day 2: Edinburgh to Inverness

On your journey north, visit one of Scotland’s most beautiful and vibrant places.  Pitlochry welcomes visitors with real hospitality, clear air, beautiful scenery, rich clan history, and fine food.  Then soak in Inverness, which has all the elements for a memorable city stay. 

Overnight in Inverness

Day 3: Inverness to Dornoch

Discover the North Coast 500, which is one of the top coastal routes in the world.  With never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks, and beautiful bends, this will be a road trip of a lifetime.  Arrive in the small historic town of Dornoch, which is set in a tranquil location with a beautiful beach that features birds, flora, and fauna. For those golf enthusiasts, you might want to take a swing at the Royal Dornoch. 

Overnight in Dornoch

Day 4: Dornoch to Wick 

Overlooking the Moray Firth, Dunrobin Castle is a must-see stop heading north along the coast.  The extravagant castle and gardens is one of Scotland’s most northerly great houses. Finish the day exploring the remains of the Castle of Old Wick, which sits on top of dramatic cliffs in Wick Bay.  

 

This former Viking settlement was the busiest herring port in Europe until the 19th-century.  Finish the day in a restaurant that will boast some great seafood options on a menu.

Overnight in Wick

Day 5: Wick 

Venture to John o’Groats, which is situated in an extreme location that combines dramatic unspoiled scenery and incredible wildlife.

Follow beautiful walking coastal paths from lighthouses to rock stacks or venture to Orkney-only six miles away-and learn more about the island on a historical excursion, which can be easily arranged. 

Overnight in Wick

Day 6: Wick to Durness and Back 

When you head to one of the most north westerly villages in Scotland, you will see spectacular scenery with pristine beaches and turquoise waters. A haven for hillwalkers and climbers, Durness has rugged mountains and vast moorlands. If time permits, visit Smoo Cave, which is a gaping hole in a limestone cliff on Balnakiel Beach.  

Overnight in Durness

Day 7: Durness to Ullapool

Another long day of traveling through some of Scotland’s least spoilt natural environments, Ullapool boasts a wealth of things to do for outdoor enthusiasts. This beautiful town has been described as paradise with a “Scandinavian twinkle in winter and Canadian-style adrenaline in summer.” You will fall in love with this picturesque fishing town, which is a great gateway to the Northern Highlands for a short escape. 

Overnight in Ullapool

Day 8: Ullapool to Torridon 

Make lots of unscheduled stops for photo opportunities and marvel at the steep cliffs, gorges, and green wooded slopes.  The scenery is definitely the star of the show todayGet to Torridon and relax for the evening.

Overnight in Torridon

Day 9: Torridon to Pitlochry

One of Scotland’s most beautiful and vibrant places to visit; Pitlochry welcomes visitors with real hospitality, clear air, beautiful scenery, rich clan history, and fine food. Be pampered at a spa hotel, eat out in a restaurant and café, browse shops for gifts and local crafts, and enjoy a local tipple in a pub.

Overnight in Pitlochry

Day 10: Pitlochry to Edinburgh 

Discover the beauty of Rosslyn Chapel, which was founded in 1446. Today it attracts visitors from far and wide, drawn by its unique and mysterious carvings and the beauty of its setting.  There are countless theories, myths, and legends associated with the Chapel, many of which are impossible to prove or disprove conclusively.  Finish your tour in Edinburgh celebrating your incredible trip at a Scottish pub and enjoying a tipple of Scotland’s famous drink, whisky. 

Overnight in Edinburgh

Day 11: Depart

Mar sin leibh an drásta. We hope you had a fabulous vacation in Scotland with Juniper Tours!

Get Ready to Travel!

Your North Coast 500 Journey tour at a glance:

North Coast 500 Journey Highlights:

Selected activities based on your interests:

Why We Love this Tour

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