NC500 Private Tour (3 Days) from Inverness
A private three-day journey through the Highlands, designed around the best scenery, coastal roads, historic stops and hidden gems, with a comfortable pace and attention to detail throughout.
Duration
3 days
Overnight
2 nights (locations depend on route and availability)
Group size
Up to 7 guests
Start
Inverness and Highlands accommodation
Style
Private, flexible, scenic and story-led
What’s included
- Luxury Mercedes vehicle
- Professional local Highland driver-guide
- Full itinerary planning and route management
- Pick-up and drop-off at accommodation
Accommodation, meals, entrances, and activities are not included unless arranged in advance.
Why the NC500 is worth doing privately
The NC500 is one of the world’s great road trips. Done properly, it feels wild, remote and unforgettable. The key is pacing. A private tour lets you stop where it matters, avoid the stress of planning, and enjoy the Highlands properly. For inspired touring, explore our private tours from Inverness.
What this 3 day tour can include
- Dramatic coastal roads and beaches
- Castles and Highland history
- Waterfalls, caves and viewpoints
- Distilleries and local food stops (optional)
- Short walks and photo stops without rushing
Suggested 3 day itinerary (example)
The exact route can be adjusted around your preferences and dates.
Day 1: Inverness to the North Highlands and East Coast
A scenic start with castles, coastline and classic Highland stops.
- Beauly, optional with Beauly Priory and Campbells of Beauly
- Castle Leod, optional if routing suits
- Rogie Falls, a short walk
- Fyrish Monument, optional hike and views
- Tain, a quick historic town stop
- Glenmorangie viewpoint area, optional scenic stop
- Dornoch and Dornoch Cathedral
- Embo Beach, optional calm coastal stop
- Dunrobin Castle and Museum, key highlight
- Carn Liath Broch, ancient history stop
- Brora, quick coastal stop
- Helmsdale and the Highland Clearances heritage area, optional
Overnight suggestion: East Coast or Sutherland area depending on availability.
Day 2: The Far North, beaches and big scenery
This is the day for huge landscapes, wild coastline and the feeling of being right at the edge of the Highlands.
- Dunrobin area departure and north coast drive
- Whaligoe Steps, optional and steep but incredible
- Castle of Mey area, optional and time dependent
- John O’Groats, optional classic photo stop
- Duncansby Head viewpoint, stacks and sea cliffs
- Dunnet Head, mainland Britain’s most northerly point
- Thurso, short stop if needed
- Tongue and coastal viewpoints, time dependent
- Kyle of Tongue causeway views
- Balnakeil Beach, Durness
- Smoo Cave, major highlight
Overnight suggestion: Durness area or north-west coast depending on availability.
Day 3: The North West coast, Assynt and the return to Inverness
The north west is the showstopper. Mountains, turquoise bays, and some of the most iconic roads in Scotland.
- Kylesku Bridge, must-see viewpoint
- Loch Glencoul viewpoint, optional
- Unapool and Assynt scenery
- Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt
- Lochinver, lunch stop option
- Achmelvich Beach, time dependent
- Clachtoll Beach and coastline, optional
- Stac Pollaidh viewpoint, optional hike
- Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, optional
- Ullapool, classic harbour stop
- Corrieshalloch Gorge, waterfall and suspension bridge
- Scenic return to Inverness
Optional experiences
- Distillery stop, if it suits the route and timing
- Seafood lunch stop on the west coast, subject to opening
- Short hikes for viewpoints, including Fyrish and Stac Pollaidh
- Photography-focused route with more viewpoints and fewer villages
- Family-friendly route with more comfort stops and shorter walks
Best viewpoints and photo stops on this route
- Dunrobin Castle viewpoint
- Dornoch beach and cathedral area
- Fyrish Monument views
- Duncansby Head stacks
- Smoo Cave coastline
- Balnakeil Beach
- Kylesku Bridge viewpoint
- Ardvreck Castle and Loch Assynt
- Achmelvich Beach
- Corrieshalloch Gorge
- Ullapool harbour views
- Assynt mountain scenery
Who this tour is perfect for
- First-time visitors wanting the iconic Highlands road trip
- Couples wanting a private, comfortable multi-day experience
- Families who want a big adventure without the stress
- Guests who want scenery, history and local storytelling
Travel notes
- Accommodation availability can affect overnight locations.
- Weather can change quickly, and we adapt the plan.
- This is a long-distance route, but we pace it properly.
- Comfortable shoes and waterproof layers are recommended.
Bespoke private tours
Bespoke private tours
Every Venture Highland tour can be tailored. We can adjust timings, add stops, and build a completely bespoke itinerary to suit your interests, pace, and travel plans. If you have a wish list, we will design the day around it.
Plan your NC500 3 day private tour
Tell us your dates, group size, and what you want most from the NC500. We will design a three-day route with the best highlights, comfortable pacing, and the right overnight stops. If you are ready to begin, request a quote.
FAQ
Can you do the NC500 in 3 days from Inverness?
Yes. Three days is a strong way to experience the NC500 highlights while keeping a comfortable pace.
Where do you stay overnight on a 3 day NC500 tour?
We plan two overnight stops based on the route, accommodation availability, and your preferences.
What are the best highlights of the NC500?
Highlights include Dunrobin Castle, the north coast, Durness and Smoo Cave, Kylesku Bridge, Assynt, and west coast beaches.
Can you include Dunrobin Castle and Durness?
Yes. Both are key stops on a three day NC500 route and we plan the timing around them.
Can you include Smoo Cave and Achmelvich Beach?
Yes. These are classic north and west coast highlights and we can include them when conditions suit.
Is this tour suitable for families?
Yes. We tailor pacing, comfort stops, and walking options to suit families and mixed ages.
Can you include short hikes like Fyrish or Stac Pollaidh?
Absolutely. We can add short hikes when you want extra viewpoints and the weather is suitable.
Can you tailor the NC500 route to our interests?
Yes. Every tour is private and we design the route around your preferred highlights and pace.
