The North Coast 500 Challenge
Scotland offers some of the most beautiful cycling in the UK, with striking backdrops and stunning roads to explore.
This route takes in Bealach Na Ba (9km climb and the third highest road in Scotland) and encompasses jaw dropping vistas of the mountains, including Ben Muir, and the Summer Isles. We’ll pass through the most north westerly town of the UK, Durness, and take in countless lochs and picturesque villages before coming back into Inverness via a loop of the Moray Firth.
Its a challenging ride, with tough climbs and undulating terrain to deal with, but the views will more than compensate for the pain.
Challenge Date
01/09/2020
The Challenge Journey
Follow the teams day to day journey to complete the North Coast 500 challenge below.
We’ll leave Inverness along the river Ness and head almost exclusively West for the entire day as we weave our way through ever quietening roads, smaller hamlets and picturesque lochs.
We start today gently before it’s time to get out your 100 greatest climbs book – time to tick off the mythical beast that is Bealach Na Ba! This iconic climb is 9km long with an average gradient of 8%. Unfortunately due to high winds it was considered too dangerous hence an alternative section which meant cycling out to Applecross and back along the headland, still extremely tough as you are cycling the coastal rollers twice.
Stunning coastal views out to the summer isles greet us this morning as we hug the ever more fragmented West coast before cycling between the ancient mountains of Sgurr Mor and Beinn Dearg. We’ll lunch in the pretty fishing town of Ullapool – watch out for dolphin super pods in the marina! A tough, but stunning afternoon lies ahead as we negotiate the gnarly and constantly undulating terrain of the wild Highlands!
Today is the longest day of the trip and was also quoted by Mark Beaumont as a sharks mouth, rightly so as the terrain continues to test the legs with constant undulations, but chances are you’ll be distracted from the pain as each turning corner reveals yet another jaw dropping vista – this stretch houses some of the most dramatic scenery the world has to offer! After a hearty lunch in Durness and our first glimpse of the North coast of the British isles, we’ll push on towards the evenings resting point at Bettyhill.
We wave goodbye to Scotland’s coast today as we also leave the official NC500 route in search of quieter cycling friendly roads! We’ll carve our way through the wild and almost entirely unspoilt middle of the Highlands along virtually traffic free single tracks!
Our final day sees us head out past Bonar Bridge and then out into farmlands and single tracks before glimpsing views of a far away Inverness as we pass by the Cromarty Firth. Cruelly we’ll get within sight of our triumphant return before turning left after Conan bridge as we take in views of the beautiful Moray Firth. Finally, we’ll cross the impressive Kesseck suspension bridge and return to Inverness Castle.
Get involved
If you would like to take part or sponsor the North Coast 500 or future challenge, reach out to out team below.
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