Latest news with #NorthHighlandInitiative
New York Times
21-07-2025
- New York Times
Should You Drive Scotland's ‘Ultimate Road Trip?' Locals Say Maybe Not.
When Susanne Ramacher-Schmitz moved to the 'very quiet and very remote' township of Laid in the Scottish Highlands in the spring of 2020, she reveled in the silence and stunning landscapes. Then came summer. An 'invasion' of vehicles, sometimes hundreds per hour, sped past her house daily, the noise reverberating for miles. 'You hear the motorbikes and racing cars all the way around. It just becomes worse and worse,' she said. Unknowingly, Ms. Ramacher-Schmitz had settled along the 516-mile scenic driving route known as the North Coast 500, which has become one of the most popular destinations in Scotland. When it began in 2015, 'Scotland's Ultimate Road Trip' as it was marketed, aimed to support businesses in the North Highlands by sending tourists where previously few had traveled. A project of the nonprofit North Highland Initiative, led by King Charles III, the NC500 rebranded existing roadways as a Scottish version of Route 66, starting and ending in the Highland capital of Inverness, and taking in small towns, historic sites and spectacular scenery across six regions. But critics say this once-idyllic wilderness has been overwhelmed by an influx of tourists without infrastructure to support them. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Scottish road trip named among 30 'best places to visit before you die'
Scotland's North Coast 500 has been named one of the top places to visit before you die, alongside sites like Pompeii and Petra. Launched in 2015 by the North Highland Initiative, the loop which starts and ends at Inverness Castle has been described as 'Scotland's Route 66'. While acknowledging that the route is 'technically not a destination', Enjoy Travel put it 11th on its list. The website says: "Driving the North Coast 500 is an outstanding way to explore Scotland. The wild northern coastline, eye-popping views, ancient castles, country pubs and traditional villages make this road trip an adventure to remember. Read More: 'Bunch of f******': Anger as Youtuber lollipop man stunt holds up traffic on A9 More than 50 motorists caught in NC500 speeding blitz North Coast 500 motorhome ban moves closer after council committee decision "Wind through the breathtaking Scottish Highlands, basking in the desolation, save for sparsely located country house hotels. The jaw-dropping odyssey is the UK's best road trip, spanning 516 miles and taking an average of 7 days." The NC500 joins some of the world's most famous sights on the list. Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, is also included as are the Grand Canyon, Petra, and the Great Wall of China. 30) Lapland, Finaldn 29) Banff National Park, Canada 28) Pompeii, Italy 27) Table Mountain, South Africa 26) Khao Sok National Park, Thailand 25) Acropolis, Greece 24) Grand Canyon, USA 23) Socotra, Yemen 22) Erg Chebbi, Morocco 21) Wulingyuan, China 20) Sandwich Harbour, Namibia 19) Pico do Ariero, Portugal 18) Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia 17) Serengeti National Park, Tanzania 16) Hà Giang, Vietnam 15) Raja Ampat, Indonesia 14) Iguazú Falls, Argentina & Brazil 13) Cappadocia, Türkiye 12) Whitsundays, Australia 11) North Coast 500, Scotland 10) The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 9) Rio carnival, Brazil 8) Mount Fuji, Japan 7) Pyramids of Giza, Egypt 6) Great Wall of China, China 5) Okavango Delta, Bostwana 4) Geirangerfjord, Norway 3) Petra, Jordan 2) Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan 1) Sólheimajökull Glacier, Iceland
