How many days do you really need for the NC500?

I see people trying to do the NC500 in 2-3 days and honestly it breaks my heart. How many days would you recommend to actually enjoy it properly?

Absolute minimum 5 days, but 7-10 is ideal. You need time to stop at the beaches, walk to viewpoints, and have a proper lunch somewhere. Rushing it defeats the purpose.

We did 10 days and still felt like we missed things. If you want to do any hillwalking, add extra days. Stac Pollaidh alone is worth a half day.

People always underestimate how long the single track roads take. What looks like 30 miles on the map can easily take 90 minutes. Factor that in.

I'd say 7 days is the sweet spot. Enough time to stop and explore without feeling rushed, but not so long that you're stretching for things to do.