NC500 Accommodation Guide: Where to Stay on the Route
Find the best places to stay on the NC500 — from luxury hotels and cosy B&Bs to budget hostels, campsites, and wild camping spots.
Accommodation Overview
Finding the right place to stay can make or break your NC500 experience. The route passes through some of the most sparsely populated parts of the UK, which means accommodation options are limited and spread out. Understanding what’s available, where it is, and when to book is essential — especially if you’re travelling in summer.
Hotels
Hotels along the NC500 range from grand country houses to small, family-run establishments. At the luxury end, the Torridon Hotel offers five-star Highland hospitality with loch views and an excellent restaurant. Mackays in Durness is a welcoming, well-appointed hotel right on the route. The Royal Hotel in Ullapool overlooks the harbour and puts you within walking distance of the town’s restaurants and shops.
Mid-range hotels are scattered along the route, with most towns of any size having at least one option. Expect to pay £100-£200 per night for a double room in peak season, dropping to £70-£130 outside summer months. Many hotel restaurants are open to non-guests too, which is worth knowing when your evening meal options are limited.
Bed and Breakfasts
B&Bs are the backbone of NC500 accommodation, and they’re often the most rewarding places to stay. Run by locals who know the area inside out, a good B&B gives you a comfortable room, a massive cooked breakfast, and a host who’ll share tips about hidden gems you’d never find on your own.
Prices typically run from £70 to £120 per night for a double room. Quality varies, so check recent reviews on Booking.com or TripAdvisor before committing. Some of the best B&Bs are in unexpected spots — a croft house down a side road with staggering sea views, or a converted stone cottage in a village you’ve never heard of.
Look for B&Bs in Shieldaig, Gairloch, Lochinver, Tongue, and John o’ Groats. These make natural stopping points that break the route into manageable daily drives.
Hostels and Bunkhouses
For budget travellers, the NC500 has a surprisingly good network of hostels and bunkhouses. SYHA (Scottish Youth Hostels Association) runs hostels in Torridon, Tongue, Durness, and several other locations along the route. Dorm beds start from around £20-£30 per night, and many hostels also offer private rooms for a bit more.
Independent hostels add character to the mix. The Lazy Crofter Bunkhouse in Durness is a favourite with walkers and cyclists. Sail Mhor Croft in Dundonnell is tiny, friendly, and perfectly placed for exploring the Wester Ross wilderness. Craig Highland Farm near Plockton offers bunkhouse accommodation alongside friendly Highland cows.
Most hostels have self-catering kitchens, which is a huge money-saver. Some also run communal dinners or have small bars — a great way to meet other travellers and swap route tips.
Camping and Campsites
Formal campsites line the route, ranging from basic pitches in a field to well-equipped sites with showers, laundry, and electric hook-ups. Sango Sands in Durness is regularly voted one of Scotland’s best campsites, perched on cliffs above a beautiful bay. Clachtoll Beach has pitches right by the sea. Ardmair Point near Ullapool has mountain and loch views that rival any hotel.
Pitch fees range from £10 to £25 per night. Larger sites often accept campervans and caravans, while smaller ones may be tent-only. Facilities vary widely, so check ahead if hot showers and electric hook-ups matter to you.
Wild camping is legal in Scotland and opens up some extraordinary overnight spots. Pitch your tent on a remote beach, by a mountain stream, or on open moorland with views stretching to the horizon. Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code: camp in small numbers, stay no more than one night, and leave absolutely no trace.
Glamping and Self-Catering
For something between camping and a hotel, the NC500 has a growing number of glamping options — think shepherd’s huts, yurts, pods, and converted bothies. These typically cost £80-£150 per night and offer the atmosphere of camping with the comfort of a proper bed and, usually, heating.
Self-catering cottages and holiday homes are excellent for longer stays or groups. Renting a cottage in a central location like Ullapool or Lochinver for two or three nights and exploring the surrounding area by day can be more relaxing than moving accommodation every night.
Booking Tips
Book as early as possible for June through August. Popular spots fill up three to six months ahead. Even campsites can be fully booked at weekends during peak season. Shoulder months — May, September, and early October — offer more availability but it’s still wise to book at least a few weeks ahead.
If you’re flexible, a mix-and-match approach works well. Book a couple of key nights at places you really want to stay, then fill in gaps with campsites or wild camping. This gives you structure without locking you into a rigid itinerary.
Always have a backup plan. Mobile signal is unreliable, so don’t count on finding a room via an app when you’re in the middle of Sutherland. Keep a list of accommodation phone numbers — sometimes a direct call gets you a room that online platforms show as unavailable.