Bringing together a route of just over 500 miles (516 to be exact…) of stunning coastal scenery, the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. The route naturally follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-Shire. The Official North Coast 500 route begins and ends in Inverness at Inverness Castle which, perched on top of a hill, is the perfect starting point to the route and offers unparalleled views over the capital city of the Highlands. The North Coast 500 (NC500) was officially launched in 2015 by the North Highland Initiative (NHI), a non-profit organisation established by HRH, Prince Charles in 2005 in an effort to develop economic growth across the North Highlands. Now an independent company, North Coast 500 Ltd seeks to market the route’s unique tourism offering to a worldwide audience in order to benefit the whole of North Highlands.