The world-famous North Coast 500 touring route follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the Northern Highlands of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle.
The NC500 tourism body has saddled up with an international cycling expert and filmmaker to encourage people to explore the renowned 516 route of stunning coastal scenery on two wheels.
Markus Stitz, founder of Bikepacking Scotland, has joined forces with NC500 to devise a new range of off and on-road cycling itineraries that use sections of the route. The routes include cycle-friendly accommodation, cycle cafes, sightseeing stop-offs and storage facilities.
Markus is a highly experienced long-distance cyclist, who knows the route well from previous adventures and the research for his upcoming book about gravel rides in the UK.
This new cycling initiative is launching in time for the spring and summer months and aims to extoll the benefits of cycling for wellbeing and positive mental health, as well as an environmentally conscious travel option to explore the Northern Highlands. Markus said: “The NC500 takes people through stunning landscapes, and I hope that by travelling this way, cyclists can enjoy the scenery more from a slower, two-wheeled perspective, and also have a positive impact on the communities along the way.”
As well as a selection of fantastic Certificated Sites, the famously stunning route passes three of the Club’s Scottish Club Sites – Rosemarkie, Dingwall and Inverewe Gardens Poolewe.