Where you stay on the North Coast 500 matters more than most road trips. The route is remote, accommodation is limited in high season, and the places you choose shape your experience – a night at Applecross Inn is different from a campsite at Dunnet Bay. This is my guide to the places I’d recommend along each stage of the route, from luxury hotels to B&Bs, cabins, and campsites.
I’ve stayed in most of these myself over years of driving and re-driving the NC500. The recommendations below are organised by region, following the anti-clockwise route: Inverness, Easter Ross and Sutherland, Caithness and the north coast, Lochinver and Assynt, and finally Wester Ross and Applecross.
Before you book: read my complete guide to the North Coast 500 and my 7-day NC500 itinerary.
This post uses affiliate links [marked with a *] which I may receive a small commission from.
NC500 accommodation: the essentials
How much does accommodation cost on the NC500?
Budget roughly £70-120 per night for a mid-range B&B or hotel on the NC500, more in Inverness and on the remote north coast. Camping averages £20-30 per night; luxury hotels like The Torridon start from £250. Expect to pay a premium in July and August.
When should I book NC500 accommodation?
For July and August, book 6-12 months ahead – popular spots like the Applecross Inn, Kylesku Hotel and Durness hotels fill up fast. For spring and autumn, 2-3 months is usually enough. Campsites are slightly easier but the best-located ones (Sango Sands, Dunnet Bay, Sands at Gairloch) still book out in summer. You can turn up at campsites around 11am each day – and hope for a spot.
What’s the best region to base yourself on the NC500?
There isn’t a single “best” base – the NC500 is a circular route, not a hub-and-spoke trip. You’ll want a different overnight stop on each stage. If you can only pick one region to spend extra time in, I’d choose Assynt or Wester Ross – both have the most dramatic scenery and the most to explore within a 30-minute drive of a single base.
Where to stay on the North Coast 500 – Inverness
These are my recommended places to stay on the NC500 at Inverness:
- Daviot Lodge — luxury bed and breakfast accommodation in 80 acres
- Daviot Lodge Luxury Pods — cosy glamping pods with a fantastic view
- Bazpackers Hostel — quirky backpackers’ hostel in Inverness
- Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness — luxury spa hotel
- Rocpool Reserve, Inverness — luxury hotel with well-regarded restaurant
- Ness Walk, Inverness — newly opened 5-star hotel on the river
My personal favourite – the Cawdor Estate
Cawdor is a 42-thousand acre, 700-year old Scottish Highlands estate surrounded by redwoods, roe deer and rambling paths, and its own castle. A stay on the estate is a great way to start your North Coast 500 – and a great base to explore Inverness.
There are five cottages on the Cawdor Estate – the gorgeous bright blue Lochinshelloch, down in the village is Ivy Cottage in and the lovely Achneim Cottage. Book your stay at The Cawdor Estate.
Where to stay on the NC500 – Easter Ross & East Coast of Sutherland
These are my recommended places to stay on the NC500 on the east coast.
- Tall Pines Yurt, Helmsdale — quirky glamping in a yurt with a wood burner
- Tucker’s Inn, Invergordon — good stop for pub grub in a comfy inn
- Evelix Pods — glamping pods with free wifi near Dornoch
- Forse of Nature — B&B in a character property
- Royal Golf Hotel, Dornoch — luxury golf hotel
- The Steading, Dornoch — beautiful steading accommodation near Dornoch
- Burnside Shepherd’s Hut — stay in a quirky en-suite shepherd’s hut
My personal favourite – the Birdwatchers Cabin
The North Coast 500 might be right outside your door, but hidden on its own beach, the silence at Birdwatcher’s Cabin is only interrupted by the whistling cry of an osprey taking flight over Loch Fleet’s endless stretch of sand dunes, mudflats, and 100-year-old Scots pinewoods. For those lucky to live out here amongst all the wildlife, it is a tiny piece of paradise.
Inside, the cabin is a lesson in minimalist luxury. Designed by Anta, East Sutherland’s famous architects & interior firm, the cabin has a stunning rainfall shower in local Caithness slate, beautiful vintage furniture, stylish rugs and cosy blankets and an incredibly comfy bed with really thick sheets – the sheer quality of the cabin will just blow you away.
Book your stay at The Birdwatchers Cabin
Where to stay on the NC500 – Caithness
These are my recommended places to stay on the NC500 in Caithness
- Forss House, Thurso — stunning luxury property outside Thurso
- Braeside Retreats — glamping pods near Thurso
- Dunnet B&B Escapes — modern cabin-style B&B near Dunnet Head and John O’Groats
- Strathy Inn — basic inn accommodation in Caithness with good meals
- Farr Bay Inn — close to the gorgeous Farr Bay
- Wooden Wagon, Oldshoremore — go glamping in a cute wooden wagon
- Skipaflotta — a lovely luxury self-catering property
- Natural Retreats — quirky accommodation at John O’Groats
My personal favourite – camping at Dunnet Bay and Sango Sands
It might be run by the Council, a rather lot of rules and be stuffed full of caravans and campers in the height of summer, but what Dunnet Bay Campsite does have is an amazing beach – and is perfectly located for a stop at John O’Groats and Duncansby Stacks. Further along the coast is the wonderful Sango Sands which also comes complete with a fantastic beach.
Read more – things to do in Thurso
Where to stay on the North Coast 500 at Lochinver & Assynt
These are my recommended places to stay on the NC500 in Assynt
- Kylesku B&B — B&B with gorgeous views near the Kylesku Bridge
- West Coast Hideaways — glamping cabins with terraces and sea views
- North Coast 500 Pods — luxury glamping pods near one of the NC500’s best beaches
- B&B Philosophy — gorgeous B&B near Drumbeg
- Achmelvich View Self-Catering — cute log cabin in Lochinver
- Summer Isles Hotel — iconic hotel with views across the gorgeous Summer Isles
- Acheninver Hostel — a fabulous hostel in a location which needs to be seen to be believed
My personal favourite – Batbox
Just 10 minutes drive from the foodie village of Lochinver, the Batbox gives you total seclusion in touching distance of an excellent meal. Accessed by a short path up a hill, with a comfy double bed, small kitchen, luxury bathroom, covered deck and living space with views to die for, this is hutting in style. Climb a little further to the picnic bench and you are rewarded with a gorgeous view of the bay.
After a long day out in the Assynt hills, by night, relax in front of the log fire and those windows – all you can see are stars, then there is the occasional hooting of a tawny owl, the rustling of a deer and bats shooting by – and if you are lucky one of those west coast sunsets that Assynt is famous for… There is no need to close the blinds at Batbox, there is no one there to see!
Book your stay at The BatBox, Lochinver
Where to stay on the North Coast 500 in Wester Ross
These are my recommended places to stay on the NC500 in Wester Ross
- An Cois Na Mara Bed & Breakfast — lovely B&B with a great blog
- Charleston House, Gairloch — B&B in beachy Gairloch
- Torridon Youth Hostel — popular youth hostel in Torridon, great location for climbing the Torridon Munros
- Fisherman’s Cottage, Ullapool — cute 3-bed self-catering cottage
- Westlea Ullapool — fabulous, quirky, luxury B&B in Ullapool
My personal favourite – The Torridon Hotel
Built in 1887 as a shooting lodge, once home to tech pioneer Ada Lovelace, The Torridon is now a luxury Scottish retreat. With 58 acres of parkland, its own herd of highland coos, the Torridon Inn next door, the friendliest and most helpful staff (ever!) and its spectacular location on the loch, the Torridon Hotel makes for a destination which invites you to check in, and not check back out.
Rooms in the hotel range from classic doubles to four-posters, all beautifully restored by owners Daniel and Rohaise Rose-Bristow. For those looking for more privacy, there is also a dog-friendly annexe and a self-catering boathouse in the most romantic of locations. Behind the Torridon Inn, they also offer cottage-style apartments.
Book your stay at The Torridon*
For the Bealach Na Ba and Applecross
These are my recommended places to stay on the NC500 near Applecross:
- Tigh an Eilean Hotel, Shieldaig – a lovely small hotel on Shieldaig’s waterfront, famous for seafood
- Shieldaig Lodge Hotel – luxury hotel near Shieldaig with views over Loch Torridon
- Applecross Campsite — camping and caravan site on the peninsula with views across to Skye
My personal favourite – The Applecross Inn
The Applecross Inns selling point is that it really is at the end of the world. To get here, you either need to brave the famous Bealach Na Ba pass or the winding coast road from the neighbouring village of Shieldaig – both of which require nerves of steel from those not used to Scotland’s dramatic west coast roads. For those who do make it, staying at the Inn on the peninsula is as blissful as it gets – the view across the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye is mesmerising.
To top the view, dining at the Applecross Inn is talked about across the West Highlands in hushed awe-inspired tones. The Inn is a fish food foodie heaven, with an extensive menu all chalked up on extensive blackboards. Turn up, hope for a table and dig into a perfect plate of Scottish Langoustines. If you are a resident of the hotel then you get your own prime spot in the bar… The perfect way to end (or start) your trip around the North Coast 500!
Book your stay at the Applecross Inn
Map of places to stay on the North Coast 500
Frequently asked questions about NC500 accommodation
How much does accommodation cost on the NC500?
Budget roughly £70–120 per night for a mid-range B&B or hotel on the NC500, more in Inverness and on the remote north coast. Camping averages £20–30 per night. Luxury hotels like The Torridon start from £250. Expect to pay a premium in July and August.
When should I book NC500 accommodation?
For July and August, book 6–12 months ahead — popular spots like the Applecross Inn, Kylesku Hotel and Durness hotels fill up fast. For spring and autumn, 2–3 months is usually enough. Campsites are slightly easier but the best-located ones (Sango Sands, Dunnet Bay, Sands at Gairloch) still book out in summer.
What's the best region to base yourself on the NC500?
There isn’t a single best base — the NC500 is a circular route and you’ll want a different overnight stop on each stage. If you can only pick one region to spend extra time in, choose Assynt or Wester Ross — both have the most dramatic scenery and the most to explore within a 30-minute drive of a single base.
What is the best hotel on the North Coast 500?
The Torridon in Wester Ross is widely considered the finest hotel on the NC500 — a luxury Victorian shooting lodge on the loch with 58 acres of parkland, highland coos, and outstanding food. For atmosphere, the Applecross Inn is unmissable — remote, seafood-focused and with a legendary view across to Skye. The Kylesku Hotel and Summer Isles Hotel are also outstanding.
Is camping a good option on the NC500?
Yes — camping is one of the best ways to experience the NC500, particularly at sites with spectacular settings like Sango Sands at Durness (clifftop with sea views), Dunnet Bay (beside the most northerly beach on mainland Britain), and Sands at Gairloch. Book ahead for summer. Under Scotland’s wild camping laws, lightweight tent camping is also legal on most unenclosed land.
Are there hostels on the North Coast 500?
Yes — there are several good hostels on the NC500. Bazpackers in Inverness is a popular starting point. Acheninver Hostel near Lochinver has one of the most spectacular locations of any hostel in Scotland. Torridon Youth Hostel is perfectly placed for climbing the Torridon Munros. All should be booked ahead in summer.
