Ten forgotten villages worth detouring to while on the NC500
The NC500 has become hugely popular in recent years with the Highland tourism trade booming from the traffic.
By Beth Murray
Published 17th Oct 2020, 08:32 BST
The route takes you along the northern coast enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery Scotland has to offer, but the Highlands are vast and there are lots of places to enjoy if
you detour from the usual route.
Here are our top ten villages worth detouring to while on the North Coast 500.
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Here are our top ten villages worth detouring to while on the North Coast 500.
5. Scoraig
Scoraig is a settlement found in north-west Ullapool in Ross and Cromarty. It's known for remoteness as you can only reach the village by boat or a five-mile walk. This is one of the best detours to make when doing the NC500 because so few people make the effort, but if you have the time it's worth it. The settlement is so small in 2018 its primary school only recorded having seven pupils. It's also known for its organic food production and use of wind power. Photo: JPIMedia
Croick itself is a small crofting village is found in the middle of the northern Highlands, however Croick estate covers roughly 12,000 acres of land with a combination of hills, trees, heather and lochs. Its wildlife is thriving with black grouse, birds of prey and four different species of deer. Photo: JPIMedia
Found in Wester Ross, Achiltibuie is a beautiful little village which sits in amongst spectacular mountains yet is close to the coast. Along with a few other smaller hamlets, Achiltibuie forms the main section of the parish of Coigach, a traditional fishing and crofting community. It's only a short detour from the main western route of the NC500, not being directly on the tourist route itself makes Achiltibuie a hidden gem that people visit when they crave peace and quiet. Photo: JPIMedia
Contin, Cunndainn in Gaelic, is a small village found in Ross-shire between Strathpeffer and Garve. The village church is found is Contin Island, to get to it from the village you have to cross over a bridge. There are two, one is a footbridge one is a road. The current church dates back to the 18th century. The village isn't often promoted as a tourist spot on the general NC500 route but offers some truly breathtaking scenery of you do take the detour Photo: JPIMedia