Your North Coast 500 Adventure Starts Here

Looking to escape London for a long weekend? Discover the raw beauty of Balnakeil, Durness, and the far reaches of Scotland’s North Coast 500. From wild beaches and hidden caves to unforgettable sunsets, this escape shows you how to swap city streets for coastal silence — fast.

Day 1: Leave London, Find the Wild

Take the sleeper train from London Euston to Inverness (enjoy a good nights sleep or the dining car whisky, arriving at around 8am)

Fly from London to Inverness (1.5 hours, multiple daily flights from Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton).

Hire a car from Inverness town or the airport (a normal car is fine as long as its not deepest winter or you're planning to sleep in it!)

Drive north via Lairg and Loch Shin (approx. 3.5 hours) — a scenic route with barely any traffic.

Optional stop: See the Falls of Shin, one of the best places in Scotland to watch salmon leap upstream in summer.

Day 2: Explore Balnakeil & Durness

Welcome to Balnakeil, one of the most remote and breathtaking places on the North Coast 500 route.

Top things to do in Balnakeil and Durness:

• Wander the dunes of Balnakeil Beach
  – vast, golden, and otherworldly.
  
• Visit the ruined Balnakeil Church, perched on a windswept bluff
  
• Sip artisan hot chocolate at Cocoa Mountain, tucked away in a craft village.
  
• Hike to Faraid Head – dramatic cliffs, white sand, and views that feel like the edge of the world.
  

Evening: Build a small fire on the beach (responsibly), watch the sunset over the Atlantic, and listen to the silence. It’s unforgettable.

Day 3: Smoo Cave & Cape Wrath

Start your day at Smoo Cave, one of the largest sea caves in the UK.

• Explore the limestone chamber, complete with a hidden waterfall.
• Take a boat tour deeper into the cave system (seasonal and weather dependent).

Drive or hike toward Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point in mainland Britain.

• Reachable via a small passenger ferry and minibus
• If you’re lucky, watch Royal Navy training exercises – a surreal sight in the middle of nowhere.

Tip: Cape Wrath is extremely remote – check ferry times in advance and bring food, layers (Balnakeil of course!), and plenty of water.

Day 4: Return via the North Coast 500

Take the NC500 route east via Tongue and Altnaharra.

• Wild swim in a loch, stop at one of many roadside viewpoints or if you're feeling really adventurous climb the most northerly monroe (Ben Hope).

Return to Inverness for your evening flight or train back to London — or extend your trip and keep exploring.