Best time of year to do the NC500?

This blog is 2 weeks worth of exploring the wild Scottish NC500 condensed into one episode. We go wild swimming, do the most incredible drives and reveal our favourite spots on the famous NC500 route.
We start of this week visiting Coral beach near Plokton, just over the bridge from the Isle of Skye. We venture northwards finding amazing beaches and passing rugged mountains. We tackle the Bealach na ba the UKs most notorious road. Following the coast we discover pristine beaches, such as Achmelvich, discover amazing warter falls, battle with the logistics of living in a van and Isabel makes connections with her family history. Rounding the northern tip of Scotland we visit John o'groats and Dunnet head, marking the top of our journey. From here we travel south towards Inverness, enjoying some of the best park ups we found en route. We end this vlog on the Black Isle before heading off to the Cairngorms next week.
Thank you for watching!
If you enjoyed this vlog please like and subscribe, this will really help us grow and you will be treated to new videos every week in return.
All the best and happy watching,
Tom & Iz

[@CaptChaos1964]

I really loved this, the coral beach in Plockton is a very special place for my family, we first discovered it in 1984 whilst on a camping holiday, we went up the pass of the cattle in my brothers Ford Sierra, so we were quite groundbreaking back then! I’m embarking on a journey back to the highlands on Sunday with my brother and sister, watching your great video has made me extra excited, all the best.

[@rosemarygordon8887]

You both are great to watch...Tom is so knowledgeable and Isabel smiles all the time and laughs you are both just great!!

[@LostInTransit]

Hiya Rosemary great to see you here again - thank you so much for your amazing kind words - your comments are always a pleasure to read1

[@bitcoinisfreedommoney.fckt2663]

For someone who claims to not know how to edit or film ( a la your Q&A), Tom does a superb job with this video. Best vanlife video I've seen on Scotland.

[@LostInTransit]

Hey aw stop it you'll make toms head too big haha but nah thats super kind thank you!!! Wow what a compliment! Thank you so much for taking the time to say such supportive words!!

[@davidjones638]

Thank you, Becoming a very nice early evening routine to drop in and see what you are up to. Enjoy the ferry!

[@cstewart3671]

Really enjoyed watching this video ~ thank you guys 👍

[@waveydaveydiver]

I love Scotland too. Great content. Thanks 😊

[@PLK260]

Wow glad I found your channel, so refreshing and open, more please.👍👍

[@LostInTransit]

Thanks for the lovely comment. We have a new video being uploaded today 😀

[@nickweatherhead9679]

You are both so brave, swimming in that cold sea. I loved seeing the beautiful scenery,. brought back many memories. love Gpa

[@LostInTransit]

Hello Nick, Thanks for watching, and giving us all the brilliant pointers of places to visit.

[@john3Lee]

Isabel.... All kinds of crazy.....and very entertaining !!

[@LostInTransit]

Haha 🤣 she sure is. Thanks for watching John

[@connormcc]

I’m up to date with your latest videos and now working my way through the older ones… I actually have a tattoo of the Bealach Na Ba on my left arm… it’s one of my best cycling achievements, rising over the pass, really want to do it again soon!

[@SamMead]

Watching on a Sunday night I feel like I'm about to have the best week having soaked up all of Isabel's froth. Best episode yet! Funny coincidence too, there's some family history for Appin in this episode because she went to the Whaligoe steps with her Dad and her aunt once.

[@LostInTransit]

Thanks Sam. Haha, gotta love a bit of family history.

[@LanliveryElder]

North water, what a lovely cheery show !

[@LostInTransit]

Haha, it cant always be waterfalls and smiles, we need to balance it out with some murder and misery

[@DaveyPalmer1]

Loved watching that. We did the western side of the NC500 last September and it was fab. Alcmelvich Beach is a really special place so pleased you enjoyed it.

[@LostInTransit]

Hey Davey - wahoo thats awesome you got to explore the NC500 last year. Happy travels! take care and yes Achmelvich is a real stunner isnt it!

[@briansul8455]

Great vlog again guys

[@LostInTransit]

Thank you Brian

[@harryfeatherston3566]

impressive you made it past Thurso! harder than one might think... Great Video!!

[@LostInTransit]

Hahahaha! If it makes you feel better there was absolutely no surf when we got to thurso, so you didn't miss out too much.

[@IanTed]

Done the same route on my motorbike several times, brilliant when the sun shines😎👍

[@LostInTransit]

It is stunning isn't it. It was also very nice having lots of spots to ourselves, however, if the weather was slightly better we wouldn't have complained, haha

[@neilanderson841]

@@LostInTransit OMG your pronunciation of BEALACH NA BA is horrendous!!!.LMAO🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@neilanderson841]

@@LostInTransit where is gerlach??!!!. GAIRLOCH!!.

[@xpxp1]

just found your channel. great video .. lots of laughs...😁

[@LostInTransit]

Hello xp, Glad you found us, hopefully we have lots of laughs to come! Thanks for the nice comment 😊

[@lordpunter6188]

Found your channel by luck - as a biker I’m thinking of doing the 500, great filming, editing and music - great entertainment ! Thanks… have subscribed 👍

[@LostInTransit]

Thanks Lord Punter! Glad you found us, and thanks for your kind comments. Hope you enjoy the NC500 if you decide to do it!

[@snoman1999]

Great video guys 👍🏼 Makes me wanna do the NC500 again next time were back in the UK 🇬🇧 We did it in July 2015 and saw thousands of puffins at Dunnets Head and just along from there at the Duncansby Stacks (can't believe you didn't go there-very cinematic)😳and lots of leaping Dolphins, feeding on salmon at that same point you were🐬 You 2 really are a great match - Iz is a stunning, BEAUTIFUL, laughing Goofball 🍑 and Tom is this deadpan dry humoured foil (Handsome with it mate ) 😉which really makes yr Vlogs very watchable 👍🏼 You can see how much detail you put into each video, the transitions and effects and little details are excellent What work do you do Izz ? 🚐 💨❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@G58]

What a delightfully nutty fruitcake you are Iz. Nice driving Tom. Thank you for sharing. You’re less contrived than Travel Beans. Peace

[@LostInTransit]

Hey G58, Thanks for watching. Isabel sure is a nutty fruitcake, haha. We try not to play up to the camera or fake things, just film as we travel and be honest. ✌️

[@McStoolio]

The walk to that beach is always worth it. Sand wood is ncredible.

[@LostInTransit]

So worth it

[@AndyTheBadgerBarton]

Great film and your zest for life is infectious. Tom, must be nice being a kept man lol. What do you do for work Isabel? It must give you much relief knowing you can travel but still make money to keep your adventures going. 👍🏻😊

[@LostInTransit]

Hello Badger! Yes being a kept man is the best, haha. Isabel works for a helpline giving information out, mainly working through teams chats. Tom

[@walkingwithnature3767]

Great Vlog loved all the drone footage. Just so you know, Puffins are only inland from May till August for breeding 😊

[@LostInTransit]

Very cool to be learning nature facts from reading our comments, this is good to know. We will have to make sure to go to a puffin spotting area next summer.

[@walkingwithnature3767]

@@LostInTransit I work for a wildlife guiding company in the Cairngorms, would be so cool to have you as guests, we can show and tell you all sorts of wildlife

[@LostInTransit]

Aw no, we are heading away from the Cairngorms now! We will have to make sure we do this when we come back this way. We never seem to be away from Scotland for too long

[@markhalliday2397]

You should do the Hebridean way. The beaches are just utterly 😍

[@LostInTransit]

ooohh now i love this idea! that would be so cool! one day we must do this!

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Wow Israel was a bit crazy back then haha you guys are way more professional now haha we learn so much as we go on. Been vlogging 4 years now haha 😄

[@LostInTransit]

Hey Paul ha yeah our videos are continually evolving! Although crazy Isabel isn't going anywhere :P Thanks for watching and happy vlogging!! :)

[@johnallen148]

Hi Isabella Tom ,I just found you KZbin channel so will be following you on your trips ,we done Apple cross pass in a 7.2 meter mobilehome in June I got a great kick of driving that it was just great fun ,we stop at alpple cross camp site for the night then done the cost road back on the way to isle of sky, yes it can get windy 🌬 at times lol ,Isabella if you only have one pear of paints left turn them inside and back to front lol,got to say you two look like lots of fun and so young so envious lol.may I ask our young you two are not very good at gassing ages lol I think Isabella is the best looking so she is the youngest lol 😂 yes I agree Scotland has some of the best beaches in the uk some never used only by people like yourselfs,that’s nice to think your family has been to this beach just look at the colours of the sand .do you have any idea what the rocks are standing up on the beach?,at least you did not have to pay for your pictures at John o groats,well I loved this blog will be watching you from now on so till next time take care keep safe,John 😂♥️🤷‍♀️👏🙌😆🤷‍♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧👩‍🦳

[@LostInTransit]

Hello John, Yeah apple cross was really fun despite the backseat driver. Our van is only 6m, it must be a whole other challenge I'm your beast. That coast road is lovely isn't it.

[@lorikovac]

Really enjoyed watching this video! How did you find Highland cows right on the side of the road? LOL. We went for two weeks end of this September to beginning of October and vlogged it on our channel. First time cross the pond :) Live in upstate NY. We drove around Scotland changing lodging every few days. Saw John O'Groats sign, fairy pools etc. You have showed us other places we didn't know about. We have reasons to go back! Thank you. Will be subscribing!

[@LostInTransit]

We didn't mean to, they were just there on the road, haha. I think they tend to hang out there a lot because I saw them in the same place on someone else's KZbin. I'm glad we managed to show you some new spots. I would love to get out to America one day, I feel like it's the spiritual home of the roadtrip! Thanks for subscribing

[@lorikovac]

@@LostInTransit We were on the search for Highland cows and didn't see them. Hopefully next time. If you make it to New York let us know maybe we could all meet for a beer :) We are hoping to come across the pond again in 2022 if we are not restricted. Happy Hoidays and stay safe!

[@shoogelniffty1]

The puss on the pine tree is called pine resin and is a very good fire starter and can be used on cuts and wounds as a natural antiseptic . I thought I new your faces I seen you around Fortrose and chanonry point I live there.

[@LostInTransit]

Haha. Brilliant, we did hang around there for a while so you could well have seen us wandering about

[@roddyyarr4585]

Genius.

[@shellyhayes1286]

1 July 2022: 29.3K waiting for 30K, been catching up on Scotland 😀

[@ryanbooth8421]

Hey, just started watching your vids. Was wondering what it is you do for work? You’ve probably already answered this a million times.

[@LostInTransit]

We are uploading a Q&A video today at 17:00 (GMT) we go through everything in that video.

[@geoffreyraleigh1674]

Vegetarian spot squeezing :)

[@joshmilner301]

Watched a few videos now, like the channel.. out of interest what does Isobel do for work online ?

[@LostInTransit]

Hey Josh, Thanks for watching. Isabel works for a company helping to provide information to colleagues online (sorry have to be a bit vague)

[@AScottishOdyssey]

I so want to drive the NC500. I just wish that I had the time and the money to do so. Is Applecross worse than the Berriedale Braes?

[@LostInTransit]

I didn't think Applecross was bad at all. It is only difficult due to the high traffic. I don't think we drove Berriedale Braes, will search it up now

[@AScottishOdyssey]

@@LostInTransit It's on the other side of the NC500. I think that it's not far from Helmsdale. I've driven that part of the route, as I've done re-enactment events at Thurso and John o' Groats.

[@LostInTransit]

@@AScottishOdyssey ah yeah I have just googled it. It looks like the road has recently been widened to two lanes and the corners made less sharp. The Berriedale Braes was not too bad for us at all, but if you had gone on it previously I'm couldn't really comment unfortunately

[@AScottishOdyssey]

@@LostInTransit I last drove on the Berriedale Braes in 2019, when I went up to John o' Groates. There were road works on the Braes then. That may have been the works to widen the road. I really need to head north again. I'm getting itchy feet.

[@antonia4722]

Try it on a bicycle!

[@KNURKonesur]

Intermittent fasting is amazing if you're trying to lose weight quickly, you lose a lot of water and fat quite suddenly in the beginning, then you plateau a little, so make sure your "window" of eating has a lot of protein! If you choose to fast in the mornings, after a week or two you'll probably feel more alert and focused cause your body will change how it distributes hormones and your glucose levels will be more stable.

[@LostInTransit]

We wouldn't be doing it for weight loss to be honest, more for all the health and wellbeing benefits. As you say, alertness ext. I won't lie though the intermittent fasting only lasted a day or so, haha. One day we will do it properly!

[@KNURKonesur]

@@LostInTransit I figured as both of you are young and fit! :D Losing some water is just one thing that usually comes within the first couple of weeks of switching to IF :) It's difficult to start, especially as you have a non-regular kind of life now, it was much easier for me to just not eat anything until I finished my shift. But good luck, it's really worth it!

[@LanliveryElder]

12,000 views ! Alright!

[@LostInTransit]

Yeah you know, we are pretty cool like that

[@nigelbaldwin5530]

Apple bogies if you have answered this all ready but can I have name of or can you share Google maps location of black isle camp site...thanks guys...Good videos😃👊

[@LostInTransit]

I think it was the fortrose bay campsite

[@nigelbaldwin5530]

Thanks buddy the sunset on the beach looked brill and super chilled

[@nigelbaldwin5530]

Where are you at mo? I'm setting off on 7-8th from Essex up west coast of UK around top of Scotland (may do Orkney too) then down west coast through Wales and west country then back along south coast🤪

[@michaelnewman5]

so what time of year did you go ?

[@LostInTransit]

It was the start of October, the title made sense when we uploaded it, haha. I would say we had a good balance between the weather and less crowds.

[@rimizoem]

What work do you do Isabel ?

[@LostInTransit]

Hey Richard, I used to work for a coronavirus national helpline, helping people book tests but I wasnt actually taking calls I was assisting with FAQs by typing answers all day. I no longer do this type of work. Thanks for watching :)

[@rimizoem]

@@LostInTransit cheers, thanks for replying. Keep those videos coming , they're always fun to watch!

[@matthewboothman129]

Those wipers must be so annoying.

[@LostInTransit]

Haha, unbelievably. Fortunately they aren't so noisy if it's raining a bit heavier.

[@dagr.johnsen2164]

Crying over a little wind and rain??? Hahaha!!! And not sleeping? Give me a break. Whimps!!!

[@TheHarrip]

Yea intermittent fasting is how you should eat

[@LostInTransit]

Not doing it anymore but could be interesting to try again! :)

[@Normanskie]

It is against the law for a man to urinate in public as he exposes himself but it is NOT illegal for a women as she does not exposed herself.

[@cityzens634]

Midges are a nightmare in Scotland. AVOID!!!