Bikepacking the North Coast 500 Alone | Cycling the NC500

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much for watching my film! I was SO lucky with the weather on this epic trip - Help me reach 10,000 subscribers by year end! Please LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE 🚴🏕

[@andymicklewright3993]

Jeez you have to really appreciate the number of times Tom filmed himself and went back to pick up the camera for each shot, bloody amazing

[@tonypaddler]

Yes Andy, I simply would not have the patience to set up tripod shots on a cycling trip!

[@Cycling366]

Haha it’s definitely a bit of a time sink. It takes a lot of getting used to but I’m used to it now and once the film is finished you can be happy with all the hard work it took :) all the best!

[@Cycling366]

I’m not normally a patient person but with filming, I find it pretty easy :)

[@tonypaddler]

@@Cycling366 yes, and it's very much appreciated 👍

[@tonypaddler]

@@Cycling366 when I'm hillwalking I have patience for photography, but then it's easy to use the camera at 3mph!

[@rachelberney3713]

I am utterly mesmerised by every video you do. The mindfulness, the music, the noises along the way, and the scenery you capture. Perfection in film form - pure cycling therapy!

[@Cycling366]

Thanks so much! That’s got to be one of the nicest comments I’ve ever received so thanks a lot :) all the best!

[@marcselby6715]

Stunning piece of footage and not a midge in sight. Really enjoyed part 2 background… definitely inspires an attempt

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! I did have a few midges but it was too hot for them mostly! :)

[@julesh4924]

Oh my word! Breathtaking footage. What an amazing trip. Great video yet again.

[@Cycling366]

Thank you very much :) It was unforgettable!

[@grahamhaines9931]

Epic trip! Looks like you amazing weather as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@Cycling366]

Cheers Graham! Unbelievable weather really!

[@donaldross2686]

Been ill this summer, this gets my feet itchy for next summer. Scotland is world class, and out of this world when blessed with good weather.

[@Cycling366]

Sorry to hear that! Glad it’s inspired you to prep for next year! All the best. :)

[@phantomracer1050]

Brilliant video as always. The drone shots look stunning, especially with the sun out. You really pulled it off with the weather! Totally agree with you about missing out the section of the A9 on the East coast. The road down the middle is so much nicer to ride on a bike 🙂

[@Cycling366]

Thank you very much! I’m glad it’s not just me! Many cyclists have said the same so it’s nice to know there’s a decent alternative

[@spectacularscotland]

You couldn’t have picked better weather to do the NC500. I remember a heatwave last June when it was 27c as I went up Ben Nevis. Great vid mate, love the drone footage.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks mate! Yeah I was very lucky with the weather. Never experienced anything like that haha

[@stevegatland5544]

Great video, this brought back so many great memories when I did the NC500 in 2023 over 7 days in July. The weather was perfect even with the odd few down pours that were torrential lol that would appear then disappear just as quick and you'd dry out within the hour. I did the same as you of not going to John O'Groats and cut down the middle. I did this solo, but had the lucky advantage of being able to book B&Bs for this trip. I would love to do this again sometime and get to John O'Groats this time. It was cycling heaven :)

[@Cycling366]

Thanks Steve! You’ll have just missed me there 😛 it’s a cracking route as you say

[@andreweeley5095]

Mate, that looked AMAZING!

[@Cycling366]

Ahh cheers! It was amazing! Thanks for commenting :)

[@seancowlam9818]

That road from Bettyhill to Bonar Bridge is one of the most beautiful in Britain IMHO. Great choice.

[@Cycling366]

Absolutely up there for sure. Cheers!

[@pungarehu]

Seeing as I’m from Durness, I’m going to up the stakes and say you should have gone to altnaharra via loch hope and then onto Bonar. You’d have been lucky to meet a single car.

[@Cycling366]

One for next time

[@Neohurricane]

Glad you had awesome weather. I've motorbiked those roads many times and concur, it is absolutely stunning scenery and avoiding JoG and the A9 is excellent advice!

[@Cycling366]

Thank you! Lots of motor bikers around which was cool - A9 is a big no no

[@Blueparradiddle]

You are spot on with your suggestion to take the Altanarra rd - absolutely stunning. Thanks for a great video it brought back memories from 3 years ago when I did it. A beautiful Country it certainly is. Cheers, Mike

[@Cycling366]

Cheers Michael! Hope you had as much fun as I did! All the best :)

[@onemorecyclist]

Really nice video and like the way you've mixed the drone footage (wow!) into the edit - reminds me of some of the Matthew Norway videos. I think I pitched my tent in the exact same spot in Gruinard Bay when we did the route in 2021. We also amended the last bit and went from Thurso directly to Wick and jumped on the train back to Inverness, having done the A9 bit a couple of years earlier on JOGLE (once is enough!). Agree it's got to be up there with some of the best cycling routes in the world. Happy cycling!

[@Cycling366]

Thanks mate. What a coincidence! Thanks very much for watching :)

[@andygolborne5747]

Great film(ing) - lucky you with the weather. Wester Ross is stunning but yup - missing out Easter Ross and the A9 is a good shout. Down from Tongue is a great option. Train back from Lairg is also an option if you are time constrained - and also out to Glen Carron from Inverness at the start.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! Yes the Lairg train is an option but you need to flag it down/press the button otherwise it doesn’t always stop 😂 cheers!

[@andygolborne5747]

@@Cycling366 OK cheers. Looking at organising pretty much the same trip as you did for May 24, so that's useful info.

[@Cycling366]

No worries! Hope it goes well for you :)

[@Jboasman78]

Great video on the NC500. Nice to meet you the other day.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks Jason! It was a great adventure. Thanks very much and same to you! Sure I’ll bump into you again at some point

[@ianaristotlethompson4186]

Incredible trip. Fantastic videography. Tips and tricks too. Thanks.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much 🙏

[@br5380]

Quality production! And while I live in Scotland we missed the stunning weather as we’d gone to France on our hols.

[@Cycling366]

Cheers mate! Haha that’s typical!

[@catcheside]

Inspired! Going to get planning this for next year, thanks for another fantastic film!

[@Cycling366]

Awesome! You’ll love it I’m sure :)

[@Charlie-sr6dv]

Great. Enjoyed that. Loved your indepth account of each day in the second part of the video.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks Charlie! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@ianbarbar3869]

Chapeau! Fantastic video and a great insight to the NC500. Thanks for sharing.

[@Cycling366]

Cheers Ian! Many thanks for all the kind comments :)

[@iainmoore2514]

Well, you were lucky with the weather and the light. In my opinion some of the shots, from the first couple or three days at least, are right up there! Sure the scenery lends a hand, but the composition is all yours and you should be chuffed with those results.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much Iain! Appreciate it :)

[@thebikepackingadventurer]

Just come across your channel as going to do the NC500 next year. A good insight here. Pray for weather like yourself, and I will 100% not be doing it in the school summer holidays 😂👌🏻. Just subscribed, look forward to seeing more of your adventures

[@Cycling366]

Welcome! Nice one, you’ll love it I’m sure. You’ll never get the weather I had 😝 probably got as much chance of winning the lottery haha. Appreciate the sub - hope the trip goes well!

[@tonypaddler]

Another great video Tom, loving the drone shots 🚵‍♂️👍

[@Cycling366]

Cheers Tony! Appreciate the comments as always :)

[@christopherjordan4812]

I did the full route in a hired motor home in September 5 years ago, it was so busy with vehicles not like when you did it. You did some big mileage on some epic climbs, well done. Best video I’ve seen of the route, fantastic pictures/videos and did it on the best transport option. Well done Tom.

[@Cycling366]

Awesome! Thanks very much for the kind comment :) all the best!

[@pauledgerton1759]

Magnificent footage, with some great tips to boot!

[@Cycling366]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@helenphillips6152]

Really enjoyed this video, amazing views. Well done 👏

[@Cycling366]

Thank you very much! :)

[@kevindean9613]

What a great video ,When I did from. Betty Hill to John o Groates I didn't enjoy that section either it was a lot hillier coming out of Betty Hill than I expected .I was loo6 at doing the Mark Beaumont nc500 version ,But yours is also a good option ,Im 60 this year so ill take quite a bit longer ;) .

[@Cycling366]

Cheers Kevin! Yeah it’s not so great is it? Well hopefully you can take your time and not have to rush back for work like I did 😂

[@richardrr4220]

Great video and great tips

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much!

[@craigdavidson4902]

Great video, glad I stumbled across it. I'm planning this next May and you have given me food for thought on a few things. Was planning to camp all the way but as you say might be best to get at least 1 night under a roof. Thanks 👍

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! Glad it was helpful. Yeah definitely try and pepper in some more comfortable accommodation with it. It’s just so unpredictable usually.

[@chrisbee7596]

Fabulous video. Did it in early May and it was amazing if a little wetter than your experience 🌧️. You must have had some low gearing on the steed to make those hills look so easy. Applecross is hard enough but the remaining peninsula is brutal. Well done.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! I expected it to be wet when I was planning it but I couldn’t have asked for better weather! The gearing on this bike is a bit tough at times tbh - 36/32 is the lowest gear and with bikepacking stuff it’s quite a slog.

[@RoadyPacking-CyclingAdventures]

Cracking mate - NC500 is on my list for sure!!! Liking the split video method ;-)

[@Cycling366]

Cheers mate. You’ll love it!

[@SwampyDuckRidesAgain3636]

You were very lucky it not being too busy as many places were fully booked up on the route this year. I was lucky enough to be somewhere on the route as a child every weekend with my parents that was there escape long before anyone whispered NC500. I agree if you can avoid the A9 it’s for the best just a pity they wouldn’t run a path along it above Inverness. It’s not common knowledge but the last few years the first few weeks in June have been the best weather in Scotland ideal for long distance routes.

[@Cycling366]

Completely agree about the A9 and cycle paths, would make total sense but it’s a death trap currently. I didn’t book stuff very far in advance so who knows it could have been booked up if I’d have been a little less organised :)

[@SwampyDuckRidesAgain3636]

@@Cycling366I was trying to get stuff organised at Durness but availability wasn’t great.

[@colinpayne7318]

I enjoyed the video and having done the nc500 I couldn’t work out where you carried your bike up some steps. Then realised where it is after your commentary. I thought it was familiar as I went the opposite way up to Lairg from Inverness and eventually onto Cape Wrath where I stayed a night at the lighthouse. What an adventure and would recommend going onto Cape Wrath but with off road tyres.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks! The bridge was something I chose against doing when I did LEJOG as I wasn’t sure I’d planned the route correctly. Realised it was fine so wanted to do it this time! Cape Wrath is on the list! Can’t wait to tackle that at some point

[@danalec4742]

Magical!!!

[@Cycling366]

Thanks mate!

[@BoredManOutdoors]

Chapeau 🚴👍👍👍👍

[@Cycling366]

Cheers mate!

[@BoredManOutdoors]

@@Cycling366 mucker

[@antonia4722]

I really enjoyed your video! Really nicely filmed and as I will be riding the NC500 later this year it was really nice to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks! Subbed!

[@Cycling366]

Thank you! Appreciate it :) you’ll be hard pressed to get similar weather but here’s hoping 🤞

[@CozyCamping911]

Your videos are awesome. 👏🏻♥️. Cheers from the 🇺🇸

[@Cycling366]

Aww cheers! Appreciate the kind comments :)

[@HorstBäuml]

Very nice video! I have a friend who cycled the NC500. He has reported on countless camper vans on the narrow roads. He often had to move from the asphalt to the grass verge. Have you had the same experiences?

[@Cycling366]

Cheers! Nope no issues like that.

[@Fulviolosmilzo]

Nice film 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Cycling366]

Thanks my friend!

[@merson812]

Superb, in all respects.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! Thanks for commenting :)

[@aabarajas]

great video thank you

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much and you’re welcome :)

[@capturemylife]

Fabulous video!

[@Cycling366]

Thank you :)

[@speakout7707]

great video. Your videos are my no.1 go to. Heading up to do this in late May. Maybe not as fast so will be over 9-10 days on my MTB. The time i wished i had an eTB

[@Cycling366]

Thanks Stephen! Appreciate it :) will be a great experience nonetheless! Take your time and enjoy it

[@speakout7707]

Hi Tom. You mentioned in your bikepacking planning video that you have 2 tabs open,yours being map my ride and google maps. I'd like view the streetview of your route which i've chosen to take and doing it via Komoot instead of map my ride but struggling to find the streetview section i want at the point in komoot with any ease. Is the same route to be in google maps?

[@MrRichiewake]

Awesome video, really enjoyed your trip. How much did the sleeper train cost?

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! It depends on what you’re going for but the rooms are about £150 each way so not cheap.

[@philipbrandish4330]

Hi - thanks so much for this film! Love the combo of footage and detail after! Could you clarify if after Tongue you went down the A836 past Loch Loyal, or continue past Tongue and take a right on the B871 at Skelpick down to Loch Naver? Both look great.. I am planning to follow your lead in a trip later this year or in 2025. Thanks again!!!

[@Cycling366]

No worries! Thanks for commenting. I believe the latter! I rejoined the A road again near Altnaharra back to Lairg and Bonar Bridge

[@philipbrandish4330]

Great - thanks very much!

[@Cycling366]

No problem

[@davejack3054]

Excellent video of a beautiful place. I am planning to ride part of the NC500 when I visit Scotland(I live in Canada) in June. Planning on riding from from Ullapool to Inverness and very curious to know what the traffic was like. Did you get up early to avoid camper vans or is it not as bad as some suggest?

[@Cycling366]

Thanks mate! It’s not quiet, but in June, it’ll be better than the school holidays. Basically just got get going a bit earlier and avoid the A roads where possible!

[@davejack3054]

@@Cycling366 Thanks for the reply. That's exactly what I needed to hear!

[@Ken-jp1gr]

Well done for editing out all the traffic! Was you not tempted to stay at the Crask Inn on your way down to lairg?

[@Cycling366]

Haha just lucky! I was on a bit of a tight schedule to get to Inverness the next day for a train so couldn’t linger to long unfortunately!

[@marteaujean-luc5822]

Hello bravo et belles images. J aurai deux questions à quelle saison êtes vous partis faire ce voyage? Et le train en Ecosse est il facile d accès avec le vélo faut il le démonter.? Merci pour vos réponses.

[@Cycling366]

Thank you! I rode it in June, and it depends for the trains! Some routes are very strict about bikes being booked on well in advance, others aren’t bothered!

[@LivandTrekGoCycling]

Enjoyed this video..thinking of doing the NC 500 next summer. As a content creator..do you carry a laptop to offload footage from memory cards...or just use multiple memory cards? 👍

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! No it typically don’t take the laptop with me - just offload it when I get home.

[@m__r1100]

Dude, what did you do with all the cars? I've never seen those roads without traffic - it's almost unsettling!

[@Cycling366]

Haha there were some cats for sure but I was very lucky!

[@pungarehu]

If I drive up to Durness via Lairg (from Dingwall) after 8pm from September onwards, in the 95miles I’d be lucky to see a single car. If you want to see the NC500 without cars, travel before 9am or after 5pm and it’ll be virtually empty, even in summer.

[@Cycling366]

Nice!

[@DemiGod..]

Can this be done on a recumbent trike? Looks like there was a bit where you had to carry your bike up stairs, which would probably be impossible solo with a trike. My trike has an electric motor, with an average range of 480 miles from 8 batteries. Would have to recharge along the way. Do the campsites have charging facilities, protected from the weather?

[@Cycling366]

Yes I’d say so. That section with the steps is optional. I wanted to do it so made sense for me at the time but you can easily carry on down to Bonar Bridge on the road. Yeah caravan and campsites have charging facilities. More and more these days do! I’d also look at hostels etc as the electricity will be included in the price of that of course!

[@FHRider-o1m]

Great sentiments pleasure to hear. I get it too in my own modest way. When I was three my dad took my stabilisers off, gave me a hearty push up the road towards a roundabout and yelled " keep pedalling!" Best memory ever.

[@Cycling366]

Nice one! Thanks for watching :)

[@taegan9751]

What kind of training goes into doing something like this? Did you focus on building up to a target weekly mileage?

[@Cycling366]

Not much in all honesty! I have an ok base level of fitness but o just take my time on longer trips like this and try not to go into the red very much!

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

How did you find booking accommodation ?, must say I am struggling, loads appears booked up in early September !

[@Cycling366]

I basically booked it 9 months in advance… I had a feeling it would be booked up quickly so that’s what I did. Some places like campsites will have you if you’re by yourself last minute. But equally, wild camping is legal in Scotland so you’ve always got a safety net of that. :)

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

@@Cycling366 I fear we might have left it too late and none of us fancy camping !!

[@ashtraydekay6624]

Came here from the facebook group "adventure bikepacking group"

[@Cycling366]

Thanks for watching!

[@rogerbourne7159]

First drove it in June 1965 in my first Beetle! Mainly single track then, done it couple of times since, now 76 so cycling no option! Great weather, can be very grim up there! Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@Cycling366]

That’s so cool! You’re right about the weather… can be brutal as I’ve learned the hard way as well!

[@paulhadfield8006]

Hi do you not carry cooking stove or food

[@Cycling366]

I do: you can see why I use on my website. Depends on what sort of riding I’m doing, I sometimes try and keep the weight down and just take a few cold drinks and snacks and just stock up en route

[@christopherhood9241]

Super video, love the music too. Can't believe the weather you had. i cycled nc500 in 3 days last year, 1/2 day of sun & raeined the rest.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! I couldn’t believe it either! Blessed 😂

[@grumpygrandad8750]

Brilliant video! defo inspired me to have a crack at the NW500 this year. I've got my 32mm tyres ready!! Just waiting for the weather. 🙂

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much! Nice one! I Can’t wait for the summer either haha

[@TheFutureLooksBright.77]

OH Jesus my Lord it´s like watching The Lord Of The Rings it is absolutely stunningly beautiful. I wish I was as brave as you to do this because this is something I've wanted to do but haven't really dared.

[@Cycling366]

Thanks very much. It’s a beautiful place for sure! You can do it - just give it a go :)

[@JohnWilkinson-f4k]

Do this in May there is no midges.Also there is a hostel outside Applecross.

[@Cycling366]

Have to disagree with that I’m afraid. The worst midges I’ve ever experienced were in May on Skye so you can’t guarantee that

[@AudrBui]

Despite You deleted my comment ;) , it was great trip and inspiring after-movie!

[@Cycling366]

I don’t delete comments so not sure what happened with your last one! Appreciate it :)

[@emerald-islander]

NC400 😅

[@Cycling366]

Yeah, but would rather do 400 great miles than an additional 100 less enjoyable ones

[@jaspersteverink5014]

Sorry but obviously a deepfake video. Where is the rain?!

[@Cycling366]

Photoshopped it