Nicknamed NC500, North Coast 500 is a glorious 500-mile route. And just two months after it was launched, Scotland’s answer to Route 66 has been named one of the top coastal road trips in the world.

Now Travel magazine placed it fifth in a list of “six of the best” coast road trips on the planet. Top was Cape Overberg in South Africa, followed by the Amalfi Coast in Italy and The Atlantic Road in Norway. The Pacific Coast Highway in America and the Coral Coast in Australia also made the list.

The route links natural heritage and scenery, celebrates local food and drink, and showcases accommodation, culture, outdoor and adventure-based activities. It also highlights attractions of the region, and unmissable sights along the road include the Ben Hope and Suilven mountain ranges, the fairytale grand castle, Dunrobin, the Ardvreck castle ruins and spectacular beaches such as Achmelvich and Dornoch.

The entire NC500, which starts and ends in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness, can be completed in a long weekend and is ideal for cars, motorbikes cyclists and walkers alike.

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