Golf Course Balnakeil

© K Uhlenbrock

Durness

NC500 Bespoke Private Tour

Let us take you north and off the grid! Scotland is known for its immense beauty. Going north west will open the true vastness of the country side with unparalleled views. It also depicts the sad story of the clearances. Explore!

  • NC 500 Tour options

As Starfish Travel operates from St Andrews we offer NC500 tours as 5 & 6 day tours to which you can obviously add days.

The five day tour is available for £1,875 for two to eight people.

Prices include fully licensed and insured Mercedes Vito 8 seater minibus plus driver/guide but excludes accommodation, admissions and meals.

Water bottles will be provided and there is a wee dram to taste on board too.

One of the main attractions of the NC500 is the remoteness of this beautiful part of Scotland, so please expect there to be limited phone signal and internet and accommodation 8 people plus driver might be a bit of a task. There you might need to stay in self-catering or Air B&B’s and some accommodation can be very special if you wish, for instance Crofter’s Snug

. Furthermore, if you really would like to get off the grid you could opt to drive as far as Durness and then start walking for a day and use one of the MBA’s Boothies for an over night stay. You can only reach these walking…Kevin Boothy is one example.

Above you see a map of the full NC500 route starting from St Andrews alternatively the tour can also start in Edinburgh or other places. This would ideally be at least a six day tour available for £2100.

Throughout this page we will show a small selection of options. 

Do feel free to tell us your preferences or wishes and we will create a tour exactly how you want it. For instance if you want to use your NC500 experience to get away from it all you might want to explore the west of Durness which is not accessible by car. Sandwood Bay is Scotlands most remote beach. If you are intrigued read the “Highland Hermit” by James Carron

Six Day NC500 Itinerary :

For map click link below

https://goo.gl/maps/tNhf3SDBJ7M2

Day 1:

8.30 am Pick up St Andrews 

10 am Blair Castle 

12.00 noon Dalwhinnie Distillery, Tour & light lunch

3 pm Aviemore Coffe break & walk

6 pm Strathpfeffer Hotel Check in & dinner 

Suggestions for accommodation:

Craigvar B&B Ben Wyvis Hotel

Attractions on your way

The Hermitage

 Dunkeld Cathedral 

Edradour Distillery

 House of Bruar

 Killicrankie 

Dewar’s Distillery 

Highland Chocolatier 

Cairngorm National Park 

Working sheep dogs only at 4pm

Strathspey Railway 

Rothiemuchus Estate -Outland film location

For Map click link below:

https://goo.gl/maps/snxFdiJsMQF2

Day 2:

9am Leave Strathpfeffer

10 am Dornoch

11.30 am Dunrobin Castle Tour, Gardens & light lunch

4 pm John O Groats

6 pm Thurso Hotel check in & Dinner

Suggestions for accommodation:

The Y-Not

Pentland Lodge House

Other attractions Dornoch 

Discover Dornoch from Visit Dornoch on Vimeo.

Royal Dornoch Golf Club Falls of Shin Dunrobin Castle John ‘O Groats Britain’ most northern Golf Club RSPB Duncansby Head  Thurso

For map click lick below:

https://goo.gl/maps/1fBqtaBEgZu

Day 3:

9 am leave Thurso

9.30 Caithness Horizon

11 am Wolfburn Distillery Tour

2pm Torrisdale Bay

3pm Durness & Balnalkeil Craft Vallage

5.30 pm Balnakeil Beach

7.30 pm The Whale Tale dinner

Suggestions for accommodation:

The Old Bakery B&B 

The Hideaway 

For map click link below:

https://goo.gl/maps/33L2jQKbd2G2

Day 4:

9 am Leave Durness either for Kinlochbervie (35mins) to walk to Sandwood Bay or depending on the weather or to Scourie (40 mins) to take a boat to Handa Island

2 pm Stoer

6pm Dinner at Peet’s Restaurant

Suggestions for accommodation:

MacKay’s 

Pentland Lodge House

For map click below:

https://goo.gl/maps/4a3grcZkuvD2

Day 5:

9 am Leave Lochinver

10 am Ullapool Coffee stop and shopping

1 pm Gairloch Beach

3 pm Shieldaig

4 pm Feanrmore

5.30 pm Applecross

Suggestions for accommodation:

Applecross Inn

B&B Applecross 

For map click link below:

For map click below:

https://goo.gl/maps/1TfFPtEDGyD2

Day 6 

9 am Leave Applecross via The Beach Na Ba’

1 pm Lunch in Aviemore 

3.30 pm Dunkeld Coffee & cathedral 

6.30 pm St Andrews

For map click link below:

https://goo.gl/maps/trrfNYtLwkN2

Potential 5 day route:

For map click below:

https://goo.gl/maps/cjqtgBt8icT2

OTHER ATTRACTIONS ON AND AROUND NC500 

Strathnaver Museum

Caithness Horizon Museum

Castlehill Heritage Centre

Reay Golf Club

Clynelish Whisky Distillery

Wolfburn Distillery

Rock Rose Gin

Durness Golf Club

Balnakeil Beach

Smoo Cave

Rock Rose GinBalnakeil Craft Village

Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve

Dunnet Head Nature Reserve

Sandwood Bay

Northern LightsHighland Stoneware Lochinver

Peet’s restaurantBalblair Distillery




COVID-19 information

Safe Travels

This business has confirmed that they have implemented, and will ensure ongoing compliance with, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels protocols. The Safe Travels stamp is based on self-assessment and it is not a certification.

Price on Request


Departure days

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday

January — December

Contact details

Starfish Travel

Fliskwood Cottage
Cupar
Fife
Scotland/ UK
KY146HP

Key facilities

  • Wifi

Tour information

Starting

  • Aberdeen Airport
  • Dundee
  • Edinburgh - City Centre
  • Edinburgh Airport
  • Glasgow Airport
  • Inverness Airport
  • St Andrews
  • St Andrews, North Fife & the Howe of Fife

Length

6 Days

Transport

  • Minibus

Type

  • Bespoke
  • Private

Languages

  • Dutch
  • English
  • German

Themes

  • Adventure
  • Archaeology
  • Food and drink
  • Geology
  • Gin
  • Golf
  • History
  • Island Hopping
  • Outdoor Activities
  • Photography
  • Walking/Hiking
  • Whisky
  • Wildlife

Covid 19 Facilities

  • Advance booking essential
  • COVID-19 measures in place
  • COVID-19 refund and cancellation policy in place
  • COVID-19 risk assessment completed
  • Capacity limit
  • Contactless payment possible
  • Deep cleaning between visitors
  • Face masks available for visitors
  • Hygiene screens in place
  • Pets welcome during COVID-19 restrictions
  • Socially distanced spaced seating

Tour Stops

Starfish Travel

Tour company information

Starfish Travel

We offer our time and expertise to help compose your private tour through Scotland, tailored to your interests, your time schedule, unique to your itinerary. This nation of fairytale castles, stories and scenery has endless possibilities. Whether it’s Golf, history, Whisky, or heritage, Highlands, fishing, art… We are not bound to a set schedule and have the experience to balance driving and exploring time. Drop us an email or contact form and we will get in touch. Do let us know which highlights you don’t want to miss…

Opening times

Open all year

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