The Best NC500 Guide Book: Why Destination NC500 Is the One to Take
If you are planning a North Coast 500 road trip, the right guidebook makes a huge difference. The NC500 covers 500 miles of single-track roads, remote beaches, castles and mountain passes, and many of the best stops are easy to miss without good local knowledge.
We wrote Destination NC500 after four months living on the route in our campervan. It is now in its 2026 edition, it became an Amazon bestseller, and it has sold over 70,000 copies. In this post we explain what to look for in the best NC500 guide book, what is inside ours, and how the NC500 map and bundles work.
What makes the best NC500 guide book?
When you are choosing a North Coast 500 guide book, these are the things that matter most on the road.
Exact locations. Many NC500 stops have no postcode, so you need precise directions.
Campervan information. Water, waste and overnight options are essential if you are travelling in a van or motorhome.
Practical tips. Fuel stops, supermarkets and phone signal blackspots are hard to find on the route itself.
Up-to-date information. Cafés, campsites and facilities change, so an up-to-date edition matters.
Real photos. Photos taken on the route show you what each stop actually looks like.
Written from experience. Recommendations from people who have driven the whole route.
Why Destination NC500 is the best NC500 guide book
📖 2026 edition, 220 pages of photography and must-have information.
📍 110+ of the best sights and attractions around the full route.
🧭 what3words locations and directions for every stop.
🚐 Campervan water and waste facilities around the route.
💡 Insider tips on fuel, signal blackspots, supermarkets and packing.
🍽️ Restaurants, cafés and accommodation around the route.
📸 Every photo is our own. No stock photos, every stop visited by us.
🏴 Researched, written, photographed and printed by us in Scotland.
The NC500 map
Phone signal disappears in large parts of the North Highlands, so a paper map is one of the most useful things to carry. Our NC500 road trip map shows the whole route on one sheet.
🗺️ Large A1 map, folded down to fit the glovebox.
📍 110+ sights and attractions marked.
🚐 Campervan facilities and EV charging points.
📱 A QR code inside for a free digital version.
Prefer it on your phone? The Ultimate NC500 Digital Map pins every stop in Google Maps, so you can tap any pin and navigate straight there.
NC500 guide book bundles
The Ultimate NC500 Book and Map Bundle: the guidebook and the A1 map together. One on your lap, one on the dashboard.
NC500 Road Trip Package: Destination NC500 plus our NC500 Where to Eat & Stay guide, for the best restaurants, pubs and hotels around the route.
Destination NC500 & Skye Combo: Scotland's two most popular road trips together, with 220+ sights across both.
The Ultimate Scotland Road Trip Bundle: every one of our Scotland guidebooks and maps in one box, in limited numbers.
More NC500 guides from us
NC500 Where to Eat & Stay, stage by stage around the route.
50 Things to Do on the NC500, an ebook of hand-picked stops with accessibility, dog-friendly and EV details.
Destination NC500 ebook, the full guide as an instant download.
NC500 guide book FAQs
Do I need a guidebook for the NC500?
You can drive the NC500 without one, but you will miss a lot. Many of the best beaches, viewpoints and walks are off the main road and unsigned, and a guidebook gives you exact locations and the order to do them in.
Do I need a map for the NC500?
Yes. Phone signal is patchy across the north and west of the route, so a paper map is the most reliable way to see where you are and plan the day.
Is there a digital version?
Yes. Destination NC500 is available as an instant ebook, and the digital map works in Google Maps on any phone, including offline once downloaded.
Which NC500 guide book is best for campervans?
Look for a guide with water, waste and overnight information. Destination NC500 includes campervan facilities around the whole route, because we wrote it from our own campervan.
About us
We are Campbell, Gemma and baby Zahara, a Scottish family who travel full time. We run Highlands2Hammocks, write the Destination Earth Guides road trip guidebooks, including our bestselling NC500 guide, and run Scotland Escape campervan hire near Glasgow Airport.
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