This is our most frequently asked question...
Before making a booking everyone is faced with the difficult task of figuring out how many nights they should book for. The NC500 is 500 miles long and has sights and scenery a plenty. This blog post aims to guide you so keep reading to find out more.
First you need to ask yourself a few questions:
- What type of holiday do I want?
- What is my budget?
- How much of the NC500 do I want to see?
Now that you’ve given that some thought, let us help you “decipher the answers”…
1. What Type of Holiday Do I Want?
At WildTrax we offer Land Rover hire with a rooftop tent & camping kit. With everything included for an adventure holiday in the Scottish Highlands it can be difficult to know how long to book for.
We find we get 2 types of guests who book with us:
- The active explorer guest who wants to do it all
- The take it easy, see it all from the car guest
If you’re type 1 and are wanting to see as much of the NC500 as possible then you’re going to need 10-14 days to get it all in. With the multitude of walks, hikes, cycling, boating and other activities available on the NC500 this can take up a large portion of your time meaning you’ll get to cover less mileage every day which = more days required to cover the 500 miles. An example day may go as follows:
- Wake up
- Head out on walk/hike
- Return for brunch
- Pack up & drive on with sightseeing stops along the way
- Activity in the afternoon
- Drive to campsite for the night with sightseeing stops along the way
- Set up camp and enjoy dinner around a campfire
If type 2 resonates more with you then 5 – 7 days would be enough to cover most of the NC500. This means spending a large portion of your day driving with the occasional sightseeing stops between campsites. An example day may go as follows:
- Wake up
- Have breakfast
- Pack up & drive on with sightseeing stops along the way
- Find somewhere to enjoy lunch
- Drive on to your next campsite with sightseeing stops along the way
- Set up camp and enjoy dinner
TOP TIP: Regardless of the type of holiday you’re after it’s always best to add on at least 1 hr to your estimated driving time. With narrow roads, increased traffic over summer & your need to stop and take a photo around every corner means your estimated time will take longer than innitially thought.
2. What is my budget?
It goes without saying that for many budget plays a role in deciding how long to book for. With a variety of Land Rovers in our fleet we have something to suit all budgets. Our most affordable Defender is the 90 while the New 2020 Defender 110 was added to our fleet in January 2021 and is proving to be a popular choice. Our 3 night minimum hire allows you to experience the NC500 even if it’s just for a taster.
3. How much of the NC500 do I want to see?
As mentioned earlier, the NC500 is 500 miles long and doesn’t need to be experienced in one go. There are various route options if you have booked for our minimum 3 nights hire. Whether you choose to explore the northern part, along the west only or possibly the southern section has caught your eye, 3 nights will give you a taste of what the NC500 has to offer.
If you have more time available to you, this will allow you to spend more time in an area taking in the local sights and scenery. Go for a sea kayak or stop in at Cocoa Mountain for the best hot chocolate, but the point is each village and town on the NC500 has something to experience.
If you’re lucky enough to have 10 – 14 days available then this will give you the opportunity to enjoy the entire NC500 and all it has to offer.