Scotland's North Coast 500 Trivia Quiz

Answer: A 500-mile long tourist route around Scotland's Northern Highlands

The North Coast 500, also known as the NC500, was devised in 2015 as a Tourist Route that takes in much of the Northern Highlands. While the stretches of open road can recapture the pleasure of driving, it is emphatically not a race, and the best way to enjoy all that this unique landscape has to offer is to take time over it (while taking care not to hold up the local traffic).

Answer: Inverness

Inverness is widely recognised as the start and finish, and worth a visit in its own right. The other three places aren't on the NC500, but all worth a visit - perhaps on the way to Inverness.

Answer: 516 miles

The actual distance is 516 miles, though it can become further if you turn off and explore - there's a lot to see that isn't directly on the route. Distances in Scotland are normally measured in miles.

Answer: Motorway

The route starts and finishes with a short stretch of dual carriageway near Inverness, but that's it. The nearest motorway ends at Perth, over a hundred miles to the south. Oh, and do watch out for cyclists, especially on the narrow sections. The stretch from Inverness to John O' Groats is also popular with cyclists doing LEJOG (Lands End to John O' Groats) or JOGLE (the other way round).

Answer: Dunnet Head

John O' Groats is famous as the end of the North Road, but it isn't the furthest north that you can get. Dunnet Head is eleven miles west of John O'Groats and a couple of miles further north, and worth a detour to say you've been. By the way, when you get to John O'Groats, it's also well worth going round to the Duncansby Stacks - it's a couple of miles' walk, or there's another car park at Duncansby Head lighthouse.

Answer: The Pass of the Cattle

'Bealach' is Gaelic (pronounced 'Gallic' in Scotland) for 'pass', and 'Ba' is cattle. This was an old drover's road that the farmers used to herd their cattle to market. While the other options are made up, 19th Century cartographers often anglicised Gaelic place names with little regard for their meaning. Nearby Applecross, for example, has nothing to do with apples; its Gaelic name 'Aber Croisin' means 'the mouth of the river Crossin'. A couple of other passes are slightly higher (the Cairnwell at 2,198' and The Lecht at 2,113'), but both of these start at over 1,000', whereas the Bealach starts at sea level and climbs the whole of its 2,054'!

Answer: Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's most popular attractions, but it's nowhere near the NC500.
Dunrobin was originally a small medieval castle that was expanded into a large stately home, in the style of a French Chateau, by the Duke of Sutherland in the 19th Century.
The Castle of Mey is a 16th Century Tower House that was bought and renovated by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Ardvreck is a striking ruin, a 16th Century castle that stands beside Loch Assynt, arguably one of the most stunning settings on the whole route.

Answer: Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is beautiful and curved (and beloved of Harry Potter fans), but it is a railway bridge further south, between Fort William and Mallaig. The others are all road crossings on the North Coast 500. Strictly speaking, the Kyle of Tongue is partly a causeway as well as a bridge, but its still spectacular.

Answer: Use them as lay-bys and park in them

Driving tends to be slower on the single track roads, and there is a skill in pacing yourself to meet oncoming traffic at the passing place, but be prepared to stop and wait. The passing place may be on either side of the road; either way, if you reach the passing place first, always pull over to the left and let the other driver go round you.
Visitors are welcome, but the locals may be working and journeys are long. If you want to take your time, please watch for traffic building up behind you and use the passing places to let them overtake. It will be much appreciated.
If you meet someone between passing places, one of you will have to reverse. Common sense says it should be the one nearest a passing place, or the most manoeuvrable vehicle. It may be possible to squeeze past but that can damage the verge, or put you into a bog! Not everyone realises this, and it's often quickest to be gracious.
Using passing places as laybys blocks them; please don't!
Finally, it's customary to acknowledge passing traffic with a quick wave.

Answer: Mostly moors, mountains, and some forest, and coastal scenery with occasional villages

There is some industry where gas and oil rigs come in for repair on the Cromarty Firth, and some excellent farmland on the Black Isle but apart from Inverness, there are no large built-up areas, and for most of the route, only the occasional village with miles of open space in between. It's worth keeping your fuel tank topped up.