Want to explore the North Coast 500 by electric vehicle? It's possible!
Driving over the Kyle of Tongue Bridge
Invigoration, giddiness, clarity: feelings which had been in short supply since the first national lockdown. I’d missed the Highlands.
It was the summer of 2020 and the pandemic had stabilised enough to grant us a dose of freedom. My fiancé Tom, our electric car Flipper and I were hankering for a Scottish roadtrip; that much was certain.
Settling into some dearly beloved Google travel research, I learned of an increasingly not-so-secret treasure: the North Coast 500. A circular driving route sharing a latitudinal position with parts of Norway, immersed in unspoilt, dramatic and ever-changing scenery? Sold.
I’ll admit to my ignorance. I’d always thought of Inverness as the end of the road, a northern boundary of mainland Britain. I’d heard of John o’ Groats, of course, but there wasn’t much beyond Inverness, was there?
And anyway, driving an electric car from the bottom of Britain to its topmost point and back again is impossible, right?
Wrong, and wrong again.
Tom and I switched to an electric car in 2015 to reduce our carbon footprint, improve air quality and play our role in the necessary transition to sustainability. It’s estimated that, over a year, one electric car on the road saves an average of 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Our climate crisis is taking no prisoners and the time to act is now or never.
Trusty electric steed on the NC500
Even in those early days we managed trips from London down to Cornwall and up to Manchester in our modest-range Nissan Leaf. Then, after a mostly patient wait, we traded up to a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, the most affordable of Tesla’s range. (Full disclosure: we’re both freelance musicians with no secret money pot and this is possible.)
With a great electric car comes great sustainable roadtrip potential, and I’m here to share my ‘why’ and ‘how’ of exploring the NC500 in a trusty EV. Travelling this route by any form of transport requires planning to ensure that you don’t miss out on food, shelter or awe-inspiring detours. With so many possibilities, you might even be grateful to have your trip options focused by your charging needs.
Waiting for dolphins at Chanonry Point
With the benefit of hindsight, here’s my NC500 EV pre-trip checklist:
- Without a doubt, purchase the ChargePlace Scotland access card (for £20 per year) before you go. This allows you to charge your car at any chargers on the CPS network without being at the mercy of apps, internet or servers. (We learnt this the hard way.)
- Download the North Coast 500 app. Not only is this invaluable for tailoring your trip to your tastes, interests and budget, but you can customise your map to include EV charging points. You can find chargers at a variety of places, including public car parks, accommodation and restaurants (I recommend refuelling yourself at the Torridon’s Bo & Muc while you wait), and new ones are popping up all the time. Also check out A Better Route Planner, Zap-Map and Tesla’s own website for help with planning your journey and charging, both on the route itself and on the way to and from Inverness. Factor in buffers in case particular chargers are down, occupied or otherwise unavailable.
Helpful bonus fact: Tesla Superchargers have recently been installed in Fort William and Inverness, making it easier to start your trip fully charged and fully relaxed.
- Consider booking accommodation with EV chargers on site. This way you don’t have to spend time charging during the day and can sleep easy knowing that both you and your car are recharging. A few booking websites now allow you to filter your search with this in mind, including visitscotland.com and booking.com.
Aside from its eco credentials, are there any other benefits to travelling the NC500 in an EV?
Yes! I’m glad you asked. Here are my top three:
Tesla camping at Windhaven Campsite
- Teslas now have a life-enhancing feature called Camp Mode. Don’t want to stay in a hotel but don’t fancy pitching a tent? Park at a camping pitch, lower the back seats, select ‘Camp Mode’ and, hey presto, you have a climate-controlled shelter for the night! We first made use of this highly anticipated feature at Windhaven, mainland Britain’s most northerly campsite, when we discovered that the ‘Wind’ part of its name was no joke. (The ‘haven’ part is accurate too; on a clear day you can see across to the Orkney islands. Just three miles further north from the campsite is the Dunnet Head Peninsula which, contrary to belief about famous John o’ Groats, is the most northerly point on the mainland.)
N.B. You may be able to get a little car charge if your pitch has an electric hookup, depending on its maximum current.
Drumbeg Viewpoint
- There are whole portions of the NC500 on the west coast which are inaccessible to motorhomes and large campervans. It’s these areas, however, which contain some of the most spectacular and otherworldly scenery. I wouldn’t want to travel all that way only to miss out on the view from Drumbeg.
- EVs are quiet animals. This area of Scotland has remained relatively untouched and, travelling this way, it’s possible to glide through the landscape while minimising disruption to the wildlife you’ve come here to see.
Any trip highlights?
So many, but I’ll choose a handful in chronological order (you can, of course, travel the NC500 in either direction, but I’d recommend anti-clockwise in order to save the most staggering landscapes for the grand finale):
Harbour seal through a spotting scope at Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve
- Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. A peaceful spot for watching harbour seals.
- Brora Beach. Early proof that the many beaches on Scotland’s north coast really can pass as tropical.
The Lookout Tower at Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve
- Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve. This globally significant area, currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site status, is worth a slight inland detour from the main route. The Flow Country’s blanket bogs store more than three times the amount of carbon than all of Britain’s woodland combined, sustaining an abundance of unique flora and fauna. It certainly felt appropriate arriving at this vast carbon sink in a carbon-considerate machine.
Loch Eriboll
- Loch Eriboll. The term ‘breathtaking’ was invented for the moment when you round the bend to this view.
- Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve. After a night of car camping at the almost unbelievably picturesque Ardmair Point, a visit to this gorge continued the feast for the senses.
On the road on the north-west section of the NC500
During the pandemic, so many of us have deepened our connection to nature and our desire to explore. By travelling the NC500 in an electric vehicle you have the opportunity to experience an area of extraordinary natural beauty and history while minimising your impact on the immediate and wider environment.
The Press and Journal recently published a bizarre April Fools’ Day story claiming that non-electric cars are being banned from the NC500 in a bid to reduce Scotland’s environmental footprint.
Foolish? You decide.
Follow Sophie Gledhill on Instagram @cellotrek
Looking to plan your own North Coast 500 trip? Find more information on our NC 500 page.
