So here's the burning question, given the months of planning and anticipation, did the NC500 live up to expectations?
The answer is no, it blew them away. It was so much more than I expected, being their seeing and experiencing things I'd read about first hand and discovering one or two things I hadn't like Badbea. Bringing back a set memories and experiences from a journey that is unique as the individual that takes it.
Everything I'd sketched out before going I pretty much achieved, apart from Suilven. Which to be fair isn't actually part of the NC500, but leaving that box unticked is a good a reason as any to go back and do it again. In fact I could easily do the whole trip again, visiting a completely different set of locations with out feeling short-changed or that I'd seen and done it all.
The hospitality I encountered on Scotland's route 66 was second to none. So my advice is if you're thinking about doing it get out their and do it, do it now, because you won't regret it.
Finally here's a handy index I've added to the relevant blogs to make navigating them easier:-
Skippy goes to Scotland Index
Part 1 Getting there
Part 2 North Coast 500 Inverness to Applecross
Part 3 North Coast 500 Applecross to Ullapool
Part 4 North Coast 500 Ullapool to Lochinver
Part 5 North Coast 500 Lochinver to Durness
Part 6 North Coast 500 Durness to John O'Groats
Part 7 North Coast 500 John O'Groats to Inverness
Part 8 The Jounrey Home (Samye Ling Monastery)
Postscript