We’ve already had a much busier April and May than expected: I don’t think anybody realised how popular this [driving route] would become.”The shop is on the A836, on the most northerly section of the North Coast 500, the touring route launched in 2015 to promote less-visited parts of the northern Highlands. Map of North Coast 500 route The North Coast 500 routeThe NC500 passport, which visitors can have stamped at participating attractions along the way, recommends stops at “windswept beaches and fairytale castles”, as well as distilleries, smokeries and farm shops. Roofing tacks were found to be strewn across the road near Bettyhill on several occasions last year, according to Police Scotland. Although the perpetrator was never found, locals assume that the vandalism was the result of ongoing frustration at tourist traffic. Although the NC500 was the brainchild of the non-profit North Highland Initiative, North Coast 500 Ltd became a private company in April 2015.

Source: The Guardian May 25, 2019 06:00 UTC