Gravel Cycling
NC500 Gravel Alternative
The back-road version of Scotland's most famous drive
Quick facts
- Distance
- 80 km (50 mi)
- Ascent
- 1,650 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Route type
- Linear
- Archetype
- Highland Epic
- Region
- North Highlands
- Start point
- Tongue
- Grid ref
- NC 589 572
- Parking
- IV27 4XQ
- Midges
- Moderate
- Dogs
- On lead only
Surface breakdown
- Tarmac single-track45%
- Estate road35%
- Double-track20%
About this route
The North Coast 500 road route is well-known; this gravel alternative uses the inland estate roads and service tracks that parallel the NC500 but sit 5–15km from the main road, stripping away the campervans and tourist traffic to reveal what the north Highlands actually feel like from the saddle. The Moine Peninsula — a vast blanket bog between the Kyle of Tongue and the Naver — is the first revelation: flat, treeless, vast, with wind turbines on the distant hills and the sound of waders overhead.
Beyond Bettyhill the route climbs inland through Strathmore, following the Loch Hope valley below the soaring north face of Ben Hope — Scotland's most northerly Munro. The final section parallels the Durness coast on estate track above the sea cliffs before the descent into Durness for Cocoa Mountain's deservedly famous hot chocolate.
Highlights
- The Moine Peninsula at low tide — Kyle of Tongue exposed and silver, the Ben Loyal pinnacles above
- Bettyhill beach from the north approach road — white sand, clear turquoise, totally empty
- Ben Hope's north face from Loch Hope — 927m of rock and heather above a silent loch
- Strathmore interior — wide deer-grazed strath with views to the Reay Forest mountains
- Cocoa Mountain, Durness — the best hot chocolate in Scotland as a non-negotiable finish ritual
Key waypoints
- 1. Talmine
- 2. Melness
- 3. Bettyhill
- 4. Borgie
- 5. Loch Hope
- 6. Hope
- 7. Strathmore
- 8. Rhiconich
- 9. Durness
Cafés & pubs on route
- · Bettyhill Hotel bar meals
- · Cocoa Mountain chocolate café, Durness (famous)
Named climbs
- Moine Peninsula climb (280m)
- Hope climb to Strathmore (310m)
- Rhiconich hill (240m)
Notable descents
- Talmine descent to the coast
- Loch Hope shore drop
- Gualin descent to Durness
Route notes
This is a linear route: start in Tongue (accommodation and parking) and finish in Durness. Return to Tongue by taxi (30 mins, pre-book in Durness) or arrange a vehicle shuttle. The Bettyhill section uses 3km of A836 main road — rideable but busy in summer; use the pavement where available.
Seasonal conditions
May and early June are superb — long days, lower midges than further south, the bog cotton in flower on the Moine. July–August is peak tourist season on the NC500 but the inland tracks are still quiet. This far north, October light is extraordinary but the Strathmore estate tracks can be waterlogged after September rain.
Key hazards
- Exposed to Atlantic weather systems with no shelter for 25km on the Moine
- NC500 tourist traffic on unavoidable A836 sections
- Red grouse shooting on Strathmore Estate 12 Aug–10 Dec (contact estate before visiting)
- Durness is the end — nothing beyond for 30km in any direction
Water sources on route
- River Borgie at Borgie
- River Hope at Hope
- Multiple burns throughout
Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.
OS map sheets
Nearest hill
Ben Hope
927m · far-north
View hill
Nearest bothy
Strabeg
Walk-in: 8 km · north-west-highlands
View bothy
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:04
- Sunset
- 21:24
- Civil dawn
- 04:11
- Civil dusk
- 22:18
NOAA Solar Calculator · 9 May 2026
Common questions
- How do I get back from Durness to Tongue?
- Taxi is simplest (40 minutes, around £45 — ask at Cocoa Mountain for numbers). Some riders arrange a car shuttle. The bus service is infrequent and doesn't always take bikes; check Transdev Highland.
- Is the NC500 Gravel Alternative rideable in one day?
- Yes — 80km with 1,650m ascent takes a fit rider 6–8 hours. Leave Tongue at 08:00 and arrive Durness by 16:00 with stops. The long summer days make this comfortable in June–July.
- How remote is the Moine Peninsula section?
- Extremely remote for the first 25km from Tongue. There are no buildings, no phone signal, and the closest habitation is Bettyhill (12km south). Carry emergency food and a shelter in case of mechanical.
- Can I combine this with the Cape Wrath Trail?
- The Cape Wrath Trail passes through Durness making this a natural link. Bikepacking the Durness-to-Inverness Cape Wrath Trail corridor is an established multi-day route that this section feeds into.