Updated July 2020

The North Coast 500 is, without doubt, the road trip everyone wants to do right now - and it isn't really that much of a surprise why.

The route offers unparalleled Highland landscapes, a unique driving experience and a fantastic perspective on what makes Scotland great. We’ve travelled a lot in Europe over the last few years, and our nine days on the NC500 will forever be the highlight.

So, if you're heading there this spring or summer, you're in for a real treat. But as with every road trip, knowing in advance what to pack and which essentials to throw in the car will help to ensure you have a stress-free and unforgettable Scottish adventure.

Here are our suggestions for your North Coast 500 packing list.

Your NC500 Packing List Essentials

Midge Spray / Repellent

The scourge of Scottish summers, the dreaded midge can ruin that romantic sunset stroll by the loch or picnic on a munro. Some people (Andrew) are lucky and don't really get many bites, others (Emily) seem to act as a walking buffet for the wee things.

Bringing a bottle or two of repellent is therefore highly recommended. Deet-free and 100% natural Incognito and Smidge are the two most popular options, whilst a number of people swear by Avon Skin So Soft.

A handy thing to have in your glove box to soothe any bites you do happen to get is Tiger Balm.

Thermos Flask

As great as it is to stop off and support some of the great independent cafes, restaurants and coffee shops around the route (which you definitely should be doing), there's no doubt that one of the benefits of doing a road trip is that you have the freedom to pull over in the middle of nowhere for spontaneous coffee or tea breaks with your own private view of the Highlands.

And for this, you need a reliable thermos flask to keep your hot drinks...hot!

B&Bs and hotels along the route will be happy for you to fill up your own flask before you set off - the perfect companion to a tablet of fudge or cheeky fly with shortbread at the roadside with a stunning view. This classic Thermos one is a great option, but if you’re feeling a bit more hipster, then you can opt for a Hydro Flask which keep liquids hot for up to six hours or cold for twenty-four (unfortunately not at the same time!).

Suncream

Just in case, like us, you get fantastic weather which makes the beach look like this....

Yes, it does happen every now and again in Scotland!

refillable water bottle

A big part of our travel philosophy is to try and cut down how much unnecessary plastic we both use on the road - one of the easiest (and most cost-effective) ways to do that is to focus on refilling rather than buying lots of plastic bottles of water.

Our tried-and-tested option used to be a glass, rather than plastic or metal, refillable container. It's protected by a silicon sleeve so you can drop it and it won't smash (or at least ours hasn't yet!) and the good thing about it being glass rather than plastic is that it's much easier to clean and doesn't get that nasty fooshty smell which we simply couldn't get rid of in our old plastic Bobble bottles.

As you're in the Highlands, that stuff straight out of the tap will taste better than most bottled water anywhere else!

Update | We now prefer to use this cheap but durable insulted metal water bottle to fill up from the tap on our European travels.It also keeps the water cold for 24 hours, so perfect on a road trip.

Battery Pack

We all depend on our mobile phones these days. On road trips especially, we use it as our main map source and GPS, compass, torch, music player, back-up camera and, sometimes, even to make calls (although the signal is very patchy up here!)

Unfortunately, with dependence on your smartphone for such a myriad of activities, the battery is always guaranteed to run out of juice pretty quickly. Every day we were driving on the North Coast 500, we would have full battery leaving at 8 a.m., only for it to be down to 10% by about 3 p.m (not ideal when you're not sure where you hotel is exactly) - it's really our own fault for blasting out The Proclaimers every hour. So, having a battery pack with you is essential to keep your gear charged on the go.

There are loads available in the £10-20 range - like the incredibly light (but powerful) Powercore 10000 or the teeny-tiny lipstick mini.

If you want to spend a bit more or need juice for hours or multiple devices at a time, this RavPower one that we have is a beast which can charge two devices at the same time and has enough power to charge an iPhone seven times, whilst staying portable and lightweight.

If you're a heavy phone user and active traveller, and it doubles up as your main camera, then a Lifeproof phone case is a great piece of travel kit - not just for the North Coast 500. It's waterproof, dustproof and dropproof, whilst also providing your phone with one full charge as a battery pack (unfortunately it won't make the dinner for you or clean the house).

Mobile Phone Holder

If you're renting a car, then it’s likely GPS will be included.

However, as we outlined in our '23 things to know before driving the North Coast 500' article we actually found this in-built bit of kit to be more of a hindrance than a help, given that we wanted to take the long way round, and the GPS was determined to send us up the A835 to Ullapool!

Instead, we ended up using the route we had pre-programmed into our phones on Google Maps and the GPS within that if we had specific places to visit along the way or hotels to find at the end of the day.

If this is the navigation option you’ll be opting for, and don't have someone in the passenger seat who is happy to hold the phone and give directions, then a sturdy mobile phone holder is essential. We all know the dangers presented by people trying to fiddle with their phones whilst driving (and it's bloody illegal!), so having a holder in your line of vision which holds the phone firmly in place whilst you're driving is really important for you and other road users.

This one is available for under £10 and will do the job fine.

Picnic basket

Want to know a secret? One day on the North Coast 500, we had such perfect weather that we couldn't resist a spontaneous picnic on one of the perfect beaches along the very northernmost points. However, it was quite a windy day, so Andrew set off to find a slightly more sheltered spot in the sand....only to find a lady sunbathing topless! Nothing wrong with that at all, but it wasn't exactly a sight he was expecting to come across in Scotland in June!

Nevertheless, we had a lovely picnic with a little wicker picnic hamper - you know the sort, the one that includes all your plates, cutlery, napkins etc. If you can keep those midges at bay, it's the essential ingredient to a romantic meal al fresco.

Rug / blanket

It’s got to be a tartan blanket right? You can pick from a selection of lovely ones here.

The Matador Pocket Blanket is a better compact option for a blanket which you can keep in your rucksack or daypack when you're out on your hike or road trips - it's lightweight, folds down to almost nothing, and won’t keep any sand or grass on it.

Cool Box / Bag

Can you believe that we were lucky enough to have 7/9 sunny days when we were touring the North Coast 500? It was actually hot (or 'taps aff weather' to us Scots). We did a big shop in the supermarket in Inverness before hitting the start of the North Coast 500, and our little cool box meant we could...um...keep everything cool (or at least help perishable goods last a little longer). It's a good idea to have some ice blocks as well to keep everything extra chilled.

Road map

If you're an old school road-tripper, then you might want to pick up the OS Road Map for North Scotland, Orkney & Shetland to keep in the glove compartment.

Alternatively, you can pick up a physical map of the route in Inverness as well as various points along the way.

Guide Book

Given the route’s popularity, there are now a number of guidebooks for the North Coast 500, but we’ve always been partial to Rough Guide’s offerings. At just £5.99 this one is excellent value!

Additionally, you may want to read this new 'Exploring the NC500' book before leaving to get you in the mood and provide some inspiration. We haven't read it so let us know in the comments what you think!

If the North Coast 500 is forming part of your wider Scottish adventure, then the Lonely Planet has a great guide covering the entire country, as well as one focusing purely on the Highlands and the magical islands.

Of course, you cold just refer to our free guide here.

A Scottish Playlist

We played purely Scottish music when navigating the North Coast 500 (Andrew insisted). Although this included some questionable tunes, there's nothing like driving Scotland's most famous 500 miles with Scotland's most famous 500 mile song - although we do have to point out that Scottish music has so so much more to offer than just The Proclaimers!

In the days of Spotify and off-line playlists, we know that CDs are old hat. A bunch of friends recommended some of their favourite Scottish music to help us craft our own playlist, but if you don't know where to start or actually like having a physical CD on a roadtrip (again, think of that mobile phone battery life!) then 'Made in Scotland' is a decent option for a mix of classics and a fair bit of cheese.

If you'd prefer an audiobook to accompany you on the journey around the Highlands, then you can sign up for a free trial here and download a book of your choice on Audible here.

Packing cubes

We swear by packing cubes these days - they're great for short and long-term trips to organise your luggage (and our camera cables) so that you can quickly and easily unpack and repack in your B&B or hotel.

We use and recommend these ones by PRO Packing Cubes.

A good book

Any holiday isn't complete with a book to accompany you in the evening or on the days where you're not ticking off the miles in the car. We've included below some suggestions and recommendations for books which will be most appropriate for the North Coast 500 scenery:

- At the Loch of the Green Corrie by Andrew Greig: Based around a journey to Lochinver (part of the NC500) to meet an old poet friend, Greig's critically-accalimed book is part travel journal, part history of the area and part beautiful tribute to the "ruinous, transcendent heartland of the North-West Highlands".

- Findings by Kathleen Jamie : Jamie has an eye and an ease with the nature and landscapes of Scotland as well as an incisive sense of its domestic realities. In Findings she draws together these themes to describe travels in the country like no other contemporary writer.

- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: Outrageously popular fiction series, which is now a successful TV series. A 20th century nurse time travels to 18th century Scotland and, of course, finds love, romance and adventure with a handsome Highland warrior.

- Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson: The book is an absolute classic, set in Scotland just after the Jacobite Rebellions. However, aside from that link, Louise Stevenson's uncle actually designed the Noss Head Lighthouse in Caithness which is part of the NC500 route.

- A Scots Quair by Lewis Grassic Gibbon: Based in the north-east of Scotland, rather than the Highlands, but this trilogy was voted Scotland's Favourite Book in 2016 so has to make the list (you may find a lot of it very difficult to read though as a lot is in very broad Doric ken?)

- Rob Roy by Walter Scott: You may know about Braveheart and you may have seen Rob Roy the film, but Scott's classic about the tale of a Highland outlaw turned folk hero in the midst of the Jacobite Rebellion.

- The Highland Clearances by John Prebble: The Highland Clearances form one of the saddest chapters in Scotland's history. Prebble's book is the best place to start trying to understand its causes and effects on the nation and to make you realise why the landscapes on the North Coast 500 are so empty.

- Jacobites: A New History of the '45 Rebellion by Jacqueline Riding: If you've been reading the above list and scratching your head at every mention of Jacobites, then this one's for you. Only released in 2016, this is a captivating and in-depth account of Bonnie Prince Charlie's attempts to gain the throne. Who needs Jon Snow?

Or, if you fancy something less-historical and more of an entertaining page-turner based in Scotland, then anything by the Scottish quartet of Christopher Brookmyre, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid or Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, will definitely fit the bill.

The Right Clothes

As Scotland's weather - even in June and July - can never be 100% depended upon, NC500 roadtrippers really do have to pack for all occasions and seasons. It can be beautiful clear skies one day and then blowing a gale with rain and haar the next, so don't just think 'it's July, I'll only need summer clothes with me'.

Aside from your usual garb, essentials to bring with you, even in summer, are:

A Lightweight, waterproof windbreaker
A hat
A thermal fleece for chillier evenings
An umbrella
A good pair of waterproof walking shoes - the Merrel Moab range is Gore-tex, waterproof, durable and affordable, and has served us both well doing various multi-day hikes in Latin America and Europe over the last three years. If you don't like a full hiking boot, they also come in a more trainer-like 'low rise' style for men and women.

Mountain Warehouse is a good on-line option to pick up some great pieces of affordable outdoors clothing, as well as camping or other road trip equipment - they do free delivery within the UK on orders over £50.

A kilt is, of course, is wholly optional!

April 2021 update | As we’ve explained in more detail in our 23 Things to Know Before Driving the North Coast 500 article, there are now various requirements in place by the Scottish Government on locals and tourists. These need to be respected if you’re travelling to the country and doing this road trip. Pack hand-sanitiser, a reusable face covering, and some spray.

Swiss Army Knife

If you're wild camping along the route or undertaking some proper hiking, then you'll know that a proper Swiss Army Knife is an essential piece of kit. In our two years travelling in Latin America, it got us out of many a jam and it's something which continues to solve a myriad of problems which we don't even think of or anticipate when we're on a road trip. We use and recommend the Victorinox Huntsman.

Travel first aid pack

Given that this is a remote area for large stretches of your roads trip, bringing your own small first aid kit with the essentials is always a good idea.

You can always pack your own one too, just be sure to check out our post on first aid kit essentials.

Roof Box

If you're just a couple like us, then any car will have enough space for all your stuff (including bags of camera equipment).

However, if you're a large family or group travelling together, you might find space at a premium. A roof box can more than double your car's capacity and, if you're camping or outdoorsy, it can keep that equipment nice and separate when it's mucky.

The 280 litre Thule Ranger is foldable for easy transport and storage and doesn't require any tools to snap onto your roof bars, and the aadakit Roof bag offers a cheaper but highly rated version.

A decent camera

We know that lots of people are happy to use their phone (and the cursed selfie-stick) but, if you'd like to know what camera equipment we took on the North Coast 500 and all our travels across the world, read this post.

If you're planning on spending a lot of time out on the water searching for dolphins or exploring in a kayak, or you're cyclist who wants to record your journey around the route, then a GoPro really is the best option.

Book early!

There are a great number of options for all budgets and travels styles along the NC500 - buy you need to book early! We’ve shared our personal picks alongside everything you need to know in advance in this North Coast 500 accommodation post.

Lastly, if you're in a rush to get some of the above items, then why not sign up for a 30-day free trial for Amazon Prime? Not only will you receive free one-day shipping on most items, but it also gives you access to a bunch of TV shows, movies and Kindle books.