NC500 in Winter

NC500 in Winter - UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The NC500 can be just as spectacular in winter but you do need to prepare a little more carefully as a lot of facilities are closed. The weather can be quite unpredictable, extremely cold with ice and snow so driving conditions may be treacherous at times. We did it last December/January so I thought I would create a post with some advice for anyone wanting to drive the route in the winter months.

Most of the camp sites close at the end of October so your choice will be limited. There are plenty of approved overnight stoppovers and some harbours also allow you to stop for a donation. These are all on our group map. You may find yourself having to cope without EHU for some of your trip so you will need to be able to heat your vehicle with LPG or Diesel. We found that we used quite a lot of LPG so I will also add some links with details of where you can fill up with LPG on the route.

CAMP SITES OPEN IN WINTER

C&MC = Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

CCC = Camping and Caravanning Club Site

CL = Certified Location. These are members only sites

EHU = Electric Hook Up

Auchtertyre Farm Aire Kyle of Lochalsh Open all Year (No EHU)

Ardtower Park Inverness Open all year

Badrallach Campsite Dundonnell Open all year

Balnakeil Motorhome Stop  Open all year £20

Beauly Holiday Park  Open all year (Hardstanding only in winter)

Crofter's Snug Thurso   Open all year

Dornoch Croft  Open all year (CCC)

Drumbhan CL site C&MC only  Open all Year

Durness Motorhome Stopover  Open all year  £10 (No EHU)

Ferry View Night Stop Caithness  Open all year

Golspie Camping  Open all year

Halladale Inn Campsite Closes in December 2023

Inver Caravan Park Dunbeath  Open all year

Kessock Caravan Park Closes for winter December 31st 2023

Kirkton Farm near Melvich Open all year

Ledgowan Lodge Open all Year

Little Croft Highlands Open All Year 

Loch Clash Community Stop Open all Year

Morvenview Wick  Closes for Winter on 31st December 2023

Port A Bhaig Campsite Altandhu  Open all year

 

Sinclair Bay Caravan Park Up Keiss Open all year (No EHU)

  

Stoer Head Car Park  Open all year (No EHU)

The Croft Certified Location  Open all year (C&MC members only)

The Kings Park CL  Closes for winter on 30th November 2023

Thurso Murkle Camp Site Certified Site  Open all year (CCC Members only)

Torgolyle Lodge (C&MC only) Open all Year

BE PREPARED!

If you decide to travel in the highlands in winter then you need to come prepared for the weather and driving conditions. If the snow gates are closed then you may be stuck so make sure you have enough gas to heat your vehicle, and enough fuel and provisions to last

Do I need winter tyres?  Most drivers will get some safety benefit from fitting winter tyres because of the improved grip they provide in cold and wet conditions, they're not just for snow and ice. However, they are an expensive option and you'll have to store a set of tyres and swap them over twice a year.

As an alternative to winter tyres,'all-season tyres' or "all-terrain tyres" which can be left on all year round. We have all  terrain tyres and a set of snow chains.  Although that sounds extreme we have used the snow chains to get  back on the road. Campervans are a lot heavier than cars, three and a half tons will get stuck more easily than your average car. 

Major roads do get treated, gritted and ploughed but in the rural highlands a lot of roads do not. Make sure your vehicle is well serviced and in good repair, especially your windscreen wipers and your lights. Breaking down in bad weather could mean you're harder to find and left in hazardous weather for longer.

If you don't remove snow and ice properly from your windscreen, you could get 3 points on your licence and a £100 fine so make sure you top up the wiper fluid and take extra with you, we used a lot during our trip.

Things you might like to pack for a winter trip...

A small shovel - For clearing snow

A length of rope - Handy all year round in case you need a tow

Snow Chains - For peace of mind and for travelling on minor roads

Bottled water - In case your on board water tanks freeze 

Torches and batteries

Wellington Boots and/or Walking Boots

Antifreeze for your windscreen fluid mixed 50/50 with water

Ice scraper for your windscreen

Extra blankets

Waterproof and warm clothes

Sunglasses - low sun in winter causes glare

Hot water bottle

Thermos Flask - boil kettle once and save water for your next stop

Fully charged mobile phone

A portable battery pack - this will charge things and save your leisure battery

A road map or decent atlas 

First Aid Kit

Jump Leads/portable jump starter - A flat battery is more common in cold weather

LPG on the NC500

There are only three places on the NC500 where you can fill up with LPG. Two of them are quite close together so try to plan ahead. 

Lochbroom Garage in Ullapool which is open only on weekdays 

Skiach Services near Dingwall and open 24 hours

Tore Services Filling Station off the A9 near Evanton and open 24 hours

As you can see from this picture of our Google group map I have included other places that you are likely to pass on your way to begin the NC500. If you are coming from Skye then you can fill up at the Co op in Broadford. If you are coming from Fort William and Lochaber you can use the garage at Onich which is usually the best priced we have found. Just click on our group map (In the NC500 top links in the right hand navigation bar on this site - under the wee coo!) I've also linked it to the picture above so just click that to go straight there.

AURORA  BOREALIS

In winter you have a higher chance at seeing the Northern Lights. This year 2023/2024 is predicted to be a good one. There are lots of apps available for your mobile phone. These will alert you when an aurora is likely. You will also need clear skies, dark skies and a good view north.

The chance of glimpsing these wonderful dancing lights will increase the further north you travel. During weak displays you might not see them with your naked eye but a camera can pick them up. 

Even if an Aurora is visible to the eye, it often appears without color, instead forming white pillars or silver veils above the northern horizon. This could be why so many Aurora chasers have trouble spotting the Northern lights as they are expecting a dramatic display.

Generally speaking, the most powerful numbers in aurora data allow us to see Northern Lights more vividly. 

Find the darkest skies possible using a dark sky map, which is easily searchable.

Go as far north as possible, to increase your chances of viewing a fantastic display.

Plan to stay up all night so that you don’t miss the peak of an aurora display, which often appears in the pre-dawn hours.

Get out before the moon rises or stay out after the moon sets, the sky will be darker then.

Try chasing under winter skies for more clarity in the crisp, cold air.

Take a camera so you can detect when the aurora is getting stronger.

If the colours appear on camera and brighten with time, this is a good sign. The Aurora may soon appear in its full glory to the unaided eye.

How to drive safely in snow and ice

The NC500 in winter can be stunning with snow capped mountains and crisp blue skies.

Do be aware that the roads can be dangerous in winter when there's snow, ice or sleet. Take it slow. Stopping distances can be 10 times longer when it's icy. Gentle manoeuvres and slow speeds are the key to safe driving in ice and snow.  

In the season of winter colds, don't drive with a cold if you're feeling unwell and are on any medicine that could make you drowsy. It could affect your reaction times.

Before you set off

Allow extra time for winter journeys.

Plan routes around major roads, which are more likely to be cleared and gritted.

Clear snow from windows and lights, de ice your windscreen thoroughly

Wear comfortable, dry shoes for driving so your feet don't slip on the pedals.

Check fuel levels – have at least a quarter of a tank in case of unexpected delays.

Clear all windows using a scraper and de-icer and wait until the windscreen's fully demisted.

Driving on winter roads

Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel-spin.

If you have to use your brakes, apply them gently.

Driving uphill – leave plenty of room between other cars or wait until it’s clear so you don’t have to stop part way up. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid having to change gear on the hill.

Driving downhill – slow down before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid braking. Leave as much room as you can after the car in front.

If you get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels.

Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip.

Troubleshooting Vehicle Problems in Winter

A continuous squealing noise when you start up probably means the water pump’s frozen - it's the fan belt slipping on the pulley. Stop the engine straight away and let it thaw out. This could take days unless you can move it into a heated garage.

If your vehicle overheats a few miles into a journey, it's likely that the radiator has frozen.  Stop straight away so you don’t cause more serious damage.