Scotland has plans to create an iconic road trail for visitors like the famous roads in America and Australia
Scotland is in the running to create an iconic road trail for visitors in the Highlands, similar to America’s Route 66 and Australia’s Great Ocean Road.
The road proposed for development would be known as North Coast 500 (NC500), and take people along the coastlines of the far north, opening a tourist market in Caithness, at the furthest north-eastern part of the UK.
The idea for the road trail comes from the North Highland Initiative (NHI), set up by Prince Charles, targeting car and motorcycle enthusiasts. The route will go from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast, going up through the north coast to John O’Groats then heading down the east coast to loop back in Inverness.
The road will be a link for things such as natural heritage, local food and drink, accommodation and attractions of the region to name a few.
NHI chairman, David Whiteford, told the Scotsman that he has high hopes for the NC500: “Across the globe, touring routes have become famous and are often the very reason for visitors making the journey to that country.
“While it may be a coastal route, it is also about the wonderful diversions from it where you will experience the places, the personalities and the craic that make up this extraordinary journey.”
Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, is confident the attraction will generate millions for the economy, adding: “The Highlands is a true touring paradise. There really is nothing quite like the open road. People travel from all over the world for Route 66, and with our scenery, there’s no reason NC500 can’t prove to be just as popular.”
The bid for this new road has already gained interest from American travel journalists and publications, adding more confidence that this venture will be very successful for the Highlands.
