Photographers Phil Malpas and Clive Minnitt have scouted out the best and most photogenic landscapes of the epic North Coast 500 driving route. Here are six highlights you should seek out, if hitting the road this summer…

Since its launch in 2015, the North Coast 500 has been a huge success, taking its place on "world’s best road trips" lists alongside the likes of the USA’s Route 66 and Italy’s Amalfi Coast. That success isn’t all that surprising, though. The North Highlands of Scotland feature some of the most staggeringly beautiful and diverse landscapes on the planet. The genius of the North Coast 500, or NC500, is simply to create an accessible, easy-to-follow route – a loop from Inverness to John o’ Groats, along the north coast, down the dramatic west coast, via Ullapool and Applecross, and back across to Inverness – that connects up many of the north’s highlights and shines a light on places that don’t get nearly as many tourists as, say, Glen Coe, Loch Lomond or Skye.

Along the scenic 500-mile drive (or cycling trip), there’s plenty to take in. For hikers, the likes of Ben Hope (Scotland’s most northerly Munro), Arkle (in Sutherland) and the ever-popular Stac Pollaidh are just a few of the ways to get your boots muddy along the way. Wildlife lovers can keep an eye out for red deer and birds of prey, alongside the slightly less wild but always appealing Highland cows, as well as seals off the west coast. There are castles, whisky distilleries, wartime bunkers, lighthouses and many more interesting stops en route.

But the Scottish landscapes are the big draw. Landscape photographer Phil Malpas guides photography workshops and tours with Light & Land across Scotland, including the Outer Hebrides and winter trips to Glen Coe, as well as to some of the world’s most striking locations as far afield as Tuscany and Vietnam. But leading photographers out on the annual NC500 trip is always a highlight he looks forward to. “For me, the North-west of Scotland has to be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen,” he says. “It’s possible to find areas of true wilderness here, which is a rarity on our overcrowded island.”

As well as some of the peaks mentioned above, the route takes in the likes of the Stacks of Duncansby on Scotland’s north-east coast, Loch Eriboll and the white sand beach of Tràigh na h-Uamhag. Around every corner, there’s something new to discover. “There are few journeys in the world that match Scotland’s magnificent North Coast 500," says photographer Clive Minnitt, who guides Light & Land photography tours along with Malpas. “It has beautiful coastlines, mountains, lochs, waterfalls, characterful little villages, harbours and castles in abundance. I’m totally addicted.” It’s likely you will be, too.

If you’re hitting the road for the NC500, here are six highlights, as chosen by Clive and Phil, that you won’t want to miss.

Ben Loyal at dawn

By Phil Malpas

The mighty Ben Loyal is one of my favourite Scottish mountains to photograph. In an isolated location in the far north-west, just a few miles from the Kyle of Tongue, it doesn’t get the recognition bestowed on some of its more southerly opposition. Its distinctive profile is due to its four separate peaks, the highest of which, An Caisteal, stands at 764m, so there are no Munro-baggers here.

This image of mine looks south, just before the sun rose over the hills to my left. I was pleased with the interesting cloud formation above the mountain, which reminded me of one of those disaster movies where alien space craft hover over the world’s capital cities.

Lybster Harbour

By Clive Minnitt

Travelling along the A99 toward John o’ Groats, it’s easy to bypass one of the absolute gems of Scotland’s north-east coast. Take the short detour through the bizarrely designed and spacious village of Lybster and follow signs for the harbour and you will be rewarded with wonderful views. It’s hard to believe that in its 1850’s heyday, the harbour served 357 fishing boats.

Few harbours boast having their own lighthouse built on the quayside. Coupled with a gorgeous shingle beach alongside, this location has a serene and calming feel to it. It’s a place to sit and ponder, and enjoy what has become, for me, a maritime Shangri La.

Oldshoremore

By Phil Malpas

Often battered by wild North Atlantic weather, Oldshoremore has little to protect it to the west. Located in the far north-west, it’s only a few miles of detour from the NC500 route.

On the day I was here, the winds were spectacular, and, although it was difficult to simply stand up, it was a wonderful experience, making me feel intensely alive. I managed to find a slightly sheltered spot and set my tripod low and wide, and even had to lean on the tripod during the exposure to prevent it from moving. I like the sweep of the bay and the way the dark foreboding sky contrasts the fantastic dune system that fronts this wonderful, often deserted beach.

Eilean Donan Castle

By Clive Minnitt

Following the North Coast 500 route to the letter would mean missing out on some of most iconic scenes in Scotland. The beautiful Eilean Donan castle is to be found just a few miles south of the most south-westerly point on the route. Choose the time of your visit carefully and you too can enjoy this scene in peace.

Soon after arriving, the "weather gods" looked on me kindly, allowing the sun to peep through the clouds and the wind to cease momentarily. I was grateful for the opportunity to photograph the castle reflection at a point where Loch Alsh and Loch Duich meet. It was a sublime moment.

Suilven

By Phil Malpas

Suilven always seems to be far larger and more dramatic than its diminutive 731m would suggest. This is largely because it rises almost vertically from the low-lying maze of moorland, bog and lochans that surround its Torridonian Sandstone slopes.

I stood in this spot for a long time as I felt that there was an outside chance that one of the rare, tiny gaps in the cloud cover might just put a splash of light into the foreground. I almost gave up, but my persistence was eventually rewarded as the sun briefly illuminated the island in front of me.

Allt Chranaidh Waterfall

By Clive Minnitt

This little-known waterfall, also known as the Wailing Widow, is a great example of what can be discovered when travelling through the incredibly photogenic countryside that abounds within a short distance of the North Coast 500. Although these falls were just a few hundred metres from the road, they were hidden from view and easily missed.

If exploring the north Highlands, it’s well worth investing in the world-class Ordnance Survey Explorer series of maps, which show the seemingly endless possibilities that can be explored on foot, with varying degrees of effort. The entire NC500 route is a full-on visual feast. It would be hard to find better anywhere in the world.

Phil Malpas and Clive Minnitt guide photography tours for Light & Land in Scotland, including the North Coast 500, the Outer Hebrides and Winter in Glencoe, and around the world, including Tuscany, Vietnam, Venice and Cornwall. Light & Land is celebrating its 25th birthday this year. See https://www.lightandland.co.uk/ for details of workshops and tours.