NORTH COAST 500 AND NORTHERN HIGHLANDS

500 miles of stunningly scenic touring combine in this unique Pathfinder (R) Guide - plus 24 not-to-be missed stop-off stroll recommendations. Wander the tranquil Loch Fleet shore; stride out along wild and beautiful Sandwood Bay; explore the world's oldest rocks at Knockan Crag; and climb to awesome summit views from Beinn Eighe and Ben Hope.

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"Pathfinder (R) Guide North Coast 500 presents 28 fabulous walks and 32 not-to-be-missed stop-off opportunities in the Northern Highlands, following Scotland's longest and most spectacularly scenic road trip. This guide follows the North Coast 500 in a clockwise circuit, arranged in four convenient chapters:
South - Inverness to Braemore Junction
West - Braemore Junction to Durness
North - Durness to Wick
East - Wick to Inverness

Setting out in the first chapter in a westerly direction from Inverness, the first walk is encountered at Loch Kinellan, north-west of Muir of Ord. The first west coast-based walk is from Applecross, with others following at Shieldaig, Gairloch and Poolewe, while inland there's a circuit of Loch Coulin in the Torridon mountains and an ascent of Beinn Eighe.

In the second chapter, walks explore the amazing geology and landscapes of the west coast from Ullapool, northwards through the wild terrain of Assynt and the Northwest Geo Park, visiting the Traligill Caves and Lochinver, and with a glorious finale to the remote and outstandingly beautiful Sandwood Bay - a real treat.

Chapter three provides the opportunity to climb Ben Hope, Scotland's most northerly Munro, where the views from the summit reach over the inaccessible blanket bog expanse of the Flow Country. The other walks explore the headlands, beaches, bays and north coast heritage from Durness, Tongue, Torrisdale and Castletown, with the impressive Stacks of Duncansby the objective of the last walk in the chapter, reaching the most north-easterly tip of mainland Scotland.

Visiting a clifftop castle, an historic fishing harbour and seabird colony, chapter four begins with a circuit of Noss Head. Moving down the east coast to Helmsdale, there's a detour inland to tackle Morven and Maiden Pap, and the itinerary continues with a climb up Ben Bhraggie from Golspie, a wood-flanked estuary ramble at Loch Fleet, a stroll around the Seaboard Villages and fishing heritage associated with Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick, and finishing with a walk to the Fyrish Monument and far-reaching views over Cromarty Firth.

28 outstanding circular walks and 32 stop-off strolls at points around the North Coast 500: walks range from 2 to 101/2 miles with clear, large scale Ordnance Survey route maps, GPS waypoints, where to park, and all the places of interest en route. These all-new routes have been researched and written by expert outdoor writer Felicity Martin and showcase beautiful photography of scenes from the walks. Pathfinder (R) Guides are Britain's best-loved walking guides. Printed with weather-resistant covers featuring durable rounded corners, they are the perfect companion for country walking throughout Britain. With 80 titles in the series, and 2000 routes to choose from, a wealth of walks is available throughout England, Scotland and Wales from Land's End to Shetland and the Lleyn Peninsula to Southwold."