From Capital to Highlands: Day 2 on the A9
After a much-needed night's rest, I left the quiet, sleeping city of Edinburgh behind at 8 am, embarking on the 3.5-hour drive north to my next destination: Inverness. The journey was an immediate visual feast.
Crossing the magnificent Forth Bridge was a spectacular start, and the drive along the A9 was an ever-changing panorama. Even with the day being overcast, the moody weather only added to the drama, casting a stunning, rugged light over the landscape.
The further north I went, the more the rolling lowland hills gave way to the sharp, misty peaks of the Highlands, making the 3.5 hours fly by. Pulling into Inverness, the 'Capital of the Highlands,' felt like arriving in a new world—one where the mountains rule and the pace of life slows to a gentle loch-side rhythm.
The Capital of the Highlands & Black Betty’s Lunch View
I drove straight through Inverness, using it as the official gateway to the lochs and glens I’d been dreaming of. The mission was simple: find a spot with a spectacular view for a well-earned lunch. I didn't have to look far. After a short drive down the A82, I pulled Black Betty, my trusty van, onto the bank of the legendary Loch Ness.
The water is still, dark, and utterly vast, disappearing into a shroud of mist in the distance—the perfect setting for a quiet break. I’m currently sat with my lunch spread out, soaking in the quiet intensity of the place. It truly feels like I've reached the wild heart of Scotland, and I’m just waiting for a ripple to break the surface.
NC500 Launchpad: Setting Up Camp in Nairn.
I've settled in for the night at Barrow Campsite in Nairn, a location chosen specifically to kick off the NC500 challenge. It's a straightforward site: nothing fancy, but it offers a clean, well-maintained toilet block and a small shop in reception. For tonight, this basic setup is exactly where I need to be.
The simple camp setup was quickly transformed into a kitchen once I retreated inside Black Betty. Tonight was about comfort and fuel for the miles ahead. The stove was quickly fired up for a satisfying, classic van meal: a perfect gammon steak topped with a fried egg, all served alongside a generous portion of hot, spicy Mexican rice. The aroma of the sizzling gammon filled the small space, a welcome change from the crisp Nairn air. It wasn't gourmet, but sitting there, overlooking the campsite and planning tomorrow's route, that hearty, spicy plate felt like the best possible start to the entire NC500 adventure.
After a long day and a necessary trip to the shower block, I finally settled down to watch TV, the sound of rain pattering on Black Betty's roof for company.
Tomorrow, I point Black Betty's nose north and launch into the wilds of Northern Scotland's east coast. Wick is the prize, but the journey itself is the reward—I'll be pulling over for every sight the coastline throws my way.