North Coast 500: Scotland's Scenic Route Under Strain

8th January 2026

The North Coast 500 (NC500), often billed as Scotland's answer to Route 66, has become one of the UK's most celebrated scenic drives. Stretching 516 miles through the Highlands, including the remote county of Sutherland, it attracts thousands of visitors each year.

But beneath the postcard-perfect landscapes, the route is revealing cracks from dangerous incidents on the road to infrastructure strain and over-tourism, highlighting the tension between tourism growth and community safety.

Danger on the Road: The Recent Nails Incident

In January 2026, Police Scotland issued an urgent safety warning after nails were deliberately placed on the A836 at Strathy Point in Sutherland, a section of the NC500. Drivers were advised to exercise extreme caution due to the risk of tyre damage or accidents. While investigations are ongoing, the incident underscores the risks faced by motorists on narrow rural roads, particularly when visitor numbers have surged far beyond what the infrastructure was designed to handle.

Police Scotland reminded drivers to prepare for hidden hazards, use passing places correctly, and report suspicious activity, while ongoing road-safety campaigns aim to reduce accidents and promote responsible driving along the NC500.

Over tourism and Community Pressure

The nails incident is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of tension between locals and tourists. Residents have long expressed frustration over:

Wild camping and antisocial behaviour, including littering and fires.

Traffic congestion on narrow single-track roads ill-equipped for heavy tourist volumes.

Safety concerns, as collisions and near-misses involving visitors have occurred in past years.

Tourism brings significant economic benefits, supporting local businesses and hospitality, but it also places enormous strain on infrastructure. Roads, parking, lay-bys, and public facilities are under pressure, particularly in small towns and remote villages in Sutherland. Travel guides and local media have even highlighted the route as one where visitor numbers threaten both safety and quality of life.

Policy and Solutions

Authorities are exploring ways to balance the economic benefits of tourism with safety and sustainability:

Infrastructure improvements: Highland Council is reviewing roads, parking, and public facilities to accommodate visitor growth.

Safety campaigns and enforcement: Police Scotland continues to educate drivers and monitor dangerous behaviour.

Tourism management: Ideas like short-term let controls, visitor levies, and regulated overnight parking are under discussion to limit disruptive behaviours and fund infrastructure improvements.

Community engagement: Involving locals in planning and decision-making ensures that tourism growth does not come at the expense of residents’ safety or quality of life.

The NC500 embodies Scotland’s natural beauty and the promise of tourism-driven economic growth. Yet incidents like nails deliberately left on the road and ongoing complaints about wild camping and congestion reveal a more complicated reality. Without careful management, infrastructure investment, and community consultation, the route risks becoming a symbol not only of scenic splendour but of tourism pressures pushing local communities to the edge.

Scotland faces the challenge of keeping the NC500 a safe, sustainable, and enjoyable experience for both visitors and residents — a delicate balancing act between economic opportunity and protecting the people and landscapes that make the route iconic.