The Best Swimming Spots on the Route

1. Rosemarkie Beach

Where is it? Just north of Inverness.
Best for: Family-friendly fun, an easy day trip from Inverness, and seeing some dolphins.

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Rosemarkie Beach, located off the NC500 route, is a very popular detour from the ride.

Sitting just a 20-minute drive from the route’s A9 road, it’s one of the most well-known wild swimming beaches on our list.

A long lovely sandy beach, it’s popular with families, it’s home to the super-welcoming Rosemarkie Beach Cafe (a lovely community cafe with tasty sandwiches and snacks), and it’s great for swimming and paddleboarding.

Recommended for everyone, and it’s very safe to swim here.

Pro Tip: When you’re done, head to the very-nearby Chanonry Point, a well-known lighthouse-bedecked outcrop. It’s famous for being possibly the best dolphin-watching spot in Scotland… and it’s featured in our guide on the best places to see dolphins, porpoises and whales on the North Coast 500.