Whether you arrive at Attadale Gardens by road, rail, bike or bus, you’re in for a serious treat. Hidden away in the rugged Western Highlands, every corner of this glorious garden has a story to tell through its art and sculpture, as Pennie Stuart and Dan Holland discover in this episode. From Attadale, Dan heads to the Torridon Hotel to hear about the family-run resort which offers an idyllic Highland escape while Pennie joins 42 Cycling for a breath-taking mountain bike adventure on the shores of Loch Ness. Gorgeous gardens, mind blowing views and inspirational get-aways await!

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In this episode Pennie Stuart and Dan Holland pause in Golspie where they join world-class fiddle player Bruce Macgregor at his new bar and hotel venture, Macgregor’s Bar Golspie. In between trading stories and lots of laughter Pennie heads off in search of a local dram at the Clynelish Distillery – home to one of the four distilleries which go to flavour the famous Johnnie Walker blend - on her way she also drops into one of the most romantic and surprising castles you’re ever likely to visit, a jewel in the crown of the Highlands, Dunrobin Castle. Dan heads south to Tain and is completely blown away by the craftsmanship and creativity at Glasstorm then, back at Macgregor’s bar they persuade Bruce to wrap things up with a local tune to show why he’s one of Scotland’s most acclaimed musicians. A romantic castle, extraordinary artists, music to feed to the soul and a smooth as honey dram to wash it all down with, what’s not to love!

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Pennie Stuart and Dan Holland pause in Dunnet Bay, up in the far North East corner of the NC500 route, for a tour round the multi-award winning Dunnet Bay Distilleries where Rock Rose Gin is made. Dan takes the plunge and gets a surfing lesson from North Coast Watersports – we think it was beginner’s luck but according to Dan, a championship place is only a lesson or two away! Then both Pennie and Dan go in search of the world’s shortest street along with some other eye-brow raising stories from Wick’s history. World-class waves, world-class gin and the world’s shortest street, we’ve got it all on this episode of the NC500 podcast!

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Pennie Stuart and Dan Holland visit the jaw dropping National Trust for Scotland’s Inverewe Gardens, a place which feels like a tropical paradise right in the heart of a Highland wilderness! Walking around the garden its hard to believe it was the brainchild of just one man, the visionary plantsman, Osgood Mackenzie. In the year marking the centenary of Osgood’s death, its amazing to see how his legacy continues to grow and thrive. Away from the garden, Pennie heads north to climb an undiscovered gem of a sea-cliff with Hamlet Mountaineering while Dan dives into the remarkable history of one of the most daring allied operations of World War 2 at the Arctic Convoy Museum. Tropical paradise, hidden histories and daring sea-cliff climbs come together in this inspirational episode!

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Get ready for a North Coast 500 episode packed with great food, great stories, extraordinary characters from Scotland’s history and beautiful wildlife! Pennie Stuart and Dan Holland take a diversion, right at the start of the NC500 route, and make time to explore the fascinating village of Cromarty, along at the eastern most tip of the Black Isle peninsula, just north of Inverness. While Pennie explores the Cromarty firth by sea kayak with Liquid Footprints, and uncovers some fascinating WW1 history, Dan goes in search of dolphins with Eco Ventures, plus they drop in on a unique evening of story-telling and food at the Downright Gabbler at the other end of the Black Isle in Beauly.

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Dan Holland and Pennie Stuart take a walk to Rhue Lighthouse with Ben Muller of Mackenzie Mountaineering from where they can get a view north to the extraordinary landscape of Assynt. Rugged, remote and awe inspiring, Pennie, Ben and Dan all love this remarkable part of the NC500 route. Dan goes snorkelling in a secret location with Assynt Development Trust while Pennie visits the world famous Lochinver Larder to find out what exactly goes in to making an award winning Lochinver pie, plus Dan visits Knockan Crag to hear all about the North West Highlands Geopark and just why this part of Scotland is so unique in terms of its geology plus Ben shares why he loves the area so much and what brings people back, time and again, to walk these hills and landscape with Mackenzie Mountaineering. Have your eyes opened to the ancient geology and true wilderness of this captivating and exhilarating part of the NC500 route!

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The North Coast 500 podcast is an Adventurous Audio production

The North Coast 500 is all about driving, right? Wrong! Very wrong! In this brand new series Dan Holland and Pennie Stuart set out to prove the NC500 is so much more than just a road trip. So brace yourself for an off route adventure packed with breath-taking castles, world-class surfing, extraordinary stories from Scotland’s history and much, much more.

From snorkelling to sea-kayaking, mountain-biking to sea-cliff climbing, this podcast shows the north of Scotland at its most surprising, inspiring and beautiful best.

Plan your North Coast 550 adventure and download the North Coast 500 App

The North Coast 500 podcast is an Adventurous Audio Production.