I went on the UK road trip that felt more like New Zealand – with white sand beaches, rugged mountains & magical islands

ALWAYS dreamt of doing a road trip around New Zealand but can’t face the 24-hour flight or justify the £1,500 airfare?

The Scottish Highlands might just be the answer.

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Yes, really.

Having explored both, I can say they are unbelievably alike.

Both offer rugged mountains, charming villages and winding single-track roads that continue for miles.
Although, the northern coast of Scotland is also home to one of the top 50 beaches in the world, hundreds of fairytale castles and, the icing on the cake, Britain’s ultimate road trip — the North Coast 500.

I boarded the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Glasgow to kick off my adventure in style, curling up in my bunk bed filled with childlike wonder.

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It was a rocky night with little sleep, but a novelty to be able to leave on a Friday evening and wake up on Saturday in a new country.

On arrival to Glasgow, Frida — a 2022 Mercedes Sprinter and my home for the next ten days — awaited me.

Decked out with dimmable lights, heating and even an airfryer, it was more luxurious than many Airbnbs I’ve stayed in, which meant I could travel in complete comfort.

We’d barely made a dent in our journey when my boyfriend asked: “Are we in Greece?”, stepping on to the glistening white sand at Achmelvich near Lochinver.

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The water was the most astonishing blue in the sunshine, reminding us of the bays along the Abel Tasman in New Zealand or the azure shores of Platis Gialos in Mykonos.

It’s no surprise this place was listed as one of the world’s top 50 beaches last year. Although watch out for the wind.

With so much to explore, it may be tempting to skip the small and quiet village of John O’Groats, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Instead of garish souvenirs and coachloads of tourists, the village has a row of charming rainbow houses, fishing boats and a cute craft shop.

Pop by the John O’Groats Brewery to sample the local beer, or head to the neighbouring 8 Doors Distillery for a whisky — although not before you make the 20-minute drive along the road to Dunnet Head, the true most northerly point of the island of Great Britain.

Behind the wheel of a 20ft campervan, I’d decided to avoid the famous Bealach na Ba — a curvy mountain road famous for its hairpin bends and often dubbed one of the most dangerous in the world ­— instead opting to venture southwest to the Isle of Skye.

It was here that I was truly blown away. The Fairy Glen — a magical area hidden in the hills above the village of Uig — felt dreamlike.

Created by 100,000-year-old landslides, its otherworldly grassy domes and moss-covered crooked trees made me feel like I was walking through a real-life fairytale. Similarly ethereal were the Old Man of Storr and the Fairy Pools.

Despite the former simply being a big rock at the top of a hill, it’s the island’s most visited attraction ­— but don’t let that put you off.

'REAL-LIFE FAIRYTALE'

I was travelling at the end of September and visiting just before sunset meant I almost had the place to myself, watching the clouds loom overhead and a candy floss-like mist descend over the hillside.

Even with the fog, the view from the top was mesmerising. You can see across the Sound of Raasay, which reminded me of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Before making the return trip to Glasgow, there’s just enough time for a pit stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct — also known as the Harry Potter bridge.

The Hogwarts Express crosses over it in four of the films, but in reality, it’s the Jacobite Steam Train that wows visitors, though the effect is very much the same.

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I was surrounded by “oohs” as it chugged by, sending plumes of steam into the sky. This Harry Potter ending only added to the magic of my NC500 adventure.

Why fly to New Zealand when the Highlands are on our doorstep?

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