Drivers planning to travel on the North Coast 500 this Easter weekend are being encouraged to be aware of coverage not-spots.
A new interactive map has found that more than 34 miles along Scotland’s most popular route are not covered by 4G.
The map has been made freely available to tourists in the hopes of raising awareness of connectivity issues in the area.
For those wanting to go off-the-grid, this might sound like a dream holiday. Hours of road-tripping through beautiful countryside uninterrupted by tweets, notifications or emails might appear ideal for many wanting to switch off.
However, digital connectivity consultancy FarrPoint says this lack of signal can also be a danger. As such, they are encouraging holiday makers to plan and prepare accordingly to help avoid any nasty surprises.
Which providers offer best 4G coverage on NC500?
Created by FarrPoint, the new map outlines the level of 4G coverage in each location.
This was done by looking at the coverage offered by four of the UK’s mobile network operators, EE, O2, Three and Vodafone along the 516 mile route.
Along the NC500, FarrPoint identified more than 34 miles without 4G coverage from any provider. Another quarter of the road was only covered by one or two of the mobile providers.
According to information gathered, EE was found to offer the best coverage with access to its network found across 89% of the road.
This was closely followed by O2 at 77% and Vodafone at 76%.
Three only provided coverage for 51% of the route leaving more than 252 miles without access to 4G.
Areas of route with no 4G coverage
Some of the most popular tourists destinations that were classed as digital not-spots included Inverewe Garden and Estate, the Applecross Peninsula, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve and the stunning Clachtoll Beach.
The road along the shoreline of Britain’s deepest sea loch, Loch Eriboll, was the worst area for mobile coverage. This left 18 miles of continuous road with no 4G access.
Drivers can quickly run into issues while driving along winding country roads and with no connectivity this can quickly cause bigger problems.
Andrew Muir, CEO at FarrPoint, said: “With stunning scenery and views, the North Coast 500 provides the setting for one of the world’s best road journeys right here in Scotland.
“But without adequate preparation, the trip could turn into difficulty in parts given the remote nature of the surrounding area and the limited connectivity across the route.
“With more than 34 miles of the NC500 having no 4G coverage from any operator, and hundreds of miles of road only being covered by certain operators, undoubtedly people will experience connectivity issues during their journey.
“This may appeal to some travellers who are looking to have a break from their digital devices, but it could equally cause issues if drivers get lost or run into trouble.”
Visitors using the route are encouraged to look at coverage levels in advance and plan accordingly. To view the interactive map, visit FarrPoint’s website.
