Iconic Scottish road trip ranked among world's most Instagrammable destinations
It ranked an incredible fifth in the world with 694,511 Instagram mentions
A breathtaking Scottish route has driven its way into the global spotlight, after being named one of the most picturesque road trips on Earth in a new study of Instagram data.
The North Coast 500, a spectacular 516-mile loop through the Scottish Highlands, has been ranked fifth in the world and second in Europe by cinch, the UK's largest online used car retailer.
Researchers analysed 40 iconic road trips across six continents, looking at how often each was shared on Instagram using popular hashtags. Scotland's NC500 racked up 694,511 hashtag mentions, largely under #nc500 (519,000) and #northcoast500 (175,000).
Cinch said: "Completing the top five is Scotland's North Coast 500, clinching 694,511 Instagram hashtag mentions. Most tend to accompany their scenic Scottish snaps with #nc500 (519,000 uses) and #northcoast500 (175,000)."
Beginning and ending in Inverness, the NC500 winds through remote beaches, majestic Munros, rugged cliffs and ancient castles.
It typically takes five to seven days to complete and has earned a 4.7-star TripAdvisor rating, beloved by photographers, nature lovers and road trippers alike.
But taking the top spot worldwide was a truly iconic route: Route 66. Route 66 takes first place with over 2.4 million Instagram hashtag mentions, proving that you just can't beat the classics.
The legendary 2,448-mile highway connects Chicago to Los Angeles, cutting through America's heartland and offering an unforgettable blend of big cities, small towns, diners, deserts and ghost towns.
Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way ranked just behind at number two globally, claiming the top spot in Europe. The route boasts over 1.9 million Instagram mentions, thanks to stunning coastal images posted under hashtags like #wildatlanticway.
Spanning an astonishing 1,600 miles from the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, it holds the title of the world's longest defined coastal route, offering breathtaking cliffs, remote beaches and endless Atlantic views.
The Wild Atlantic Way and the NC500 were the only European road trips to make the top 10, but four more bagged spots in the top 20.
The Ring Road in Iceland had 295k Instagram posts, while Ireland's second entry was the Ring of Kerry with 262k. The Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland (232k) and Germany's Romantic Road (42k) rounded out Europe's inclusion in the top 20.
Cinch's motoring editor Sam Sheehan commented: 'There's something unmatched about exploring the world from behind the wheel – stopping when you like, chasing views, discovering unexpected places.
"These drives capture the imagination of millions because they offer freedom, beauty and a bit of adventure.
'Whether you hire a car to go from Chicago to California or take your pride and joy around the NC500, a little research can help you set up the road trip of a lifetime.'
The top ten most Instagrammed road trips in the world:
Route 66, USA, North America – 2.4 million hashtags
Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland, Europe – 1.9 million
Great Ocean Road, Australia, Oceania – 1.6 million
Blue Ridge Parkway, USA, North America – 722K
North Coast 500, Scotland, Europe – 695K
Garden Route, South Africa, Africa – 634K
Carretera Austral, Chile, South America – 581K
Silk Road, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & China, Asia – 512K
Pacific Coast Highway, USA, North America – 453K
Hana Highway, USA, North America – 431K
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
23 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
The American diner serving burgers bigger than Llandudno's Great Orme
Towering high above Llandudno, the Great Orme, occupies one of North Wales most spectacular sites and views. I was hoping to find a similar rugged, foreboding pinnacle on Gloddaeth Street in Llandudno, as someone had told me that Dinos, served mountains of meat, which were just as difficult to conquer? Dinos Llandudno is a big and brash American diner and takeaway, which offers deluxe burgers bigger than your head. So, if your eyes are bigger than your stomach, then this could be the place for you. Dinos ranks high in the Trip Advisor ratings, but surprisingly has no American stars and stripe's theme with the inside décor. Instead, it is simply decorated with basic turquoise and pink walls. Despite its central location, the venue was relatively quiet when we visited. Dinos is obviously burger barmy but the saliva-inducing menu has various other options from across the pond such as chicken wings, shakes and pizza. There are lots of turkey rashers and barbeque sauce on the menu as you might expect, with toppings drawing largely on American Ranch influences, with enough cheese to sink a ship. Every type of burger is listed here. From, simple American style burgers with gherkins and American mustard for £11, to a massive Welsh dragon burger, food challenge, which involves two x 16oz Welsh lamb burgers and enough chili sauce to blow your socks off for £34. There were about twenty-three burgers listed on the menu, with all kinds of strange names such 'Heart Attack' 'Angry Bird' 'King Kong' or the patriotic 'Snowdon Mountain' burger. There were charcoal cooked chicken burgers such as the 'Bob Marley' burger or Cajun spiced and even a tandoori version. Although, I still think they were missing a trick by not having a 'Great Orme' burger. When it comes to burgers, there are some who think, less is more, and even though I didn't see any 'Smash Burgers' on the list? I did notice that there were a couple of Welsh Lamb burgers, which didn't include any sauces or cheese, so that you could get the full taste of the meat. The pizza list was just as big with over twenty-four choices such as 'Cajun sizzler' 'Hot Mexico' or 'Spicy Italian', all fairly self-explanatory with their ingredients. Grilled meals included various versions of chicken and there were a few healthy salads on offer for people who were counting the calories. I decided to leave the diet until tomorrow and went for the 'King Burger', which was an 8oz cheese burger with Parmesan cheese and a Caesar dressing. We were told by the waitress that we could add a meal deal, which meant French fries or Potato Wedges with a can of pop for £5 extra or you could add a fresh milkshake and your choice of fries or wedges for £7 extra. I couldn't resist and it was good to have an attentive service from a waitress, who didn't judge us for our guilty food choices. The burger was a plump, well- shaped pillow and the seeded bun was sturdy enough not to fall apart in my hands. There were three extra crunchy onion rings placed on the top of a skewer, which was delicately holding the whole thing together. The burger was smoothed in cheese with a primal, charred exterior but was soft and succulent inside. My wife went for her cheese burger to be concealed in a wrap. The results were surprisingly different and delicious, with her version tasting a bit like a big juicy burger kebab. The burger was cut into half and squeezed into the wrap with some salad and a burger sauce. The fries were presented in a mini chip pan fryer and were very morish indeed. The milkshake section was also extra-large and included all the usual suspects along with flavours such as Kinder Bueno, Peanut Butter, Oreo and Nutella. I completed my American dream with a thick and delicious snickers version, which tasted like caramel, peanut butter and chocolate at the same time. Desserts included USA inspired things like New Yorker Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake or Cookie Dough ice cream. We also saw a fine-looking Chocolate Pizza, which I am sure the kids would enjoy. Talking of big kids, I was still slurping my thick milkshake, topped with a flake, long after the burger had been digested whilst my more sensible wife sipped her simple Americano. Dinos food is also available for takeaway via the just eat app, and there is just as much choice on there, including melting meatballs, dirty fries, and various chicken bites, nuggets and strips. We decided to walk off our burgers with a stroll along the prom and the pier and by vowing not to eat again for at least 24 hours. Dinos Llandudno offers an American dining experience that keeps customers coming back for more. How can you resist a big plate of delicious carbs and sugar? If you like American classics, such as sloppy burgers, loaded fries and pizzas bigger than a dustbin lid, then you certainly won't be disappointed eating at Dinos. The Facts King Burger £11.00 (Milkshake meal deal) £7 Flake 50p Cheese Burger wrap £11.00 Americano £3.00 Total £32.50 Opening Times: Monday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Tuesday\u0009Closed Wednesday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Thursday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Friday. 4pm–10 pm Saturday\u000912pm–10 pm Sunday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Atmosphere- Despite its central location, the venue was relatively quiet. Car Parking- Some limited street parking nearby. Disabled Access- Some steps into venue and toilet. Plenty of room inside. Service- Attentive service from a waitress who didn't judge us on our guilty food choices. Overall- The American diner serving burgers bigger than the Great Orme, Llandudno. Dinos Llandudno 5 Gloddaeth Street , Llandudno, LL30 2DD
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Bob MacIntyre ignites mini charge at Travelers as he produces sand magic with moment of quality
Scot makes moves as Tommy Fleetwood catches fire on day two Resurgent Bob MacIntyre produced some sand magic to ignite a mini-charge at the Travelers Championship as Ryder Cup pal Tommy Fleewtood joined the leaders up front. The Scottish star kickstarted a burst at TPC River Highlands with a moment of quality at the beginning of the back nine to mount a solid rush up the leaderboard. Fresh from his runner-up finish at the US Open, MacIntyre's stunning hole-out from a greenside bunker at the tenth catapulted him forward and he began to fly in Connecticut. The Oban ace strode onto the next tee and immediately smashed a wonderful approach into the par-three for a second-straight birdie, made it three-in-a-row at the 12th with another dart of an iron shot and smooth putt to the heart of the hole and demolished the par-five 13th to make it a dazzling quartet to storm into the Top 20. MacIntyre got a break when his attempt to drive the par-four 15th just dodged the water to keep the momentum and, although he gave one back on the penultimate having doubled it on Thursday, he was able to par the last and sign for an impressive three-under par 67 and firmly improve his position ahead of the weekend However, the Tartan star will begin the third day seven shots behind a hat-trick of leaders who pushed into the positions in Connecticut. Justin Thomas jumped into his share at the halfway mark as he matched Rory McIlroy's first-round score on the second day to move to nine-under par. That allowed him to catch Scottie Scheffler, who, like MacIntyre, suffered on the penultimate hole at TPC River Highlands for the second straight day. Thursday's hopes of hammering a magical 59 were ruined when he made a mess of the 17th and he did the same on Friday when blaming a gust of wind for taking his tee-shot into a bunker and then smacking the resultant effort into water for a double. Scheffler's two-shot lead evaporated at that point and he now sits level with Thomas at the top of the boards and also Fleetwood with two days to go. The English ace made it a trio at the summit as he shot a magical back nine of 30, including two eagles, to get into position to win his first-ever PGA Tour title. Fleetwood said: 'I was very disappointed last week [at US Open]. I played poorly, but the thing is in golf there is always another week and you have to get ready. I came out motivated to try and take what there is to learn and help it make you better. So far I'm happy with how I've bounced back.' McIlroy hit the stall button in the second round, but did recover from a nightmare start to salvage something. The Northern Irish superstar looked back to his best in the first-round with a bogey-free 64 to sit just a couple off the pace. But McIlroy quickly ruined that stat as he dropped strokes in three of the opening five holes of his second round through a scrappy start. The career Grand Slam ace managed to stem the bleeding and get himself back on an even-keel by recovering all three of the losses on the back nine as he approached the closing stages of his day-two effort. McIlroy couldn't cash in on luck at the 17th when, after he hit his ball into the water before it skimmed off the surface and bounced out, he couldn't save par and ended with a one-over Friday score of 71 to sit four behind the leaders
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Kieran Trippier marriage update after England star addressed Chloe Ferry rumours
Kieran Trippier, who has been married to wife Charlotte since 2016, is reportedly set to divorce just days after the Newcastle United defender was pictured with Chloe Ferry They think it's all over - it is now! Kieran Trippier and his estranged wife are reportedly ready to start divorce proceedings, just days on from the Newcastle United defender being spotted looking cosy with reality TV star Chloe Ferry. Earlier this week, Trippier, 34, took to Instagram to address rumours after being seen with the Geordie Shore star. The England international, who has 54 caps, shared with his followers that he's moving forward after parting ways with his wife and the mother of his two children, Charlotte. And it's now been claimed that there is apparently no chance of a reconciliation as sources close to Charlotte claim she has been seeking legal advice and "keen to move on with her life." "Kieran is a devoted dad, but as a partner, it hasn't worked out as Charlotte had hoped," the insider told The Sun. "She has moved house and started anew, so getting a divorce has been the next logical step. Charlotte wants to keep things as amicable as possible with Kieran." The Mirror has approached Trippier for comment on this story. Writing on Instagram on Wednesday night, the footballer told fans: "Myself and Charlotte separated over a year ago. I have not commented previously as it is a private matter, and we want to protect our children. We ask the media to respect our privacy in the same way." Trippier, who transferred to Newcastle from Atlético Madrid last year, was recently spotted at the renowned Ibiza club Ushuaia getting cosy with Chloe, 29, known for her stint on Geordie Shore since 2015. Last May, video footage surfaced showing Trippier hoisting 27-year-old blonde call centre worker, Frankie Carmichael, at Cosy Joes, a karaoke bar in Newcastle. Subsequent images captured months later revealed the defender without his wedding ring at a train station. This May, the Magpies' defender was again snapped alongside another blonde during a night out in Newcastle. Kieran and the England footballer tied the knot in 2016 in Cyprus. Despite typically keeping a low profile, Charlotte once referred to herself as "a princess who has found her prince." Amidst whispers of marital troubles last year, the couple's lavish £3.8million family abode was put up for sale. In contrast, Chloe Ferry, known for her stint on Geordie Shore, hasn't walked down the aisle before, despite a lengthy three-year romance with fellow cast member Sam Gowland. Their relationship ended in 2020 after Sam had departed from the show, but Chloe continues to be a fan favourite. Hailing from Newcastle, she also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 but faced eviction just a week into the show. The details of how Chloe and Trippier crossed paths remain a mystery. Trippier has been a fixture at Newcastle, clocking in close to 100 matches since his 2022 transfer under manager Eddie Howe, who he previously played for at Burnley. It was there that Trippier's loan spell turned into a full-time commitment in 2012. Trippier's career has been marked by his swift playing style as a full-back, earning his first England cap in 2017 while with Tottenham Hotspur. He represented his country 54 times before hanging up his international boots last summer. His unforgettable moment on the pitch came with a stunning free-kick goal against Croatia during the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.
