A in that traverses pretty villages, rugged moutains and vast lochs has been dubbed one of the world's "most beautiful".

The North Coast 500, which was only created in 2015, takes you through 516 miles of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, and remote fishing villages.

Its website describes it as "Scotland's ultimate road trip" and "one of the world's most beautiful," a claim backed up by travel bloggers and rankings.

The journey begins and ends in , the capital of the Highlands. Before leaving the city, make sure to visit the small cluster of Ness Islands, which are found at the end of a tree-lined river walk and Victorian suspension bridges.

After leaving base, you might get the chance to see dolphins at Chanonry Point. You then travel up the east coast, visiting places like Dunrobin Castle, with its pointed turrets and manicured gardens, before ending up in Wick, a Viking settlement seaside town.

Then drive around the headland to reach the iconic John O'Groats, where you can get the obligatory photo at the northernmost point. While you're there, you could take a day trip to visit the

When you're driving along the northern straight, you might want to stop at Melvich Beach, protected by a short walk through grassy sand dunes. Talking of beaches, before you come back down south, you can visit two in Durness with powdery sand and unspoilt views.

If you opt for the coming back down, there's a winding single-track road that can be quite narrow in places, but rewards you with stunning views, including Loch a' Chàirn Bhàin.

You may also want to check out the Loch Maree, a large freshwater loch said to have its own monster, called Muc-sheilch.

Before you arrive back into Inverness, you'll get to drive through Bealach na Bà, the famous twisting mountain road in the Scottish Highlands.