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Good info on the NC500 uber_gruber. Considering this myself for the end of summer (hopefully post-midge, right?). Would you suggest doing it counter-clockwise then? Been reading Mike Carter's book 'One Man and his Bike', which is a good lighthearted read if anyone's stuck for bike related books, in which he cycles the coast of Britain CCW and never complained of headwinds, at least not in the Scotland part of the book.
baguette
Did it at the end of May: was getting very busy with lots of convoys of vintage campers/cars motorbikes and limited availability in terms of finding accommodation, the midges were also coming into their prime and on the few nights I camped were absolutely awful unless in a very stiff breeze, and even then I woke up to the sound of thousands of them under the fly sheet in the morning softly tapping away.
Personally, I'd wait till September or October to do it and because of the terrain (and the prevailing headwind if doing it clockwise-nobody tells you this before you go bit it is a real bitch day after day) allow for 60 miles a day max if carting camping gear about as the smaller coastal roads are near constant up and downs of up to 25% in some places and very energy sapping. I won the weather lottery but still got stuck in some deluges too so worth packing for every condition even if the forecast looks good.
Other than that, amazing scenery and great food-Applecross, Sheildaig, Lochinver, Achmelvich, Tongue stick in the memory for good places to eat and stay. East coast is a bit of a burn down a busier road with less spectacular scenery so I'd be happy to skip it if doing it again, but no worse than most B roads near London tbh.