North Coast 500 (NC500)
- 729 km analysed against Ofcom's road-by-road signal measurements
- 91% fast 4G/5G data
- No 2 km+ dead zones identified by this model
Phone signal on the North Coast 500: where it drops
TrailSim estimate for the North Coast 500: 91% of its 729 km has fast 4G/5G data, and no dead zone of 2 km or more was found (Ofcom's road-by-road signal measurements, snapshot 2026-08-03).
The stretches below describe the featured plan's networks (GB:3 · GB:EE · GB:O2); the figures above follow the plan you selected.
The signal is strongest between Inverness and near Marybank, where the model puts fast 4G/5G data at 100% of the stage. It runs thinnest between near Applecross and Bealach na Bà (0% fast data) — expect long stretches where maps and messages crawl or fail.
Choose your eSIM
Typical trip: ~7 days · ~4 GB at 500 MB a day. Plan days start on first connection, so this 30-day plan covers the whole trip.
Plan details
- Data
- 5 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · EE (5G) · 3 (4G)
- Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Included with every order
- Secure checkout by Stripe — Apple Pay & Google Pay accepted
- eSIM QR code and coverage report by email within minutes
- No dead zones of 2 km or more found by this model — full analysis in your report
- Plan days start on first use, not at purchase
- 14-day self-service refund before installation
Show 10 more 30-day plans
Plan details
- Data
- 1 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · Vodafone (5G) · 3 (5G)
Also valid in 33 other countries - Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 3 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · EE (5G) · 3 (4G)
- Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 3 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · 3 (5G) · Vodafone (5G)
Also valid in 32 other countries - Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 5 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · 3 (5G) · Vodafone (5G)
Also valid in 32 other countries - Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 10 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · EE (5G) · 3 (4G)
- Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 10 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · 3 (5G) · Vodafone (5G)
Also valid in 32 other countries - Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 20 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · EE (5G) · 3 (4G)
- Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 20 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · 3 (5G) · Vodafone (5G)
Also valid in 32 other countries - Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 50 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · EE (5G) · 3 (4G)
- Speed
- 5G · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Plan details
- Data
- 50 GB
- Validity
- 30 days, starting when the eSIM first connects — not at purchase
- Networks
- United Kingdom: O2 (5G) · Vodafone (5G) · 3 (5G)
Also valid in 33 other countries - Speed
- 4G max · no speed limit
- Calls & SMS
- Data only — no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work over data
- Hotspot
- Allowed — share data with your other devices
- Installation
- QR code by email within minutes; settings configure automatically on most phones (APN included in the email). Requires an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone
- Device
- Locks to the first phone it is installed on and cannot be moved
- Refunds
- Full self-service refund within 14 days while uninstalled — see the refund policy
- Top-up
- One-off plan — if you run out, buying another takes minutes
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required
Pay by the day — from $0.64/day, any number of days
300 MB to 1.5 GB a day at full speed, then slower but never cut off. Set the number of days (1–90) on the payment page — the typical trip length is filled in for you.
≈ $4.48 for the typical 7-day trip — set the number of days on the payment page
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required · expires after your last day
≈ $7.56 for the typical 7-day trip — set the number of days on the payment page
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required · expires after your last day
≈ $30.80 for the typical 7-day trip — set the number of days on the payment page
Data only · Hotspot allowed · Days start on first use · Unlocked eSIM phone required · expires after your last day
North Coast 500 coverage map
Report preview
Real rows from the report you'll receive — every stage analysed, every dead zone pinned with GPS coordinates.
| Stage | km | 4G/5G | weak 4G | No signal | Not surveyed | Best network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverness → near Marybank | 0–25 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| near Marybank → Lochluichart | 25–50 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| Lochluichart → Beinn na Feusaige | 50–75 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| Beinn na Feusaige → Lochcarron | 75–100 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| Lochcarron → near Applecross | 100–125 | 42% | 0% | 0% | 58% | 3 |
| near Applecross → Bealach na Bà | 125–150 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% | — |
| Bealach na Bà → Strathcarron | 150–175 | 62% | 0% | 0% | 38% | 3 |
| Strathcarron → near Achnasheen | 175–200 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| near Achnasheen → near Garve | 200–225 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| near Garve → Meall Daimh | 225–250 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | O2 |
| Meall Daimh → near Ullapool | 250–275 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | O2 |
| near Ullapool → Knockan Crag | 275–300 | 98% | 2% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| Knockan Crag → near Bealach na h-Uidhe | 300–325 | 90% | 10% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| near Bealach na h-Uidhe → near Scourie | 325–350 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| near Scourie → near Maovally More | 350–375 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| near Maovally More → Laid | 375–400 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| Laid → Cnoc Maovally | 400–425 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| Cnoc Maovally → Bettyhill | 425–450 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| Bettyhill → Melvich | 450–475 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| Melvich → Thurso | 475–500 | 64% | 0% | 2% | 34% | EE |
| Thurso → near Mey | 500–525 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| near Mey → near Reiss | 525–550 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| near Reiss → Greenhill | 550–575 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| Greenhill → Berriedale | 575–600 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| Berriedale → Lothbeg | 600–625 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| Lothbeg → Cambusavie | 625–650 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| Cambusavie → Tain | 650–675 | 90% | 0% | 0% | 10% | 3 |
| Tain → Evanton | 675–700 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | EE |
| Evanton → North Kessock | 700–725 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| North Kessock → Inverness | 725–729 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
All 30 stages in the PDF report
| # | Near | Section | Length | Signal drops at | Returns at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No continuous dead zones of 2 km or longer were identified. | |||||
What you carry with you
The map above shows where the signal holds and where it goes. The report is the version you take with you: on the trail there is no signal, so it is a PDF you keep on your phone or print, plus a GPX track that puts every dead zone on your map app as you walk.
- Every stage of the route with its coverage, kilometre by kilometre
- The strongest network for each stage
- Every dead zone with its coordinates and GPS waypoints
- Printable PDF and a GPX track for your GPS or phone map
Included with every plan, emailed within minutes of purchase.
How this is estimated. Based on Ofcom's drive-test measurements from a vehicle antenna — handheld reception can differ. Full methodology in the report. Coverage data: Ofcom mobile signal strength measurements (Ofcom open data), snapshot 2026-08-03. Route and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). © 2026 TrailSim.
Frequently asked questions
Is there phone signal on the North Coast 500?
On the networks TrailSim sells for the North Coast 500, 91% of the route's 729 km has fast 4G/5G data; no continuous dead zones of 2 km or longer were identified by this model. Cell service depends on which networks your eSIM roams on: the plans on TrailSim's North Coast 500 page are compared against exactly this route, and every dead zone is named and pinned with GPS coordinates in the coverage report included with each eSIM.
How much data do I need for the North Coast 500?
North Coast 500 (NC500) typically takes about 7 days — around 4 GB at 500 MB a day, and the featured plan is picked on exactly that arithmetic. Worldwide, everyday smartphone use averages about 22 GB a month — roughly 730 MB a day — most of it video streaming (Ericsson Mobility Report, Nov 2025). On the trail the picture is lighter: with maps downloaded and video saved for wifi, messaging, photos, weather and bookings run 200–400 MB a day, so we size every recommendation at 500 MB a day for comfortable headroom. Size up if you stream, video-call or share your connection. If you would rather pay only for the days you are out, TrailSim's pay-by-the-day plans for the North Coast 500 give a full-speed daily allowance that slows down instead of cutting off, with the number of days set on the payment page.
What is a pay-by-the-day eSIM plan?
A daily allowance of 300 MB to 1.5 GB at full speed, then slower for the rest of that day — never cut off. It is priced per day: you set the number of days (1 to 90) on the payment page, pre-filled with the typical North Coast 500 trip length, and the days start on first use. It suits short trips and people who would rather never run out than carry a large fixed plan; the fixed plans on the same page are cheaper per gigabyte for a long trip.
When do the plan days start counting?
On first use — installing the TrailSim eSIM and connecting starts the clock, not the purchase date. You can safely buy weeks before your trip.
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most phones released since 2019 support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent Samsung Galaxy models. Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked.
Why not a regular travel eSIM from Airalo or Holafly?
Any eSIM connects to the same physical networks. What TrailSim adds is the route check: it compares Ofcom's road-by-road signal measurements along the North Coast 500 itself, picks the network combination that holds best there, and includes the coverage report with every dead zone mapped — so you know before you go where the phone will and won't work. A longer comparison is at trailsim.com/compare/airalo and /compare/holafly.
What if parts of the route have no signal at all?
On most wild routes some stretches have no signal from any network — no eSIM can change that. TrailSim's North Coast 500 coverage report marks every dead zone with GPS coordinates and length, so you can download offline maps for those sections and tell people at home when you'll be unreachable. Knowing where it drops is the point.
What if I change my mind after buying?
Uninstalled eSIMs qualify for a full self-service refund within 14 days of purchase — no questions asked. Once the eSIM is installed on a device it can no longer be returned. See the refund policy.