Winding it's way, as it does, through some of the world's most spectacular scenery, it is easy to see why the NC500 is such a draw for Instagrammers and road trippers.
Put simply, it is one of the world's greatest road trips and is thoroughly recommended to those that have yet to enjoy it's many splendours.
But it is also fair to say that it's not everyone's cup of tea, with many locals constantly complaining about the increase in traffic and visitors who leave a mess everywhere.
The NC500 starts in Inverness and heads west through Wester Ross and its charming coastal towns such as Aultbea, Plockton, Gairloch and Applecross before heading north to Ullapool.
From there it heads north up the coast and then through towns at the very top such as Durness, Tongue and Bettyhill before heading south through Caithness, east Sutherland Easter Ross and back to Inverness.
In total, it is 516 miles long and skirts round the world's largest blanket bog of the Flow Country, which in turn is increasingly blanketed by wind turbines.
To alleviate concerns about over-tourism, a warts and all" assessment of the impact of the NC 500 road trip has been ordered.
NC500 Ltd, the private firm which promotes the road trip, has now commissioned a new economic and environmental impact analysis of the scheme.
When the NC500 was launched a decade ago, its website invited visitors to "take the road that never was, that suddenly appeared, as if by magic".
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This plea has since been answered by huge numbers of visitors, pouring tens of millions of pounds into the Highlands economy every year.
But the route's popularity continues to divide local opinion as, for many, the road s simply the way to get to and from home.
Concerns have been raised about increased traffic, particularly on stretches of single-track road, as well as the litter and toilet waste generated by tourists camping along the route.
David Richardson, development and engagement manager of NC500 Ltd, said the impact study was the start of a new conversation with the local community on how to improve the route.
He said: "We know there's good and we know there's bad. We can't wave a magic wand to make it all right. But we can conduct a study, get the results, and work collaboratively to solve the problems.
"We would love to bring the people who complain onboard."
Robin Pettigrew lives in Lochcarron and has seen the dirty side of the NC500 up close and he told the BBC he welcomed the NC500 Ltd impact study "so long as it is warts and all" but said it was 10 years too late.
He said: "When the NC500 was first initiated, there was no environmental impact assessment - there was a general consensus 'it's only a road'.
"I'm not blaming the NC500 Ltd for the impact of some of our more feral visitors, of which we have many, but really the kind of constant promotion of it has been significantly abused and misrepresented by a number of organisations and vehicle hire companies."
He said some form of regulatory solution and enforcement was required to guide people to more appropriate places to camp and visit.
He added: "There's a substantial element within the visiting community who don't want to pay for anything, won't use the infrastructure, dump their waste into the verges and cause wildfires with the campfires and barbecues."
One of the challenges for people living along the route - which has been dubbed the "Instagram highway" because of its numerous scenic spots - has been the increase in traffic.
Department for Transport (DfT) traffic counters on the route show big increases when comparing data from 2014, the year before the NC500 was first promoted, with last year.
Separate Highland Council traffic counters also show increases in traffic along the route. The traffic counted by the local authority on the A838 at Laxford Bridge jumped by 28% between 2015 and 2020.
However, a council report last year suggested overall NC500 traffic levels peaked about 2019, reduced during the Covid pandemic, and are now at a similar level to 2015.
As well as the volume of traffic, many residents are concerned about the size of the vehicles using the route as well as some drivers' speeding and poor rural road skills.
Reports from Highland Council's access rangers show they are dealing with increased incidents of littering.
A 2023 report showed that 8,657 outdoor toileting incidents were recorded across the Highlands that year, including 126 times where "black water" toilet waste from campervans had been dumped.
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New public toilets and motorhome waste disposal facilities have been built on the route in recent years and last year visitors travelling the route were asked to sign a pledge aimed at encouraging responsible behaviour.
The NC500 impact study is expected to be published in spring next year.
There is no question that the route has opened a raft of opportunities for residents and businesses, which many have taken up. The difference in towns along the way with growing numbers of high quality cafes and restaurants since it was opened is quite stark.
Traditional tourism used to sustain many towns along the way, but with a huge increase in short-term visitors many people have eyed the prize and set up businesses to cater for them.
This has to be welcomed in an area with such a fragile economy surely. The tourist season has also been extended with visitors now in the area for 12 months of the year as opposed to just Spring and Summer.
There is no question either that visitor attractions such as the Gairloch museum, Dornoch Jail and Inverewe Gardens to name but a few have seen a surge in paying visitors, which helps to sustain their long-term futures.
Corrieshalloch Gorge near Ullapool now has a plush new visitor centre with cafe, good trails and a car park that no longer means crossing the main road.
But, it is also true that while many visitors enjoy local facilities and treat the place with respect, there are a lot that don't and that's a pretty poor show.
For this reason it is hard not to feel sympathy with local who gain no benefits from them.
It is also worth noting that many of the places along the way are extremely remote, so it is not easy getting anywhere very quickly anyway and guarantees a journey for simple things such as a supermarket or GP.
Of course, there are also some people who move there for an isolated existence and I suspect it is many of them who complain the loudest about the NC500.
The report, when it comes out, will be almost certainly be relentlessly positive and all the same arguments will start all over again.
But it is clear that many people have had enough and the report should reflect that too.
This report offers the chance for a total reboot of the NC500 experience, good and bad, and should be be seized by all.