A Guide to the Best Scotland Elopement Locations
Scotland is truly a magical gem of a place. For those that love history, nature, romance, and adventure, you can’t go wrong with saying, “I do” amongst the backdrop of this country. Now that we’ve established why you should elope to Scotland, let’s discuss some of the most breathtaking places to tie the knot.
The Best Places to Elope in Scotland (Updated for 2024)
Isle of Skye
Even if you’ve never been to Scotland, you’ve likely heard of the Isle of Skye. There’s truly no other place like it in the world. Filled with dramatic hills, lochs, and coastlines, Skye is a place full of beauty and wonder. It has small, quaint villages and larger towns—such as Portree (pictured below). You’ll see wildlife galore as well as grazing sheep and cattle.
Stay in a luxurious island hotel or find a lovely Airbnb for your stay on the Isle of Skye.
Where are the best places to elope on the Isle of Skye?
On the Isle of Skye itself, there are quite a few place that would be the perfect backdrop for an elopement. Are you up for a little bit of a hike on your elopement day? Lace up those hiking boots and your best wedding attire and make your way to the Old Man of Storr. A 45 minute walk or so takes you up toward this magnificent, otherworldly rock formation. You may just feel like you’re on another planet. Imagine saying your vows as the fog rolls in like the photo below.
Another great Isle of Skye elopement location is the Quiraing. Speaking of otherworldly! This craggy landscape on Skye looks like it could be the backdrop to another realm. You can hike this landscape or even drive around on the small road. Everywhere you look will have you in awe. Another great Skye option is Sligachan Bridge (see below). Rumor has it, the waters flowing under Sligachan Bridge were enchanted by fairies. Want even more mysticism as part of your magical day? This might be the place for you and yours.
The Highlands
Let’s be honest. There’s really no part of Scotland that ISN’T the perfect backdrop to an elopement. The Highlands is no exception. Fly into Inverness and you’re within a couple hours of so many beautiful, rugged landscapes. In the fall, the hills turn a burnt orange. In late spring and early summer, you may just be graced with days and days of sunlight. In late summer, get ready to see the miles of blooming, purple heather.
Are you a fan of quaint villages? The Highlands has no shortage of those. And you may just happen upon Highland Coos grazing on crofts. The Scottish Highlands are a lovely location to elope.
Where are the best places to elope in the Scottish Highlands?
There is beauty aplenty in the Highlands of Scotland and anywhere you choose would make a beautiful backdrop for your elopement. A popular choice, and for good reason, is Glencoe. Pictured above you’ll see Buachaille Etive Mor rising above the iconic white cottage that sits below. Glencoe is filled with views like this—dramatic hills and quaint buildings and bridges. It’s a quintessential Scottish location for nature lovers of all kinds. It’s also popular with the big screen. Glencoe has been featured in Skyfall and Harry Potter films.
Another wonderful location in the Highlands is Kilchurn Castle. Imagine saying, “I do”, with a castle ruin rising majestically in the background. Kilchurn Castle is surrounded almost entirely by Loch Awe. Pack a picnic and have your ceremony on the banks of the lake. You can even go for a dip if the weather is nice and venture into the castle with your partner to experience the magic.
Just off the west coast of Scotland sits a stunning little bit of paradise in the shape of a tiny island. The Isle of Kerrera is perfect choice for a unique, isolated elopement location in Scotland. Venture to Oban and from there, take a 5-minute ferry ride—passenger only—to this island haven. There you’ll find walking trails, grazing sheep and cows, a lovely tea shop, and Gylen Castle (pictured above). Only a handful of residents call Kerrera home, so you may just feel like the only people on the island.
The North Coast
If you’ve been to Scotland or you’ve researched places to go, you’ve likely heard of the North Coast 500. It’s 500 miles of stunning landscape at the north of Scotland that’s often recommended as a road trip destination. Some of my favorite places exist along this coast and they’d be absolutely magical backdrops for an elopement. When you think of Scotland, you may not think of beaches and coastlines right off the bat. But that doesn’t mean their any less beautiful or worthy of exploration than the famous Highlands.
Where are the best places to elope on the North Coast of Scotland?
Pictured above is a little slice of heaven in Clachtoll, a small village in the ancient parish of Assynt. Clachtall is home to white sands and blue waters and rocky coastlines, as well as lovely little working crofts full of sheep and coos. It’s a stunning place and it’s one of a handful of beautiful beach-y villages that would make for the perfect Scotland elopement.
Achmelvich, pictured above, is another landscape of beauty you can find in the North of Scotland. Blue waters and white sands abound as well. You’ll almost feel as if you’re in the Caribbean (if not for those quintessential rocky cliffs and small crofting cottages. Check out this blog post featuring a family session at Achmelvich Beach. In mid-July we were graced with lush green hills and scores of yellow wildflowers. It was magical.
There’s plenty more to explore of Scotland’s North Coast, and no shortage of elopement destinations.
Edinburgh
No list of Scotland elopement locations would be complete without Edinburgh. While some people go to Scotland for the wild and raw natural beauty, others flock to the country for its rich cities and history. Scotland’s capital is a hub of architectural beauty, amazing restaurants and pubs, and history around every corner. It’s medieval Old Town is a treature and its elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings is a wonder as well. But don’t discount Edinburgh if you’re also looking for some natural beauty. Its teeming with it as well.
Where are the best places to elope in Edinburgh?
Sitting at the end of the Royal Mile is Holyrood Park. It’s a magnificent bit of land and hills smack dab in the city of Edinburgh. Arthur’s Seat, the park’s highest point, is actually the remains of a volcano. It can be accessed by trails and it offers amazing views of the park and Edinburgh and beyond. It’s a lovely place for an elopement if you’re looking for a combination of nature and city. Say your vows atop Arthur’s Seat and then head down into the city where you can dine and wine to celebrate your nuptials.
If architecture and history are more your desire, the lovely Dean Village in Edinburgh is the perfect place for an intimate elopement. Sitting astride the Water of Leith is this quaint place that will transport you to another time. Walk around the village to take in the character and then follow the Water of Leith walkway to even further escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s such a charming and beautiful place to spend time and an even lovelier place to celebrate love. Check out this couple’s session in the beautiful Dean Village for a taste of what it has to offer.
There are plenty more elopement locations to be found in Edinburgh; Calton Hill, Grassmarket, etc. But Edinburgh, while a fairly large city, is still pretty small. So it’s easy to spend the day walking around and finding lovely places for photos. And once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can pop in to any number of amazing restaurants of pubs for great food. Or check out some of my favorite cocktail bars to celebrate:
Scotland Elopement Photographer
I could go on and on and list dozens and dozens of places I think would make the perfect backdrop for a Scotland elopement. It’s a country of romantic beauty in every direction. Are you dreaming of a Scottish elopement and looking for help in finding the perfect place to say yes to forever with the one you love? I would be absolutely honored to help you! Get in touch and let’s dream up something magical. I would love to be your Scotland elopement photographer.
