5 Incredible Scotland Elopement Locations

Holy cow, Scotland is breathtaking. During my initial research, I ended up with a list of over 30 incredible elopement areas. I narrowed this down to 5 “Best of the Best” Scotland elopement locations, discussed below. 

Scotland boasts lush green hills, unique rock formations, snow capped mountains, endless lakes, waterfalls and dramatic beach cliffs – making it an incredible destination for eloping couples who desire dramatic and diverse terrain. Not to mention the best whiskey, captivating history, joyful culture, iconic Harry Potter filming sites, and adorable highland cows! Personally, I couldn’t ask for more.

There is so much more to Scotland than this little post can capture, but I hope this provides a jump start to dreaming up your perfect elopement. If you have any questions about picking your own scotland elopement locations I’m here to help. 

Enjoy,

Scotland Elopement Locations

All of the locations listed below have opportunities for all types of elopements, ranging from less than a mile walk, to day long hikes, and even including multiple day backpacking trips! Keep in mind, this is not even close to an exhaustive list. There are thousands of incredible hikes and views across Scotland and I’m happy to explore any of them with you on your elopement day. 

Isle of Skye

Of all the areas in Scotland, the Isle of Skye might be my favorite. It’s bursting with jaw dropping vistas everywhere you turn. Check out Quiraing, The Old Man of Storr, Mealt Falls, Trotternish, Nest Point Train, and Rubha nam Brathairean, just to name a few. These are all incredible lush, green and rocky locations for an epic elopement ceremony that captures the heart of Scotland. 

Glencoe

Glencoe’s rolling green hills and rugged terrain are most notably featured in several Harry Potter movies and James Bond, Skyfall. The sweeping vistas and moody skies that frequent this area are breathtaking, and primed to capture iconic images for a truly epic elopement. There are also dozens of ‘Munros’ (peaks over 3,000 feet) in the Glencoe area we could conquer on your elopement day, if that’s your style. 

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms is a massive National park. It is home to much of Scotland’s diverse wildlife, 5 of the UK’s loftiest peaks, grand ancient castles, and some of the world’s oldest whiskey distilleries. Wanting to squeeze every last drop of adventure from your trip? Cairngorms’ official website has a list of over 100 recommendations to do! 

Rannoch Moor

A couple eloping in Rannoch Moor can expect sweeping lake views and beautiful snow capped mountains to marvel at. Rannoch Moor was featured in the popular series Outlander, as well as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This area hosts inumerable unique hikes that offer contact with the wondrous rivers, lochans, wildlife, and diverse pieces of Scotland’s timeless beauty around every bend.

Bidean Nam Bian Mountains

A vast mountain range with endless crags, ridges and towering summits. A perfect playground for hardcore climber, hiker, and backpacker couples. These mountains are a paradise for the most rugged adventurers, but also offer plenty of picturesque walking path locations for more relaxed adventurers. No matter what intensity you and your partner are seeking, elopement images captured here are bound to last as long as these iconic mountains themselves.  

What to do during your Scotland Elopement

I’m a huge advocate for planning an excursion/activity before, during, or after your elopement. Doing something together you’ve never done before is a great way to add excitement to your elopement and make this a moment you’ll cherish forever. There are endless adventures to experience while in Scotland, here are a few I plan on doing while I’m there: 

• Taste Whiskey on the Isle of Skye
• Tour Ancient Castles
• Island Hopping 
• Hiking, Backpacking, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting
• Experience Local Live Music
• Ride the Hogwarts Express! Guys, the train Harry and Ron outrun in their flying car in Harry Potter is in Scotland – so cool! 

Best Time to Visit Scotland

Although Scotland can be sunny and beautiful in the summer, rain is possible year round. When planning an elopement in Scotland, it’s important to be prepared for all types of weather. Always pack layers, especially rainproof articles. I personally believe a moody, fog and rain sprinkled elopement can be incredibly magical if you are prepared for it, and often results in amazing photographs!  

Wind is also prevalent no matter where you choose to venture in Scotland. Consider packing a light, wind-loving dress made of Chiffon, Organza or Tulle. I wrote a blog post about picking an elopement dress, with a whole section on how to pick a wind loving dress here.

Temperature-wise, June, July and August tend to be warmer periods, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s. However, these months also tend to lead to more crowding in popular locations. The rest of the year averages in the 40s, with some dips into the 30s. With the right gear, however, these temperatures won’t be a limit to your Scotland Elopement timeline. 

Where to Stay

Within the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, you can find many standard hotel chains. Throughout the rest of the country, you are more likely to be booking at a cozy bed and breakfast or an Airbnb. 

There are a multitude of really cool Airbnbs scattered throughout Scotland, here are a few I’ve got my eyes on personally: 

• 16th Century Dovecot Cottage in Private Garden
• Luxury Bealach Uige Bothy Cottage
• The Steading

National Parks 

• Cairngorms National Park
• Loch Lomond & the Trossachs

Big Cities + Airports

• Edinburgh (EDI)
• Glasgow (GLA)

Ready to Elope in Scotland? Give me a shout!