12 of the best places to elope in Scotland

You’ve fallen in love with the idea of eloping in Scotland… (it’s hard not to!) But now you’re facing the slightly daunting task of deciding where in Scotland you want to elope. With so many gorgeous locations, it can be hard to decide where is the best place to elope in Scotland. The truth is, there is no right or best place. Only the best place for you, based on the experience you are craving for your elopement.

Do you want mountains? Glens? Lochs? Woodlands? Coastal? Countryside? There are just SO many options.

If you’ve spent more than 5 minutes researching Scotland elopements then I have no doubt that you’re already familiar with Glencoe or Isle of Skye. And they are incredible places! But I hope this lists opens you up to possibility of considering other places that might suit you better, without the crowds.

This blog only scratches the surface – helping couples find their ideal Scotland elopement location is my area of expertise and a huge passion! This traveller’s heart loves nothing more than heading off-the-beaten track and seeing where my feet (or wheels) take me. I’ve meticulously catalogued and detailed out 150+ ceremony + adventure locations across 35+ areas/places in Scotland – a list that is ever-growing. If we work together, I’ll use this in-depth resource to help narrow down the spot where you’ll say ‘I do’. A special place to call your own.

In the meantime… I hope this list gives you a wee glimpse into the diverse places to elope in Scotland.

Outdoorsy romantic elopement locations in Scotland

1. The Cairngorms

Perfect for… woodland-lovers and outdoorsy folks who want the romance of moss-covered paths and magical lochs.

Elopers choose the Cairngorms for: Old Scots Pine trees, cute accommodation, outdoor pursuits

Our largest National Park – the Cairngorms is a beautiful and diverse area which is why it made it to the tope of our best places to elope in Scotland. The Northern part of the park is known for its rich woodlands, lochs and outdoor pursuits. The Southern half has more rugged geology, vast glens and rolling hills. People often associate the Cairngorms with mountains – and whilst the mountains are present, they usually tend to be more of a backdrop presence than the primary feature of an elopement day. This is partly because it often requires a lengthy hike if you want to feel immersed in the mountain range (though this is slightly easier in the South). The true magic of the Northern area is in the trees – the Cairngorms has the largest remaining footprint of the native Caledonian rainforest. If you want stunning ancient woodlands and beautiful lochs then you can’t get better than the northern Cairngorms. Mossy pathways, island loch ruins, hidden paths and rich heather mounds makes this the perfect fairytale location.

Autumnal elopement in the northern Cairngorms

Late Winter / early spring elopement in the northern Cairngorms

2. The Trossachs

Perfect for… treasure-trail seekers who enjoy the calm + mystery of lochs and the thrill of seeking out hidden-gems.

Elopers choose the Trossachs for: lochs, woodlands, the journey

The Trossachs are home to Scotland’s largest network of lochs – including Scotland’s longest loch, Loch Lomond. This National Park is located just north of the central belt – where the lowlands meet the highlands – making it easy to access from Glasgow/Edinburgh. It’s a really diverse area with munros (mountains) to bag, lochs to swim, waterfalls to seek and charming villages to explore. Imagine heading out onto a loch island for your own private island elopement experience.

Autumn elopement in Loch Lomond + the Trossachs

Winter elopement in the Trossachs

Off-the-beaten track Scottish elopement destinations

3. Wester Ross (Torridon)

Perfect for… mountain-lovers and munro-baggers who want to experience Scotland at it’s most wild.

Elopers choose Wester Ross for: mountains, wilderness, quiet

They say the north west of Scotland is the most beautiful part of the country and its hard to disagree. The Torridon area is rugged and wild – an outdoorsy couples’ paradise. You’d feel like you have a special part of Scotland mostly to yourselves. Home to more deer than people I’m sure! Amenities and fewer and further between but the effort is well worth the reward to elope in one of Scotland’s arguably most ‘wild’ and ‘untouched’ places.

Late autumn elopement in Wester Ross

4. Assynt

Perfect for… wilderness seekers who want breath-taking diverse scenery without the crowds.

Elopers choose Assynt for: mountains, white-sand beaches, remoteness

When it comes to stunning sights, the west coast has it all… dramatic hills, lochs, white sand beaches, ruins, waterfalls, wildlife… It truly is stunning. The trade-off for all that beauty is that choices for amenities (shops, restaurants, etc.) is more limited but that helps maintain its rugged wild feel. In terms of ceremony locations, Assynt is especially diverse with lots of options to suit most elopers.

Early autumn elopement in Assynt

Early Winter elopement in Assynt

Convenience-meets-beauty locations for elopers in Scotland

5. Edinburgh

Perfect for… city-lovers-at-heart who want convenient amenities, incredible architecture and access to breath-taking nature.

Elopers choose Edinburgh for: romantic cobbled streets, city-buzz, dramatic parks

A UNESCO world heritage site – Edinburgh is rightfully cited as one of the beautiful cities in the world. Its enchanting architecture, cobbled streets and nature spots makes it a wonderful place to say ‘I do’. With access to world-class restaurants, hotels and lots of things to see + do. You’ll wonder how such a small city packs so much punch – and have no doubt why this made our list of 12 of the best places to elope in Scotland.

Winter elopement in Edinburgh City

Spring elopement in Edinburgh City

6. Midlothian

Perfect for… outlanders looking for magic in the woodlands and hills but with the convenience of city access.

Elopers choose Midlothian for: Outlander-locations, woodlands, combining with Edinburgh

Midlothian is c.30 mins drive from Edinburgh City Centre – a primarily residential suburban areas, there are pockets of nature and heritage that are well-worth exploring. There’s lovely woodlands, castles and ruins to discover. Not to mention the Pentlands if getting out into the hills is more your jam! If you want to elope in the woodlands, and enjoy a romantic dinner in the city by evening, Midlothian is one of the best places to elope in Scotland.

Slow-living peaceful places to elope in Scotland

7. Perthshire

Perfect for… romantic woodland + glen lovers who love the idea of waking up to a misty valley.

Elopers choose Perthshire for: peak Autumn colours, woodlands, rushing rivers

Perthshire has over 200,000 acres of woodland which has earned it the nickname of ‘big tree country’. Which means it is one of top Autumn destinations in Scotland to see vibrant fall colours. Large areas of Perthshire is set within valley’s which means that fog often settles over picturesque towns and woodlands adding an air of magic to this special area. It’s proximity to the central belt also makes it’s an accessible location for elopers who don’t want to drive too far.

8. Scottish Borders

Perfect for… quiet couples seeking out hidden castles amongst the rolling hills.

Elopers choose the Borders for: slow-living, castles, beautiful countryside

The Highlands get a lot of attention when it comes to tourism and elopements but let’s not overlook the beauty of the Scottish Borders. It’s most well-known for it’s rolling countryside, quaint towns and dramatic coastlines. And not to forget the large amount of heritage sites you can visit – castles, ruins, ancient sites galore. If privacy is high up on your elopement checklist, this is going to be one of the best places to elope in Scotland.

Scottish island elopement adventures

9. Isle of Arran

Perfect for… island-lovers who want ‘Scotland in miniature’.

Elopers choose Isle of Arran for: standing stones, beaches, cheese

Hop on the regular ferry from the central west coast to access one of Scotland’s most interesting and diverse islands. It has everything you could hope for from an island – rugged coastline, pristine beaches, mountains, glens and ancient sites. There is no wonder that Arran attracts regular repeat visitors and why we consider it one of the best places to elope in Scotland – there’s just so much to enjoy.

10. Isle of Mull

Perfect for… coastal-fans who also love mountains, castle ruins and wildlife-spotting.

Elopers choose Isle of Mull for: puffins, landscape-variety, ruins

Much like Isle of Arran – you can easily get to Mull via a regular ferry from the central west coast. The big differentiator for Isle of Mull is it’s reputation for wildlife spotting and it’s proximity to geological wonder, Isle of Staffa. Tobermory, the main town (and whisky distillery) is a picturesque and colourful welcome to an incredibly interesting and significant island. Nearby idyllic Isle of Iona is a special place of pilgrimage due to being known as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland.

‘It’ locations for Scotland elopements

11. Isle of Skye

Perfect for… elopers seeking otherworldly scenery with great local amenities (and happy to encounter potential crowds of tourists or other weddings).

Elopers choose Skye for: dramatic scenery, good food, sheep-seeking

A list of Scotland elopement destinations would be incomplete if we didn’t include Isle of Skye. Isle of Skye is considered one of the top beauty spots in Scotland so if you’re prone to FOMO then you might just need to choose Skye… It’s no wonder that people fall in love with the diverse and varied landscape. And in recent years there’s more and more amenities like incredible accommodation and award-winning restaurants to choose from (if you book far enough in advance). The (somewhat significant) downside being that Isle of Skye has become insta-famous and is now busy year-round. There are still ways to enjoy the island without battling crowds of tourists (like coming in late Oct-early Apr or choosing a sunrise ceremony) which we are happy to advise on. But we generally avoid photographing on Skye in the peak summer where possible.

12. Glencoe

Perfect for… couples who want to feel immersed in the mountains without venturing too far north or without hiking for miles. (And don’t mind sharing with enthusiastic tourists and other elopers.)

Elopers choose Glencoe for: mountains, glens, deer, hiking

Glencoe is one of those Scottish places which needs very little introduction – it’s usually the image conjured up when you think of Scotland. These iconic sights mean that Glencoe is a very popular destination with tourists and elopers. Glencoe is mostly known for its glen (and it is stunning) but there is quite a lot of diversity in the area. You can spend a whole day exploring it’s many different nooks and crannies without it feeling ‘samey’. The valley itself is very sparse for amenities but it’s not far to places like Ballachulish for basic supplies or Fort William (25 mins drive) for a wider array of restaurants, cafes and general shopping.

There are SO many beautiful locations waiting to be explored in Scotland

While there are definitely some “it locations” you might want to add to your travel list – they might not be the best place for you to elope in Scotland. The most important thing to consider when choosing your location is how you want to experience the moment. If intimacy and privacy are high up on your list of priorities, then I hope this list has given you some other options to explore. As a local, I love nothing than exploring the many nooks and crannies in Scotland. Part of my process as your elopement photographer, is to guide you on choosing the location that speaks to you as a couple. If you are ready to discover your dream location then get in touch to start planning now. I’ll be there to help you figure the best time of year, ceremony location, timeline for the day, local suppliers as well as lots of advice on how to elope in Scotland.