An Isle of Skye elopement can seem slightly overwhelming with all of the beautiful landscapes to choose from! I truly believe that Isle of Skye has some of the best locations to elope in all of Scotland! Keep reading to be inspired and learn all about these Scotland elopement locations!
My recommendation for when to elope in Isle of Skye is on a weekday at sunrise or sunset in one of the shoulder season months. Mid-summer can get very busy with tourists!
The Quiraing
The Quiraing is a hiking loop, about a 4.25 miles [6.8km], along the Trotternish ridge on Isle of Skye. The entire loop can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on how quickly you walk or how many times you stop for photos. Click here to read more about the hiking/walking terrain and what you should expect during your visit.
Even if you’re not wanting to do a long walk or hike on your elopement day, I would still recommend the Quiraing for your Isle of Skye elopement. You do NOT need to do the whole walk to get incredible views! To be totally honest, you only need to walk around 15 minutes to get iconic views and a stunning ceremony backdrop [like you see in these photos]! If you are looking to be a bit more adventurous on your elopement day, you could start by saying your vows at the beginning of the walk and then continue on for an hour or so taking photos until you felt like turning around!
Weather can change quickly in Scotland so always be prepared for rain, mist, fog, or wind. The trail is along a cliffside so use your judgment to decide when the conditions may not be safe.
Planning, Styling, + Design by WILDLY IN LOVE, Photos by Emily Kidd Photo, Florals by Birch + Bloom Designs, Paper by Kate’s Calligraphy, + Rentals from Virginia’s Vintage Hire.
Parking at the Quiraing:
There is a small, paved parking lot [or car park as they say in Scotland] right at the start of the Quiraing trail loop. I would recommend getting there early [or around sunset] to ensure you find parking. Most of the tourist traffic seemed to be in the middle of the day! There is a self-pay meter that you’ll need to pay for your car or RV. It’s not to expensive at all, only £3 for 3 hours!
Please note that as of April 2022 there are no bathroom facilities at the Quiraing. I would highly recommend stopping in Portree before making the drive up!
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Old Man of Storr
The Old Man of Storr is about a 15 minute drive north of Portree. It is known to be one of the most famous and busiest spots in Isle of Skye. Even with all of that said, it is one of my favorite locations in all of Skye! The space is large enough for you to find a quiet spot to say your vows or take stunning photos. Although. I would recommend going at sunrise or sunset to avoid the tourist crowds.
It is about a 2.5 miles [3.8km] hike to get to the top of Old Man of Storr. It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to get all the way to the top viewpoint with no stops. The trail is straight up [and then straight back down] so I would budget it taking around 1.5 – 2 hours to get up with all your elopement attire and taking breaks as needed. I would recommend keeping right on the trail as you climb up. It’s the quickest/shortest way up to the location with the iconic views you see in the photos below. Click here to read more about the hiking/walking terrain and what you should expect during your visit. The top of the trail can get very muddy even if it’s not actively raining!
Ironically, the day we hiked to Old Man of Storr for this Isle of Skye elopement it was very warm and sunny. Once the sunset, it did cool off quite a bit. Always pack layers and rain gear to be prepared because the weather can change quickly!
Planning, Styling, + Design by WILDLY IN LOVE, Photos by Emily Kidd Photo, Florals by Birch + Bloom Designs, Dress by Daci Gowns.
Parking at Old Man of Storr:
There is a paved parking lot at the base of the trail with a self-pay parking meter. Similar to the Quiraing, it’s only a few pounds for hours or the entire day.
For toilets, there are a nice bathroom facilities in the parking lot but you do have to pay 50p to use it.
NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR ELOPEMENT? I WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU! CHECK OUT MY DESTINATION ELOPEMENT EXPERIENCE + INQUIRE TODAY!
Fairy Pools
The Fairy Pools are at the foot of the Black Cuillins near Glenbrittle on the western part of Isle of Skye. The walk to the Fairy Pools is around 1.5 miles [2.4km] and takes about 2-3 hours round trip depending on your walking pace and how many times you stop to take photos. You will see beautiful waterfalls along the way! Click here to read more about the hiking/walking terrain and what you should expect during your visit.
During the warmer months, people actually do swim in the water! Depending on what time your Isle of Skye elopement is and how adventurous you are, you and your partner could jump in after saying your vows in celebration!
Parking at the Fairy Pools:
There is a paid Forestry Commision gravel parking lot on the road opposite of the trail leading to the Fairy Pools. There’s a sign that says “‘Glumagan Na Sithichean” with “Fairy Pools” underneath it, pull in there! When we visited there was an attendant explaining where to park, how to pay [self-pay meters], and how to start the trail. It was £6 for the entire day as of April 2022.
For toilets, there was a nice, free bathroom facility to use in the parking lot.
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