Isle of Skye Elopement: The Ultimate Guide for 2025 – 2026
ELOPEMENT PLANNING GUIDES | Updated: 6th May 2025
Are you thinking of having an Isle of Skye elopement? This guide has been written with you in mind. You’ll find useful tips, advice, and guidance on everything related to eloping on Skye, from my favourite locations and wedding venues to the best places to stay and eat, the legal bit, and when I think is the best time of year to visit.
Not only do I live on the Isle of Skye, but I also eloped here in 2022. So, I’ve been exactly where you are. My aim is to give you all of my expertise in an easy-to-read Isle of Skye Elopement guide, so you can plan your dream elopement in a stress-free way.
Why You Should Have An Isle Of Skye Elopement
In my (unbiased) opinion, the Isle of Skye is without a doubt one of the best places in the world to elope. From towering mountains, to epic seascapes, lush sandy beaches, and wild glens, it really does have it all. Here are 5 of my top reasons to elope on the Isle of Skye in 2025 – 2026.
1. The ancient landscape.
Much of Skye is comprised of ancient volcanic lava flows, with the Cuillin Mountains being the remnants of an extinct volcano. There are also Mesolithic and Neolithic archeological sites throughout the island and an abundance of Dinosaur footprints and fossils, especially along the Trotternish Peninsula.
2. Iconic landmarks
Skye is densely packed full of epic world-renowned landscapes within an hour of each other, such as Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, and the Cuillin Mountains. In fact, Skye was named one of the 57 most beautiful places in the world by Condè Nast Traveler. This is perfect for an elopement where we can be stood at the foothills of an ancient volcano one minute and looking out over the Atlantic Ocean the next.
3. Hidden Gems
Although Skye has world-famous locations such as Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, and Fairy Pools, it’s also home to so many lesser-known spots. As a local, I love to explore Skye in my spare time and scout of these locations for my couples.
4. The Other-Worldly Feeling
If you’ve ever been to Skye, you’ll know what I mean when I say this. There are lots of ancient legends and myths about Skye, which is easy to see when driving around – the wild and rugged landscape will make you feel like you’ve entered another world or your very own movie.
5. Lots of Awesome Places to Stay
Whatever your elopement budget, Skye has the perfect accommodation for you. You can stay in a beautiful log cabin overlooking the mountains, a cosy shepherds hut, luxury hotel, or low-key Airbnb.
Isle of Skye Elopement Locations
My list of the best places to get married on the Isle of Skye, from my personal experience of photographing over 200 elopements on the island.
Sligachan
Without a doubt this is my favourite place on the island and where my wife and I eloped. It’s a glen which sits at the foothills of the Cuillin Mountains and offers panoramic views. Although the Sligachan Old Bridge is super touristy, the glen has lots of quiet spots which make it the perfect spot for an intimate elopement. It’s also a great place to go hiking, whether you’re thinking of climbing the Black Cuillin Mountains or hiking along the valley bed to Loch Coruisk.
Quiraing
This has been renowned for its fantastical appearance since the Victorian period and it’s easy to see why. It’s in the North-East of Skye on the Trotternish escarpment and formed over thousands of years of landslides, which have given it the unique shape you see today. Within the Quiraing there are many famous spots, such as The Table, The Needle, and The Prison. Although the main viewpoint is super busy with tourists, it’s possible to escape the crowds to the lesser-known spots.
Old Man of Storr
Situated only 10 minutes North of Portree and has a large paid car park, toilet, and small gift shop. The hike to the main viewpoint (The Storr) is a steep uphill hike and usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour at a leisurely pace. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Torridon mountains on Mainland Scotland, as well as the isles of Rona and Rassay. It’s probably the most sought-after hike on Skye, so going either early in the morning or later in the evening is best to avoid the crowds.
Elgol
Elgol is a small fishing village on the Strathaird peninsula on the West of Skye, with incredible views of the Cuillin Mountains and outer islands. It takes 30 minutes to drive here from Broadford along a single track road and is a popular spot to take boat trips from. Misty Isle Boat Trips and Bella Jane Boat Trips operate various tours.
Neist Point
If you’re after an edge-of-the-world feeling and high cliffs, this may be the place for you. It’s an hour and a half North-West of Portree and is the most Westerly point on the island. From the cliff-tops, you can see the small lighthouse at the end of the peninsula and all the way out to the Outer Hebrides on a clear day. It works great as a sunset location for elopements.
Fairy Glen
This miniature landscape was formed from a landslide and features lots of small, cone-shaped hills around a small lochan. It’s in the town of Uig in the North of Skye. Due to how small it is, it’s hard to get away from the crowds on an elopement day, so I usually advise my couples to not have a ceremony here. However, it is a great place to go to early in the morning or towards sunset when it’s less busy.
Fairy Pools
Fairy Pools is a series of pools and waterfalls formed from mountain streams and is not far from the small village of Carbost. The water is a vivid blue colour, especially on a sunny day and is a popular spot for wild swimmers. There is a well-laid footpath from the car park, which makes it quite accessible. It’s usually quite busy with tourists, but there are plenty of quieter spots within the area.
Brothers Point
This is also called Rubha nam Brathairean and is a small headland which marks the eastern-most point of Trotternish. It’s a less well-known location, but no less dramatic. The hike to and from the parking spot is 1-2 hours, depending on how far you want to go.
Dunscaith Castle
This is situated in the South-West of Skye and dates back to the 13th century. It’s on a clifftop overlooking Loch Eishort and only takes 15 minutes to walk to from the car. Its Gaelic name (Dun Sgathaich) translates to the Dun of the Shadow and it originally belonged to the MacDonald clan. It has been unoccupied since the 17th century.
Duntulm Castle
Located in the far North-East of Skye, this castle is the perfect place for an Isle of Skye elopement ceremony. The best viewpoint is from Duntulm Bay with the castle in the background because the castle itself is quite small and can be busy with tourists.
Eilean Donan Castle
One of the most photographed castles in the world, it was originally built in the 13th Century, but was destroyed in 1719 during battle. The castle you see today is a reconstruction which was completed in the early 20th Century. It’s a popular museum and they also host small, intimate weddings, where you can book the entire castle for yourself. Click here for more information.
Isle Of Skye Elopement Accommodation
One of the benefits of eloping on Skye is the abundance of amazing places to stay, from cosy cabins to luxury hotels and everything in between. I help all of my couples plan their elopement on Skye and send out a detailed recommended supplier guide when you book me, which features some of my favourite accommodations on the island.
Below is a small selection of great places to stay when getting married on the Isle of Skye.
Sligachan Blackhouse
Two luxury timber cabins overlooking the Cuillin Mountains, which can accommodate up to 6 guests each. The Sligachan Lodge is a larger, older house next door and can sleep up to 10 guests.
Sligachan Lodge
If you’re eloping with a larger group of friends and family, then the lodge sleeps up to 11 people across 5 bedrooms.
Monkstadt 1745
Luxury lodge in the North of Skye, with four-poster beds and a cosy restaurant. They also have lots of self-catering cabins on the grounds if you need somewhere larger to stay. It’s only 25 minutes from Quiraing and close to lots of amazing elopement locations.
Kinloch Lodge
A family run hotel and restaurant for more than five decades, Kinloch Lodge is only 10 minutes South-West of Broadford on the Sleat peninsula. It has lots of luxury rooms and an amazing fine-dining restaurant.
Viewfield House
A unique Victorian-era country house in the centre of Portree within 20 acres of woodland garden. They have a beautiful restaurant and also offer sailing tours around Skye from Portree.
The Crofters House
An old, traditional crofters house 10 minutes outside of Portree. It’s been immaculately restored and designed by the owner and is in a very quiet area if you’re after somewhere to relax and unwind.
House of Juniper
Hotel and luxury cabins in the town of Broadford. The main house is a restored Manse and has incredible sea views. They also have a restaurant on the grounds called The Sprig.
Harlosh
Boutique holiday hideaway on the West of Skye. There are two separate buildings; Black H sleeps 2 and Wood H sleeps 6.
Duisdale Hotel
A former Victorian mansion overlooking the Sound of Sleat in the South-West of Skye. It is part of the Sonas collection of hotels, with Skeabost Hotel and Torvaig Hotel also on Skye.
Skye Red Fox Retreat
Luxury clamping pod in the North of Skye, close to Old Man of Storr, Brother’s Point, and Quiraing. Sleeps 2.
Best Places To Eat On The Isle Of Skye
The Isle of Skye is home to so many amazing restaurants and cafes. Below is a short selection of places previous couples have enjoyed dining at:
Edinbane Lodge
The Three Chimneys
Loch Bay
Scorrybreac
Kinloch Lodge
Monkstadt 1745
Bracken Hide
How To Plan An Isle Of Skye Elopement
When is the best time to visit the Isle of Skye?
It’s no secret that Scotland can throw all four seasons at you in one day! The Isle of Skye is no different and, because it’s a western Isle, it can get very windy. This means the conditions can change quickly. My advice is to embrace the elements, whatever they are!
Summer – Long days and gorgeous evening light make the summer a beautiful time to elope. However, the Isle of Skye can get very busy during these months due to tourists. Also, midges gather in swarms on less windy days and can sometimes make an enjoyable day, well, less enjoyable if you’re not used to them.
Autumn – This is my favourite time of year in Skye. The deep red and brown autumn colours fill the landscape, the sun is less harsh, and the evening light is soft and romantic. Also, it’s through the Autumn and Winter that you’re more likely to get a view of the famous Northern Lights.
Winter – Snow-capped mountains are a beautiful site, but strong winds and rain are frequent. However, the strong winds mean there’s always a break in the conditions. It’s very quiet in winter, meaning you’ll likely have all of the best places completely to yourself.
Spring – If you’re after a balance of warmer days, peace and quiet, no (notorious) midges, and the landscape blossoming out of winter, Spring is an excellent choice.
Can you legally get married on the Isle of Skye?
Yes, absolutely! You need to submit an M10 Marriage Notice Form to the Portree Registry Office no earlier than 3 months before your elopement and no later than 29 days before. You may also need to apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa if you’re visiting from outside the UK.
You also need to have two witnesses. I can be one and if you’re eloping by yourselves without guests I can help you find a second.
When you arrive on Skye, the registry office will give you your Marriage Schedule which you take to your ceremony.
After your ceremony, you must hand your Marriage Schedule back into the Portree Registry Office within 3 days.
How much does it cost to elope on the Isle of Skye?
Most couples who I photograph spend between £8000 and £15000 on their elopement. It’s possible to elope cheaply too – the beauty of eloping is that you can decide how much you want to spend and invest your hard-earned money into the things which really matter to you.
For a more detailed breakdown, check out my guide on the cost of eloping in Scotland here.
How do we find an officiant for our Isle of Skye elopement?
To make your ceremony legal, you have three options: humanist, religious, or registrar.
The Humanist Society Scotland has an extensive database of registered celebrants. I’d be happy to recommend celebrants I’ve worked with and send all of my couples a list of recommended suppliers, so you know you’re booking the best of the best for your wedding.
For a registrar, you’ll need to contact the local office nearest to your chosen location. You can find a full list here. On the Isle of Skye, this is located in Portree.
For religious ceremonies, you can still get married anywhere as long as you have an authorised religious celebrant to attend and officiate. You can contact your local place of worship for guidance on this.
Isle Of Skye Elopement Packages
Your Local Isle of Skye Elopement Photographer
As a local, I’m able to give you the most up-to-date advice and guidance on how eloping on the Isle of Skye works and I’d love to help you bring your dream of eloping here to life. I’ve photographed over 200 Isle of Skye elopements and live here, so can make sure you have the intimate, meaningful wedding you deserve.
Get in touch for more expert tips, advice, and guidance for your Isle of Skye elopement.
