Glencoe Elopements
How to plan the perfect day for you and your partner!
Glencoe is one of the most quintessential and iconic elopement destinations in the UK. Anyone who has considered a wild Scottish elopement has almost definitely considered Glencoe as a location, and to be honest who wouldn’t! Stunning dramatic hills, gorgeous grassy valleys, mossy green forests, flowing rivers and sparkling lakes. There are photo locations for all sorts of wedding vibes, whether you are looking for dark and moody, elven fairy or cinematic beauty. The ever-changing Scottish weather here will keep you on your toes, but also provide a great atmosphere to your wedding portraits.
So we’ve established that Glencoe is certainly a place of abundant natural beauty, but what are the best locations? In this guide, you will find my personal favourite spots in Glencoe for ceremonies, photo ops and for those little extras after the ceremony (candlelit forest picnic anyone?). There are pros and cons for each area, so hopefully these insights will help you when planning your special day!
The Three Sisters
Now when I say the Three Sisters, I’m not saying you’ll have to climb any hills so you can rest easy! What I’m talking about is a breathtaking view of these mountains that I love to take my couple to for portraits. This spot is a little bit of a hike, but so worth it. It works great in all sorts of weather as well, sunshine, rain or fog. The only thing to be careful of is loose stones and mud in wetter weather, and if either of you are planning on wearing a long train just keep in mind it can be difficult to navigate rough terrain with these!
This spot can be reached from the Lairig Eilde car park, just off the main road into Glencoe and right across the road from a large cairn (or well placed pile of stones for those unfamiliar). From the car park, it is a short 10 minute walk uphill on a fairly worn-in path to a flat section in the hill. Here is where the magical views happen.
This site I feel works best as a portrait spot but not generally a ceremony spot. While it would be gorgeous for a dramatic ceremony, it can also be very windy! When you are up there on an exposed hill, the wind can be very loud and distracting during worse weather. This is not really the kind of thing you want when you are trying to speak your vows to your new spouse! On top of that, it can be a busy spot during the day. For less confident couples, it can be very uncomfortable to have strangers mulling around when you’re in the middle of your ceremony. This means that my favourite time of day to take couples here is just before sunset. The crowds are gone, most hikers are finished for the day and the golden hour light hits the mountains in the most magical way.
Loch Etive
Loch Etive is a different pace from the other 2 locations we’ve had so far. It’s a perfect spot for water-lovers and can a be very peaceful ceremony location. It’s a great choice for couples who want a quiet ceremony spot near the water, but also want those stunning mountain shots after!
Loch Etive is a little bit out the way, but easy enough to get to. Take the turn off for Glen Etive and follow the road down for around 40 minutes. If it’s a quiet day, I will sometimes stop along this road and take some shots here!
One of the main things I considered when planning my own elopement was a location near a loch, as water has always been a peaceful presence for me. I know many couple feel the same, but are also conflicted because they want those dramatic elopement shots, which is exactly what makes this spot so special. While the lake can be busy on hot days, it is one of the lesser-known spots and there are lots of quiet areas perfect for ceremonies. It’s also a great location for a post-ceremony picnic to celebrate your new union! I’ve seen many couples set up gorgeous candlelit picnics here as part of the day, and I always feel like they are so special. The only real downside of this spot for me is how far it is from the rest of the locations.
Buchaille Etive Mor
This spot is one of the most visually stunning views in all of Glencoe. Buchaille Etive Mòr is the name of the mountain right at the start of the road into Glencoe, and it’s the most recognisable too. Almost a perfect triangle from certain angles, it’s definitely a showstopper.
My favourite spot to snag this view is near its base. I suggest parking in the small car pack near the Glen Etive Mòr waterfall, not far down the road that turns off the A82 towards Glen Etive. From there I walk my couples out onto the flat ground in front of the mountain to find somewhere promising!
This spot is a great all-rounder in my opinion. Most of the tourists will stop at the Stob Dearg car park right at the road turnoff, so there is quite a good level of privacy. This makes it a great ceremony spot, and a great portrait spot for couples who are more on the shy side. When the valley is covered in fog, it can settle into this area leading to those perfect moody Scottish pictures! The only real downside to this location is the ground you’ll be standing on. It is mostly soft ground so sometimes you end up stepping in a boggy spot! This is especially true after bad weather. This can be counteracted with a good pair of boots and an adventurous attitude! It is useful to know before planning though, so you are aware before trekking out there.
The Wee White House
The White House in Glencoe is one of its most instagram-famous spots! It is a very well known cottage settled right in the middle of the valley. It is one of the most common choices for ceremony location, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
To reach the house, travel along the road through the valley until you get to the devils staircase. On the right hand side just before the devils staircase, there is a small carpark with space for a few cars and a little wooden bench. If you park in here, there’s a short path to the house at the bottom of the carpark.
As I mentioned above, this place is a common spot for ceremonies. It is certainly iconic, and a good spot to get those misty shots with the right weather. The main issue with this location is its popularity. If you choose it, just be prepared for possible many tourists being witness to your ceremony! Sometimes there may even be difficulty parking, so take this into consideration.
Signal Rock Forest
This spot is absolutely perfect for those fairytale forest vibes. The forest paths at Signal Rock have the perfect combination of magical forests, flowing streams, ethereal light and quaint little bridges! This spot is great for ceremonies and portrait sessions, and one of the more accessible locations. The best place I have found for ceremonies is right by the river on the rocky banks, it is usually quiet and very secluded. That’s is not to say that you couldn’t choose any of the locations however!
To reach this location, you must travel along the A82 road until you are almost into the town of Glencoe. Look for the signs for ‘Signal Rock and An Torr’ and turn into the carpark which will be on your right. Park anywhere you can find some spaces and follow the road until you reach the footpath at the end. Here you will cross over a small wooden bridge and then a much larger one. You can choose here to go up and into the forest using the left path, or down onto the rocky beach using the right path.
Personally, I really don’t think there are many downsides to this spot! There are never quite so many people around, and it does truly feel magical here in this forest. The one thing I would say is that there are a few possible paths and photo/ceremony locations throughout the forest, so before you decided you might want to visit! I always suggest to my couples who like this spot to go and see it once or twice before their day. Scouting the area beforehand can help you choose the perfect spots for you.
So what is the takeaway?
Overall, Glencoe is one of Scotlands most popular elopement locations for a reason! There is an abundance of natural beauty, it’s not that far from the central belt, and it is the perfect place to run off to for that perfect day. There are so many spots for you to choose from, and I hope this guide has given you at least a starting place! If however you do still need help, get in touch and I will do my best to help you with any questions you may have.
