Best elopement locations: Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye will forever hold a place in my heart. Not only was it the first place I ever filmed an elopement, it’s home to some of my favorite locations I’ve ever had the pleasure of working.
But when it comes to identifying the best spots to elope to on the Isle of Skye, there are a number of locations that leap from the page.
In this article I’ll detail some of the best elopement locations on Skye, and what makes them so special.
The Quiraing
Sitting between the towns of Uig and Staffin, The Quiraing looks like something straight out of a Tolkien novel. Think steep, dramatic slops steeped in mist - the perfect place to tie the knot. Landmarks synonymous with this location include The Needle and The Prison, but when it comes to elopements, it’s The Table that remains the most popular option.
This grassy, flat plateau places you within one of the best backdrops on the entire island, with contrasting rocks and shades of green offering a movie-like set for your elopement film. Walking to this spot can be done in a couple of hours via a flat(ish) route, with plenty of stopping points along the way providing your filmmaker with ample opportunities to capture that all important b-roll.
The Fairy Glen
Situated on the same peninsular as the Quiraing, just north of Uig, The Fairy Glen is a rich, vibrant landscape covered in ferns. Formed by a landslip, the undulating terrain remains a popular attraction for tourists and adventure-seekers alike, so you may need to wander from the beaten track in order to capture those Hollywood shots.
When I came here with photographer David Conaty and our clients Chelsea and Hunter, I was simply blown away. Whichever way you look, there’s a different vista - ranging from rolling hills to rocky crags, waterfalls and open fields. A filmmaker's dream.
Just be sure to bring your wallet for the car park - there’s a small fee to pay for these mighty mighty views.
Here’s another sequence I edited together after Chelsea & Hunter’s elopement. Again, this was captured using my BMPCC and drone, and really shows off the Fairy Glen in all its glory.
Old Man of Stoor
Although one of Skye’s most infamous landmarks, The Old Man of Stoor is a location I’m yet to film at. That said, with plenty of elopements booked in for 2022 and beyond, I’m hoping it’s a location I’ll be able to tick off my bucket list sooner rather than later.
What makes this location so iconic is its towering rock formations, which many photographers use to frame their clients. Arriving by car takes only 15 minutes from Portree, followed by a relatively short (30 mins or so) walk up a well trodden path. The views that await at the summit are nothing short of spectacular, offering a truly iconic vista in which you can tie the knot.
The best beaches for elopements on Skye
What’s great about beach elopements is that they often take you away from crowded areas - and this definitely rings true in Skye. While all the locations above provide a spectacular option, for couples eloping in the height of tourist season (June-August), map-yielding tourists may prove bothersome.
Top picks for elopements by the sea include Coral Beach, located in Claigan, north of Dunvegan, Talisker Beach, located a short drive from Carbost and Camas Daraich, which can be accessed via a carpark in Sleat, followed by a short walk through some boggy marshes.
While the first of these three offers a coral-like surface and icy blue waters, the other two may be considered to be a little more traditional, white sandy beaches - similar to those found in the Outer Hebrides.
The Sligachan
This is where I filmed my first ever elopement, so again it holds a special place in my heart. The Sligachan is a great option as it’s a central location in the Isle of Skye, with the added benefit of parking (and food!) available at the nearby Sligachan hotel.
Although this location may seem fairly on-the-grid at first, the wilds of Skye can be reached in under ten minutes, with the Cuillin Mountains sitting nicely in view.
As an added bonus, this area is where Skye’s rescue helicopters sometimes perform their critical training missions - and although it can’t always be guaranteed, if they spot an elopement from the air they have been known to offer couples a royal salute, as was the case for Chelsea and Hunter in the image below.
Get in touch
If you’re interested in eloping to Skye and are looking for an award-winning filmmaker to capture the occasion, don’t hesitate to get in touch. At Studio Lester I use only the best equipment to capture 6K, Netflix-grade footage, as well as my trusty drones for those all-important aerial shots.
With limited availability remaining for 2022, I’m now taking bookings for 2023 and beyond.
Get in touch today.