Quiraing Elopement Guide:
What You Need to Know
Why have a Quiraing elopement?
Imagine exchanging vows in a breathtaking setting where jagged cliffs and rolling hills meet the sky. The Quiraing on the Isle of Skye offers all this and more, making it the ultimate destination for eloping couples looking for a combination of natural beauty and solitude. Its dramatic landscapes provide an unforgettable backdrop, ensuring your special day is as unique as your love story. Discover our favourite spots below to learn more about the enchanting Quiraing.
Quiraing Elopement Locations
We live 25-minutes from the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye, so you may call us biased but it is undoubtedly one of the best elopement locations in Scotland. Its magical scenery will make you feel like you’re an extra in the Lord of the Rings or Outlander. Despite the Quiraing being one of the most popular locations on Skye for visitors, the fantastic thing about having a Quiraing elopement, is that there are many choices for where to hold your elopement ceremony and where to have your photographs taken, and we can find spots where you will have privacy.
Hey, we are Oli and Steph! We’re Quiraing elopement photographers, videographers and planning experts. We plan, photograph and film elopements on the Isle of Skye, and the surrounding areas, so you have local experts on your team. Come along on our journey and uncover the best hikes and photography spots the Isle of Skye has to offer!
THE UPPER QUIRAING
1. The Upper Quiraing is one of our most popular locations, and with good reason! The views are stunning, and it’s only a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot.
As it is so close to the parking area, we only recommend choosing this spot at sunrise or closer to sunset. It is far too busy to have a ceremony at this location in the middle of the day. We also do not recommend this location for a ceremony with family, but you can certainly come here for photographs before your ceremony.
The Upper Quiraing in different seasons
THE LOWER QUIRAING
2. The Lower Quiraing provides an enchanting backdrop for your ceremony. With incredible views in all directions and away from the crowds of the Upper Quiraing, it’s the ideal location for those who don’t want a sunrise ceremony.
This is our top choice for ceremonies with guests as it is an accessible location and is safer for children, as there are no cliffs. It takes 10-15 minutes to reach a ceremony spot and has a small amount of uphill. There is limited parking which means you’re unlikely to be disturbed by any passers-by.
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The Lower Quiraing in different seasons
THE NEEDLE AND TABLE
3. The Needle, a 120-foot pinnacle and the grassy Table are way up amongst the cliffs of the Quiraing.
This is one of our favourite locations, but it requires a long hike, and the route up is steep and off-path. If you are a confident hiker, this is an incredible location. Away from the tourist path, we usually have this location to ourselves. In total the hike takes around 6-7 hours with time to stop for photograph, a picnic, and your ceremony. In case of bad weather, we wouldn’t recommend this location as it can be too windy and you’ll get too wet. You’ll feel like you’re in Lord of the Rings if you choose this spot.
We only recommend this location for two-person elopements as it is too challenging for guests. Ideally we start at sunrise to capture photogprahs at the Upper Quiraing before continuing to the Needle
The Needle and Table in different seasons
THE TROTTERNISH RIDGE HIKE
The Trotternish Ridge Hike in Quiraing is a breathtaking trek through some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery on the Isle of Skye. This trail follows the edge of towering cliffs, offering panoramic views of the rugged coastline, rolling hills, and distant lochs. It’s a must-see route for those looking for both adventure and the tranquil beauty of nature.
Perfect for sunrise and sunset shoots.
The Trotternish Ridge Hike in different seasons
“From the moment we stepped out of the car, were greeted by Oli and Steph, and saw the breathtaking view of The Quiraing we didn’t doubt our decision. We would do it all over again without hesitation or question.”
EMILY AND SCOTT
When’s the best season for your Quiraing elopement?
Spring
March-May: the Spring months can vary widely in terms of weather. In March we can still occasionally have snow, and it is generally still quite cold and the landscape has more yellows and browns. April becomes warmer and towards the end of the month greens start to return. In May Skye is green again and wildflowers start blaming. However, by May the number of visitors to the island are increasing again, so you need to be faster to get your accommodation booked in. Day length is rapidly increasing throughout these months and by May we have extremely long daylight hours.
Autumn/Fall
September – November: September can still be a warmer month on Skye and it is the last month of green landscapes. Into October we start getting Fall colours, with more oranges, yellows and browns creeping into the landscape. The island is starting to get quieter in these months and by October the midges are gone. The day length is fast decreasing over these months and by November it is dark around 4 pm.
Summer
June – August: In the summer months the whole island is green, which we love and looks fantastic in your images. In the UK July and August are the summer vacation months and so Skye is at its busiest. Especially if you are eloping with guests you will need to book accommodation and restaurants way in advance. These months have extremely long day lengths so a sunrise elopement could be starting at 3-4am and the sun doesn’t go down until after 10 pm. The other thing to be aware of it that we have midges here, which are small biting flies, and this is the season for them. They are only around when it’s very still (which isn’t very often on Skye) but it’s worth considering.
Winter
December-February: the quietest months of the island in terms of tourists, and also the shortest day length. We take Decemeber off every year to recharge and to spend time with our families. In January and February there could be snow on the ground, and definitely on the mountains. The colours of the landscape are yellows and browns when there isn’t snow around, and as the sun stays low in the sky you can get beautiful light for photography all day long.
No matter the season, the Quiraing offers an unforgettable backdrop for your elopement. Each season brings unique beauty and challenges and so there is really no bad choice.
“it’s really just difficult to put into words how special Oli and Steph have been during the whole process from planning, to being such a big part of our big day, to all of the finished images, album and video they delivered to us afterwards. They really are a full service team and we couldn’t have had a more positive experience.”
JOCELYN AND GARY
Watch Kylee and Zach’s Quiraing Elopement Film
Check out some of our Quiraing elopement stories
Frequently asked questions about Quiraing elopements
Find out more about eloping at the Quiraing
We hope that this information about Quiraing elopements has helped give you some ideas.
We’re Oli and Steph Prince. We live 25 minutes from the Quiraing and are Isle of Skye elopement planners, photographers and videographers! If you’re ready to talk more about eloping, then get in touch, and we can chat about your perfect Quiraing elopement experience.
Contact us to start planning your Quiraing elopement
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