Why plan a honeymoon adventure in Scotland?
The excitement, buzz and rush of your wedding day is over, but that isn't a signal for the fun to end. Whether you had your DREAM day at an oahu wedding venue or eloped to somewhere EPIC in Iceland, it’s time for your honeymoon and planning one can be as stressful as a wedding (okay maybe a bit less) and at some point you will have to narrow down from so many options - but if there’s one thing for sure, that is Scotland is THE BEST places for your honeymoon...
Why Scotland?
If there’s one place that has it all, it’s Scotland. There truly is something for everyone. From beautiful beaches, incredible mountains, castles, enchanting lakes and lochs and lush forests - the scenery is nothing short of breathtaking. The cities that make up Scotland are home to beautiful buildings, incredible culture and some of the friendliest people in the world - and make sure you’re ready to party, nobody parties like Scotland.
Scotland is definitely one of the best places for a honeymoon adventure. Whether you’re looking to unwind amidst the nature in luxury accommodation or explore the bustling towns and cities - or both - you’ll not be stuck for ideas. Here are a few top picks:
Where to adventure in Scotland?
Glencoe: Glencoe is a magical place, centuries old and moulded from years of glaciers and volcanic explosions it’s deep valleys and mountains are perfect for a honeymoon adventure. It’s a film worthy location and has starred in Skyfall and an array of the Harry Potter films. There’s so much you can do from wildlife watching and kayaking and even skiing and snowboarding at Glencoe’s mountain resort.
The Isle of Skye: Whilst it might seem small at just 50 miles long, The Isle of Skye packs a punch in everything it has to offer. Want to stroll into the sunset on your honeymoon with your partner? Talisker beach is perfect for that, having been voted one of the best beaches in Scotland. Maybe you want to explore the ancient myths and legends of Scotland - you’ll definitely want to head to The Old Man of Storr and the Fairy Pools for that. Head to our blog post for more famous areas of The Isle of Skye and how to prepare for each season.
Scottish Highlands: What elements make up the Scottish Highlands? Incredible landscapes, the friendliest inhabitants, beautiful castles and amazing food - this is a playground for adventure lovers. You can experience everything here from traversing Ben Nevis - Britain's highest peak to exploring coasts and castles.
Cairngorms National Park: You can’t ask for anything more of Cairngorms, it’s got mountains, forests, rivers, lochs, villages and more wildlife than you can imagine. It’s full of incredible scenery and history - you’ll make so many incredible memories whatever you do. If you’re after something truly magical and memorable Cairngorms has a Dark Sky Park - the most northerly dark sky park in the world where you can gaze at the wonders of the night sky. It’s truly beautiful.
How to plan a honeymoon in Scotland?
You might be in the throes of your wedding planning but don’t forget to pay attention to your honeymoon! You want something to look forward to after an intense wedding planning process and day of excitement on your actual wedding day. Planning your honeymoon together is so exciting, and once you're on your honeymoon it marks the beginning of your marriage and next step in life together. Planning the honeymoon will bring you even closer together. Plus it can be a nice break from having the wedding on the brain 24/7!
Decide whether you want a ‘mini-moon’ or a honeymoon. A mini-moon is when couples take a shorter break right after the wedding, with the intention of going on a longer trip in the future. Here are a couple of things to do when planning a honeymoon adventure:
Budget: Set a budget and stick with that price. Your budget will determine where you can stay, how long you can go for and what activities you can do so be sure to set a realistic budget.
Length: It’s important to decide how long you want to go on your honeymoon for. A shorter mini-moon or a week away might be perfect for you or two to three weeks might sound more appealing as newlyweds. It’s different for every couple and can be dependent on budget, work, and time of year! Once you know how long you and your partner can go away for, you can start to think about where in Scotland you can cross off your bucket list.
Locations: What places do you want to visit in Scotland? Do you want to explore the Highlands, visit the Isle of Skye or perhaps you want to sample some of the finest restaurants in Edinburgh? Maybe you want to do a road trip and visit a whole host of places. Write down the place or places you potentially want to visit with your partner.
Accommodation: Once you’ve decided on length and location start researching accommodation in and around the area. If you’re planning a lot of activities do you want to be within easy distance or would you rather be somewhere more secluded and intimate? Give yourself enough time to research and find the perfect honeymoon stay and get it all booked in!
Plan activities:
Once you have the perfect base location all booked up then you can start planning activities. Pick some memorable ones, this is the beginning of married life with your partner and they’ll be your first memories of married life together. In between all the excitement, make sure you give yourself time to rest and relax as well.
Top Tip: Why not surprise your partner and book something without them knowing what it is, this will add to the excitement and add an element of surprise to the trip!
Immerse yourselves in the culture:
Your honeymoon might be a while away but that doesn't mean you can’t do things to keep you excited and immerse yourselves in Scottish culture! Why not watch some romantic films set in Scotland? One Day is a great film and has many iconic landmarks of Edinburgh. Don’t stop there, why not dab your hand at cooking some of Scotland's food delicacies. Get neeps and tatties, haggis, black pudding and shortbread on the menu for the evening.
Why you should hire a photographer to document your honeymoon adventure in Scotland?
We all know that weddings offer a collection of precious moments that need to be documented by a professional photographer. Your honeymoon is also part of your newly wedded experience but most couples don’t think about documenting these moments professionally. In fact, hiring a professional photographer is one of the most important things you can do when planning your honeymoon. Having said that, it’s important to choose the right photographer - one that you can relax around and be yourselves whilst having beautiful photos taken and that’s exactly why you should consider hiring a documentary wedding photographer (but this time for your honeymoon). My name is Aryan and I am a documentary wedding photographer and videographer based in Scotland, whose passion is to capture weddings & adventure elopements and tell your love story. Your love story doesn’t end with your wedding! A wedding is just beginning and there’s SOOOO much to document as you as the newlyweds enter the next chapter of your lives. If you’re interested in hearing more, please get in touch.