A breath of fresh air – incredible wedding venues in the great outdoors

It’s no secret that Scotland is home to incredible natural places, but did you know you can tie the knot in many of the country’s most iconic landscapes?

Glencoe National Nature Reserve is ancient, rugged and majestic – known the world over as a place of unique natural beauty. With breathtaking views at every turn, you could spend a lifetime here choosing the perfect ceremony spot. Maybe you love the look of a glistening loch or the romance of a rolling glen … or maybe you want to take your ceremony to the top of a Munro, for the wild and windswept wedding of your dreams! Can you ever take too many wedding photos?

In the heart of the Cairngorms, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve is famed for its dramatic moorland, mountainsides and pine forests. Jaw-dropping scenery comes as standard, and you can enjoy deer-spotting or Munro-bagging in the run-up to your big day – it’s all on your doorstep. If the weather looks a bit, well, Scottish, then simply relax and admire the views from the historic hunting lodge, with a whisky in hand.

A perfect outdoor wedding doesn’t have to mean rugged wilderness. The world-famous garden at Threave Estate in Dumfries & Galloway is home to orchards, rose collections and manicured lawns (a perfect setting for marquees and alfresco drinks receptions). On top of that, the wider estate is a haven for wildlife-lovers. Threave has Scotland’s only bat reserve, as well as an osprey viewing platform.

Harmony Garden, in the lovely Borders town of Melrose, is a tranquil oasis of calm, designed for taking it slow. Time here is best spent strolling through the beautiful grounds, glass of champagne in hand, taking in the picturesque views of Melrose Abbey and the Eildon Hills. There’s also lots to do outside the garden walls – Melrose is home to an international rugby 7s tournament and there’s world-famous fishing nearby.

For somewhere with a more fairytale feel, The Hermitage near Dunkeld is home to giant Douglas firs, arched stone bridges and cascading waterfalls. Scurrying red squirrels abound, but the forest’s most fascinating feature is Ossian’s Hall, an amazing 18th-century folly overlooking the roaring Black Linn falls. Cone-shaped, quirky and totally unique, you won’t find another place like it to say ‘I do’.

Finally the Old Wood at Drum Castle in Aberdeenshire is an ancient and enchanting forest, home to oak trees that have stood the test of time for centuries, as well as a magical 16th-century chapel nestled in the grounds. For those seeking a religious wedding, what could be more romantic than saying your vows in these intimate surroundings, then winding your way back to the castle’s South Lawn as the night draws in, for a celebration under the stars.

There are incredible places of all shapes and sizes in the Trust’s care, and everything we do is for the love of Scotland. By choosing a Trust property for your wedding venue you can support our work.