So, you’ve either newly married or just about to say ‘I do’ and you’ve chosen Scotland as your honeymoon destination.
Great choice!
We got married in Scotland, yet we spent our honeymoon in New Zealand [where Yvette’s from]. This got us thinking- where would we honeymoon in Scotland and what would we do?
So we made this list of romantic Scotland honeymoon ideas to help you with your planning.
We hope this list of things to do in Scotland on your honeymoon gives you some inspiration!
Make sure you read our ultimate guide to planning a trip to Scotland
Table of Contents
10 Scotland Honeymoon Ideas
1. Explore Scotland’s 7 Cities
Scotland has just 7 cities, and they are all equally as unique and interesting, so why not try to explore them all? They are:
The capital of Edinburgh is incredibly romantic.
Medieval architecture, cosy candlelit pubs and restaurants and gorgeous parks- you’ll fall in love with Scotland’s capital city the moment you set foot it in.
Explore the legendary Edinburgh Castle and have afternoon tea at The Witchery By The Castle.
Glasgow has a vibrant nightlife scene and colourful, quirky street art. It’s a great place to visit if you’re a social couple and prefer the liveliness of a city.
Go for cocktails at Revolution followed by a fancy dinner at Six By Nico.
During the day walk the Glasgow Mural Trail to check out the street art, or shop until your heart is content.
There are also plenty of interesting museums and art gallaries in Glasgow.
Perth is a little more off the beaten path, if you prefer a quieter city. It has a wonderful history- including Scone Palace where the Kings of Scotland were once crowned.
Perth also has some great pubs and romantic nature walks, including Kinnoull Hill which has many trails and is particularly beautiful in autumn.
2. Escape to Glencoe
Craig and I actually spent my 30th birthday in Glencoe. I wanted to spend my birthday surrounded by nature in the Scottish Highlands- and I chose Glencoe for its hauntingly beautiful landscape.
Glencoe is just 2 hours from Glasgow, or under 3 hours from Edinburgh. The drive itself is just gorgeous and you’ll want to make a few stops along the way [we recommend doing some shopping in Luss, the short walk to the Falls of Falloch and stopping for lunch at The Drovers Inn].
We stayed at the Ballachulish Hotel, which is a lovely traditional hotel good for those on a budget. Glencoe also has plenty of luxury accommodation perfect for honeymooners.
Relax in the hot tub at Riverbeds Luxury Lodges, or if you prefer a hotel, treat yourself to a few nights at The Isles of Glencoe.
3. Drive the North Coast 500
The North Coast 500, dubbed ‘Scotland’s Route 66’ is one of the world’s most spectacular drives.
Just picture this- eerily romantic moors, castle ruins, hairy coos and beautiful beaches- all with the backdrop of the rugged Scottish Highlands.
Take between 7-10 days to fully experience the route- you’ll want to take it slow to absorb everything the North Coast 500 has to offer.
>> You may also like: Romantic things to do in Scotland for couples
4. Have a nature break in Killin
A more off-beat option, Killin has lots of cosy wooden lodges [many with hot tubs] that makes this the perfect Scotland honeymoon destination.
If you want to sneak away somewhere quiet and be in nature, Killin is the perfect destination for your honeymoon.
Spend time hiking in Ben Lawers Nature Reserve, look out for red squirrels and visit The Scottish Crannog Centre to see a dwelling built on the waters of Loch Tay (update: this sadly burned down in 2021!)
5. Explore the Isle of Arran
Nicknamed ‘Little Scotland’, the Isle of Arran really is Scotland in miniature and offers a whole lot.
Hire a car, take it across on the ferry and take your time exploring the island.
Hike its highest peak, Goat Fell, or find a cosy pub to cuddle up in. Explore Brodick Castle and Country Gardens, go on a distillery tour and watch the sun set on the beach.
The Isle of Arran really does offer a little bit of everything.
6. Go island hopping
An island hopping adventure is incredibly fun and romantic; with over 90 inhabited islands, you’re spoilt for choice!
You can visit the Outer Hebrides, one of Scotland’s most off-the-beaten track destinations; visit Scotland’s whisky island, the Isle of Islay, or base yourself in Oban, the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ and tick off as many islands as you can.
The Isle of Skye is popular with honeymooners as well. I recommend visiting in April or May when there are less tourists around.
7. Complete a multi-day hike
One of the best ways to experience Scotland is on foot. There are a range of long distance trails in Scotland.
The West Highland Way is the most popular long-distance hike in Scotland. It’s 151km and takes between 5-8 days.
Here are a few other long distance hikes we recommend:
- West Island Way [45km, 2-3 days]
- St Cuthbert’s Way [100km, 4-5 days]
- Great Glen Way [117km, 5-6 days]
- Rob Roy Way [128km, 5-8 days]
- Skye Trail [128km, 7 days]
- John Muir Way [212km, 9-10 days]
- Southern Upland Way [338km, 12-15 days]
- Cape Wrath Trail [378km, 2-3 weeks]
For a complete list of Scotland’s long distance hikes, click here.
8. Stay in a Scottish castle
Live out your own fairytale by spending a few nights in a Scottish Castle!
There are a handful of Scottish Castles you can stay in; a few we recommend include Foulis Castle in Ross and Cromarty, Inverlochy Castle Hotel in Fort William and Dalhousie Castle in Bonnyrigg.
9. Ride the Jacobite Steam Train
You’ll love the Jacobite Steam Train if you’re Harry Potter fans!
This train also takes you through some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery on the West Highland Line.
You can catch the train from Fort William to Mallaig and spend a few days exploring the area and island hopping! Sounds like a perfect honeymoon to us.
10. See a little bit of everything
It depends on how much time you’ve got, but if you’re the type of couple who want to squeeze as much into your holiday as possible.
Check out my free 10 day Scotland itinerary that covers many of the must-sees in Scotland.
If you have less time, I have also written a 4 day Scotland itinerary which includes quite a bit too!
Just remember to get off the beaten path and see some hidden gems.
Liz F
Monday 6th of March 2023
This is super helpful, I'm so glad you wrote it! My fiance and I are planning to take 2 weeks to honeymoon, and Scotland is at the top of the list. This gave me a bunch of ideas.