10 Scenic Places to Elope in Northern Ireland

These places to elope in Northern Ireland fit any type of elopement or intimate wedding celebration. It doesn’t matter if you’re avid hikers or casual day trippers, eloping “just us” or inviting some guests. I’ve mapped out some of my favorite places in Northern Ireland perfect for your wedding.

The great thing about eloping in Northern Ireland as well is the proximity of all these locations. The North Ireland coastline is a small area, and it’s more than feasible to fit two or more of these scenic spots into one day. Moreover, the landscape is not challenging to walk or “hike,” so it’s comfortable for most physical abilities.

As a bonus, lots of these locations have been film sets for the Game of Thrones series. If you’re a fan, you’ll appreciate visiting these areas for that pop culture dimension also!

Here’s an overview of all my favorite locations the area has:

Table of Contents

Written January 25th, 2024 by Mariah Arianna, copywriter for photographers

Best of the best places to elope in Northern Ireland:
Castles

Dunseverick Castle

The Dunseverick Castle are ancient ruins perched on the northern Irish coast. This area is incredibly scenic with many walking paths along the craggy cliff sides. The Dunseverick Harbour and Falls are especially scenic spots, and you can even walk down to the Dunseverick Pool for an up close look at the water. If you’re the sort, this natural pool is safe on warm and calm days for swimming!

Dunluce Castle

Another outcropping of ancient coastal ruins, the Dunluce Castle is a truly breathtaking backdrop. They are larger and more dramatic than the Dunseverick ruins.

This is another film set for the Game of Thrones (Iron Islands and the House of Greyjoy) so fans of the series will love this spot. The surroundings of the castle are open all hours for exploring, and there is a staircase that leads under the castle moat to a small rocky beach.

Down the road, you can access White Rocks Beach, which looks down the coast toward the castle and features some unique sea arches. It’s a great detour for exploring tide pools, caves, mini waterfalls and even setting up a picnic.

If you want a super unique and cozy place to stay only 5 minutes away by car, I really recommend the Causeway Country Pods. These little pods are super cute and come with a jacuzzi.

Kinbane Castle

Easily one of the most beautiful spots in Ireland, this location is a must see. It’s not as easily accessed as other castle locations in Northern Ireland, but this means it is a little less busy at times.

The castle ruins themselves are not the largest in the area, but the surroundings are what make this one special. The narrow trail leading over the cliff to the ruins is so scenic for photos, and it’s great for bird watching as well. Keep an eye out for wandering sheep and even seals beached on the rocks!

Perfect for a more adventurous touch to your Ireland elopement photos.

Best outdoor locations for an adventure elopement in Northern Ireland

Fair Head Cliffside

Fair Head is a cliffside nature area in the northern tip of Ireland. It faces the Scottish isle of Islay to the north. This point is a famous spot for film sets (like Game of Thrones) and is scenic at both sunrise and sunset.

It’s a great point to end the day with a sunset vow ceremony on the cliffs after exploring the east Antrim coast and the Glens nature areas.

Ballintoy Harbour & Point

Another Game of Thrones film location! If you’re in the area it’s another lovely pitstop to explore along the water. It can be a popular stop however, so I recommend visiting early or late in the evening – especially when the light is low and golden on the horizon.

Malin Head Viewpoint

The Malin Head Viewpoint is the northernmost point of Ireland (aside from the tiny island of Inishtrahull). The area is distinctly separate from the other places to elope in northern Ireland on this list, not only because it’s not part of “Northern Ireland” but also that it’s just geographically much further away.

The area has a number of incredible beaches, cliffs, castles and sea stacks which can easily fill up a full elopement day with sidequests and spontaneous stops. The unobstructed views to the west over the Atlantic make it especially scenic and beautiful for sunset vow ceremonies.

Additionally, you can visit adjacent scenic spots like the Glenevin waterfall, Tullagh Strand, Pollan Strand, Five Finger Strand and Dunes, and “Hell’s Hole.”

Cushendun Caves

This coastal cave is another film set for the Game of Thrones. While the cave itself isn’t necessarily that impressive, it’s a picturesque spot to explore along the water. You won’t need more than 30 minutes to an hour here, so it’s a cool stop along the way to other areas.

Giant’s Causeway

A five minute drive from the Dunseverick Castle ruins is the famous “Giant’s Causeway.” This area is a geological wonder, formed from basalt lava pillars. It’s also Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is maybe the most well known of all these places to elope in Northern Ireland, so it comes with crowds but is a must see. Walking on the causeway is free. However, there is a fee for the on site parking area at £10.

For guided tours and access to the shop, cafe and exhibit, it’s £15.50 per person. It’s worth the fee if you want the convenience of parking, and to learn about the formation of the causeway.

It’s recommended and helpful to book your visit in advance on their website, and you need to be in the park one hour before daily summer closing time at 17:00. You’re then allowed to stay in the park and at the coastline until dusk.

For the most up to date park times and prices, go to their official website here.

Best intimate venue in Northern Ireland for a wedding:
The Dunfin Farm

Perfect for intimate weddings of up to 60 people.

If you fancy an intimate wedding with some guests, the Dunfin Farm is a 15 minute drive to the south and has a small reception venue on their property. It’s perfect for a cozy event full of Irish charm.The venue, previously a mill, is a rustic and historic building with exposed stone walls, barn doors and solid wood floor. It can accommodate up to 60 guests with parking and bathrooms as well.

The Dunfin Farm is only a 15 minute drive from the Fair Head cliffs, and 45 minutes from the Giant’s Causeway (continue reading below).

Oh, and they have sheep!

Check out their wedding venue here.

Advice for choosing a location

Honestly, let’s visit them all, right?? Realistically though, you’ll have to pick maybe 2-4 of these places to elope in Northern Ireland so you’re not in the car all day. Your elopement should be at a pace that’s exciting, but not overwhelming.

Here’s my advice for narrowing down this list:

Decide if you want to hike a bit, and just enjoy waltzing around the scenery. If you do, then choose only 2 locations which you’ll explore more in depth
Choose one of each: a castle ruin, a beach and cliffside. This will give you lots of variety in your photos.
Finally, focus on your favorite place as where you want to read your vows. I recommend it’s also the place which is most beautiful in the evening for soft sunset light.

Fancy a photographer for your elopement in Northern Ireland?

Hey there, my name is Gina, and I’m an elopement photographer based in the EU! If you are looking for someone who has been to the area, I can help you pick the perfect match of these places to elope in Northern Ireland for your vision.

Just reach out using the contact form below to inquire about available dates and pricing.