Famed as the destination of eloping lovers, Gretna Green has an enchanting history as one of the most romantic getaways in the UK. This small town on the Scottish border with England was once the Las Vegas of its day (in terms of marriage vows, not the casinos).
Young English lovers would run to the border to make their marriage vows away from their disapproving family. And while these days it’s not so much a necessity to head to Scotland to get married to your secret lover, the town does still carry an air of both romance and of that wild frontier.
We decided to head to the town of Gretna Green to see if we would fall in love with the town. Spoiler alert: There was definitely some romance in the air.
Staying at Gretna Hall Hotel
The 4 star Gretna Hall Hotel was to be our weekend retreat; one of the original destinations for lovestruck couples seeking to tie the knot.
As the sign proudly proclaims over the entrance, this is the original marriage house, with a heritage dating back to 1710. Yes, that’s a long time!
Steeped in history as a witness to countless love stories, the Gretna Hall hotel offers a delightful blend of quaint accommodation, diverse activities, delectable cuisine, and a rich tapestry of Scottish heritage.
Upon arriving at Gretna Hall Hotel, we were warmly greeted by the hotel staff, a good sign for things to come.
The hotel itself definitely has an air of faded grandeur, which we found charming. And while travellers these days might expect a certain level of premium ‘experience’, we thought that the Gretna Hall Hotel carried a delightful vintage charm. The communal areas felt like a cosy living room, and our room itself was warm and well furnished.
We might add that we stayed in a ground floor double room. The room boasted standard modern amenities, tea and coffee, and 24-hour room service with a selection of food options.
Check prices at the Gretna Hall Hotel with Booking.com
While we didn’t make use of the room service, we did get to check out the fantastic food on offer.
Dining at Gretna Hall Hotel
Gretna Hall Hotel embraces it’s Scottish heritage with pride, and this is especially evident in the dining. Like the rest of the hotel, the dining area offers an air of aged charm. The staff were all lovely and attentive, and the vibe is very chilled.
The menu showcased some of the classic Scottish cuisine you might expect; as well as more international options. We tried the haggis, neeps and tatties tower starter and chicken ballotine stuffed with haggis.
If you’ve not had haggis before, it’s a classic Scottish dish, made from a sheep’s stomach stuffed with meat and vegetables. And while that might not sound like the most appealing of dishes, it is definitely delicious and hearty.
For dessert, Cranachan (a Scottish dessert with cream and berries) made for a light yet sweet end to a very Scottish dining experience.
In fact, all of our dishes were exquisitely presented, well flavoured and it’s safe to say everything went down well.
The following morning, we started our day with a full breakfast, ensuring we were energized for the day ahead in The Blacksmiths Shop.
Romance in the air at the famous Blacksmith Shop
The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the private handfasting ceremony at The Famous Blacksmith Shop of Gretna Green. This holds a rich history entrenched in romance and tradition.
Dating back to the 18th century, when the Marriage Act of 1754 in England tightened regulations on weddings, couples seeking to bypass legal complexities found refuge in Gretna Green.
The blacksmith shop, run by the Anvil Priests, became an iconic venue for clandestine marriages. Blacksmiths could perform weddings as they were considered skilled tradesmen, and the ringing of an anvil sealed the union.
This unique practice transformed Gretna Green into a haven for eloping couples, and its romantic allure persists to this day.
On the day we arrived we were greeted and shown to the iconic Original Marriage Room, where the anvil weddings began over 260 years ago. Provided to us was a beautiful tartan ribbon in the colours of Gretna Green, ready for our handfasting.
Handfasting is a traditional Celtic ritual that involves the binding or tying of a couple’s hands together as a symbolic gesture of their commitment to each other. This ancient practice has historical roots in various cultures, but it gained particular prominence in Celtic traditions, especially in Scotland and Ireland.
The term “handfasting” itself is derived from the Old Norse word “handfesta,” meaning to strike a bargain by joining hands. The officiant, often a local celebrant or clergy, guides the couple through vows and blessings. The binding of hands is a powerful representation of unity, commitment, and the intertwining of destinies.
Our handfasting ceremony in Gretna Green was special. Our hands were tied with ribbons, symbolizing our commitment, and as we exchanged vows, the sound of the anvil being struck echoed around us.
We truly felt a part of this wonderful location’s history. We would definitely recommend this venue if you are looking for a unique wedding. The Blacksmith shop is now surrounded by a small museum, shops, love maze and restaurant. There is a continuous flow of couples who are either making handfasting a part of their wedding ceremony, or just like us a fun part of their holiday trip.
Tasting the Essence of Scotland
After exploring the small museum beside the Blacksmith Shop our exploration of Scottish delights continued at the Luxury Scottish Foodhall.
Here, we immersed ourselves in a sensory experience with a Scottish food tasting. High quality items such as Gretna Chilli Jam, handmade Chrystals shortbread, handcrafted chocolates; we even tried some seaweed crisps.
Afternoon tea and love locks
In the quaint food court, we had some afternoon tea and indulged in an array of sweet and savoury treats. These went down very well and fuelled us up for a wander around the love maze.
A modern tradition is to leave a love lock, which you’ll probably have seen on bridges around the world. Here in Gretna Green, there is a love wall, right next to the love maze.
Fully loved up from our handfasting ceremony and our delicious pastries, we hung our love lock and duly took to the maze. No we didn’t get lost, and we made it back in time for everyones favourite Scottish export…
That’s right. No trip to Scotland is complete without samping some of the local whisky!
A flight through Scotland with a whisky tasting
As a lover of whisky, I was looking forward to the whisky tasting, and our Gretna Green weekend did not disappoint.
A whisky flight is usually a tour through the regions of Scotland via the medium of whisky. It’s a fun journey, unravelling the secrets of Scottish whisky, its regional nuances, and the intricate process behind its creation.
Our guide talked us through how to inhale the vapours of the whisky before tasting it and letting it roll down your throat.
My favourite was definitely the AnCnoc from the Highlands. A fitting conclusion to our day, toasting not only to love but also to the enduring spirit of Gretna Green.
A Christmas experience in Gretna Green
Our Gretna Green weekend took place in late November, with the festive season very much underway around the Gretna Hall Hotel. The town and the hotel make a great festive getaway, with lots of really nice festive things to see and do.
Shopping for Scottish treats such as shortbread and whisky obviously takes on a whole different element when you’re somewhere with a rich heritage like Gretna. And we felt that we could have spent an extra day or two here to explore the surrounding area as there seemed to be a lot to do.
As it was, we greatly enjoyed our stay at the lovely Gretna Hall Hotel and would happily head here for a long weekend another day!
Summing up
Our weekend at Gretna Hall Hotel was a fine blend of romance, history, and Scottish culture.
From the sacred handfasting ceremony to the culinary delights and whiskey-infused moments, Gretna Green emerges as a great destination, especially for couples seeking a low-octane romantic retreat, conveniently located near the Lake District, Hadrian’s Wall, and serving as a gateway to the enchanting landscapes of Scotland.
Staying at Gretna Hall Hotel
The Gretna Hall Hotel is a 4 star hotel perfect for long weekends. You can either book directly through their website, GretnaHallHotel.com, or check prices on sites such as Booking.com.
Can you get married in Gretna Hall Hotel?
Yes, getting married at Gretna Green is still very much a popular thing to do and the town is perfect for romantic weddings. The Gretna Hall Hotel itself offers wedding packages and honeymoon packages year round, and is actually a great value option.
And, because Gretna Green is easily accessible by road and rail, with plenty of accommodation available, it really is a great spot to tie the knot.
How to get to Gretna Green
By rail
Gretna Green is served by the main rail line between England and Scotland, with the closest airport at either Glasgow/Edinburgh, or Newcastle. There are regular trains from London, Manchester, Glasgow and other parts of the UK which stop at Gretna making the town very accessible.
Check out our 48 hour guide to Edinburgh.
By car
Gretna Green is also just off the main motorway linking England and Scotland. The M6 turns into the A74(M) in Scotland, which is exactly where you come off. Take junction 22 to exit the motorway and get into Gretna.
