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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2020

Last update: August 2024

The Dougarie Boathouse is a secluded shoreline venue with stunning views of the Isle of Arran, Scotland.

Only two hours door to door from Glasgow, this unique beach-side property is beautifully perched on the west coast of the island and provides couples with a tranquil and scenic setting for intimate weddings. This boathouse was originally used as a sporting lodge, within the Dougarie Estate, for the 11th Duke of Hamilton from 1850 onwards. Now owned and operated by local islanders, this venue has been renovated to the highest standards. The building flawlessly blends the site’s historical importance with modern-day amenities.

Facilities and Capacity

The Boathouse elegantly looks over the coastline and offers spectacular panoramic views that are mostly untouched by civilisation. Wedding ceremonies can take place anywhere within the Dougarie Estate grounds. Many couples choose to marry on the beach in front of the boathouse, or there is a stunning circular castellated area directly to the side of the boathouse. You can even get married by the magical Loch Iorsa on the estate. The boathouse's interior is complete with many original, rustic features with a contemporary finish, ideal for 21st-century celebrations. The boathouse can accommodate weddings of up to 80 guests. A marquee can be used for those wishing to host more family and friends. Summertime festivities can also make use of the rustic outdoor setting with the clean island air gently sweeping the beautiful landscape. Additional facilities at the venue include exclusive use of five houses that can sleep up to 35 altogether. These luxury victorian-style homes have been renovated by Ayrshire and Arran suppliers, to include en-suite bedrooms, a full kitchen, living area, dining room, and more. Other accommodation includes the historic castle towers, the quaint farm cottage, and more.

Services Offered

Upon booking your big day at The Dougarie Boathouse, a wedding coordinator can help ensure that you get the most out of this one-of-a-kind site. The local members of staff can also assist in the running of your event, making sure that your celebration runs as smoothly as possible. There are also a variety of sporting packages available depending on the time of year. These collections include water sports, wild walks, sea fishing, archery, lobster potting, and golf days.

Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Sporting
Coastal weddings
Unusual weddings
Castle
Stately home
Historic
Marquees and tents
Woodland and festival
Barn
Outdoor license
Tipis and yurts
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Fire ceremony
Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Corkage option
Private catering allowed
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Marquee available
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
Outdoor fireworks permitted

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Wedding coordinator

Venue leisure facilities:

Hairdresser

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Helipad
Pet-friendly
illustration notebook

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Reviews for The Dougarie Boathouse

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
6 reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of the service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
F
Fiona Sent on 27/04/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Quite simply outstanding

If you are looking for a venue with a difference this is it. The team at the Boathouse were incredible from start to finish and went over and above at every turn, even when one of our suppliers were struggling to provide their service the Boathouse team worked through the night to make sure we could have a wedding day of wedding days. I cannot recommend the Boathouse enough and to top it off the Arran micro climate weather completed our day. They provide a fantastic package service which really does include everything and made even better by keeping it local and supporting islanders within this. I simply cannot thank the team enough. You are truly wonderful and I am so sad the wedding preparations are complete!
Aileen
Aileen M. Sent on 04/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic exclusive use venue

Fantastic venue with professional staff, nothing is a bother with lots of help and advice. Very flexible possibilities are endless no set rules, It's your day to do as you wish with exclusive use of the venue. scenery is fantastic from the sea to the mountains and wildlife make the most special photos truly magical that touched the hearts of ours Guests. The weather did help as it was tropical. We used as many suppliers on the island as possible which the venue staff can help with. If you want somewhere different that's not your usual hotel venue with set routine this is your place , Just read the reviews on the website.
Mabel
Mabel B. Sent on 03/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect wedding venue

Malin and the whole team at the Dougarie Boathouse were amazing from the start. They went above and beyond to enable and inspire us to plan exactly what we wanted from our wedding day in the most perfect location. The venue is so beautiful and well equipped in itself that we hardly needed to do anything at all, but the flexibility of the spaces gave us so much choice. We had the most special day with Malin and the team making sure everything went smoothly, including taking us up to the loch on the estate for a private photoshoot - which was our absolute highlight. We wish we could do it all over again, but we will just have to come back for a party some other time!
Lorna
Lorna G. Sent on 01/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Magical experience from start to finish

Our wedding at the Dougarie Boathouse was flawless, an absolutely magical experience - not just the day itself but made even better with the support from Malin and the team at the Boathouse. From our very first enquiry 3 years before the wedding to the day itself they were outstanding. Malin was on hand to answer every question, every panicked last minute email and ensured that our vision for our wedding came to fruition. We consistently felt that this was “more than just a job” to the team there, we truly felt that they were invested and passionate about ensuing our day went down as the best of our lives. I will always remember looking at the team as we were set to come down the aisle and seeing their smiles and tears of joys for us - shared moment that stays in my heart even now. We made a point of popping in after the wedding next time we were on the island and were still greeted with the same enthusiasm as we were on day one. A wonderful team, a beautiful one of a kind venue and a magical island wedding!
Cat
Cat M. Sent on 08/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Dream-Like Wedding Venue!

We can’t thank Malin, Joyce, Joel, Sarah and the rest of the team at the Boathouse enough! Right from our very first contact with Malin, she was enthusiastic about our wedding and has gone above and beyond to help us create our perfect day. The Boathouse was the first and only wedding venue we viewed because we absolutely knew that nothing would beat it.
What we loved especially about the Boathouse was the incredible surrounding scenery. The venue feels isolated which means your guests have full access to walk around on the beach and take in the beautiful Arran coastline. Our guests spent most of the day outdoors (we were lucky enough to have incredible weather) and couldn’t believe how peaceful the grounds were. This also makes for the most amazing backdrop for your photos – something you won’t find with a lot of other wedding venues.
The interior of the Boathouse is modern, clean and simplistic meaning you can put your own stamp on it and Malin and her team are so happy to accommodate your vision. Nothing was too much for them and Malin made herself available whenever we had questions about the whole process, we never felt we were alone in planning our wedding despite going for the venue only package.
I wish we could do it all again honestly, it was flawless from start to finish and that was mainly down to the attention to detail paid by all of the Boathouse staff. Even on the wedding day itself the staff were very helpful in assisting with the order of events and making sure the day ran smoothly for us. Our family and friends haven’t stopped talking about how incredible a day it was and how amazing both the staff and venue were. We are so glad we went with the Boathouse and can’t imagine a better wedding venue or location to get married.
J
Jess W. Sent on 03/07/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Best day everrrrr!

Our wedding at The Boathouse exceeded all of our expectations and dreams! The venue is absolutely stunning and situated in the most idyllic setting on the Isle of Arran. The views and scenery make for a beautiful outdoor ceremony if the weather permits.

Malin was amazing throughout the whole planning process, from the ease of booking to answering all of our questions and requests. She went above and beyond for us to help the whole day run smoothly. Malin is so lovely and very approachable and nothing was too much trouble.

Joel and Sarah from No 16 did an incredible job of running the bar. They provided an excellent selection of drinks and even tailored a cocktail to our request! They were very attentive throughout the day making sure everyone’s drinks were topped up.

We couldn’t recommended The Boathouse enough, everyone involved helped make it a day we will never forget!
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The Dougarie Boathouse Real Weddings

Hugo & Erin
110 photos · 19/08/2023

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Map

Dougarie Estate Office, Machrie, Isle of Arran Ka27 8eb Ayrshire (Dumfries Galloway & Ayrshire)
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