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In Pinn wedding couple reveal story of Cuillin climb

Written by Fiona

July 25 2023

A couple who were spotted in wedding attire on the Inaccessible on Skye’s Cuillin Ridge have revealed the details of their climb.

Mark and Victoria Lyons (nee Forbes) became a social media sensation last week after a walker, Monica Bloch, posted a photo on Facebook of the bride in a beautiful white wedding dress at the base of the infamously gnarly In Pinn climb.

Victoria and Mark abseiling off the In Pinn. Credit Becy Stabler

Couple’s route to Skye wedding

The newly weds, who met in 2010, revealed they had returned to a place with special memories to mark the celebration of their marriage.

Mark, who has been a keen climber since the 1990s, said: “We met when I trained Victoria for her first marathon in 2010. We got engaged in March during a trip to the Atlas Mountains and decided to tie the knot on Skye this month.

“Since Victoria and I climbed the In Pinn together in 2018, it has always been a special place. After we were married in Glen Brittle, just below the Cuillin, the next day we revisited the In Pinn in our wedding attire.

“Our amazing wedding photographer Becy Stabler accompanied us so we could have photos alongside our wedding days photos.”

The couple, from the Scottish Borders, chose to elope. Mark said: “It was an intimate wedding and just the two of us. Glen Brittle beach is such a spiritual place, located between the Cuillin mountains and the Sea of Hebrides.

“We felt grounded by the elements in a beautiful ceremony for two people who only recently felt the importance and sacrality of a marriage bond.

“The day was manifested with beautiful atmospheric conditions of sun, mist and a light breeze, which helped to keep the midges at bay.”

Victoria and Mark’s Wedding day at Glen Brittle beach, Isle of Skye. Credit: Becy Stabler

Wedding hike of the In Pinn

Victoria and Mark hiked and scrambled for more than two hours on the mountain Sgurr Dearg, on which the Inaccesble Pinnacle sits at more than 3000ft. They carried climbing equipment, ropes, Victoria’s wedding dress and Mark’s suit.

Mark said: “The mountain climb was spectacular. The mountain held us and gave us an amazing show all the way to the top.

“On the Inaccessible Pinnacle, there was a handful of fellow climbers, one of whom took the photo that started all the interest.

“The love and all the congratulations that came with this is beautiful and we thank everyone for their best wishes.”

The newly weds climbed the In Pinn, which forms a large rock spur, the traditional way and then abseiled back down together.

Mark said: “The wedding dress and suit held up well until we had an impromptu swim in the loch in Coire Lagan on the walk out.

“The climb would never have happened if we weren’t perfectly happy we could do it safely in the conditions and with our use of the necessary safety equipment. We will climb the In Pinn again but will never repeat it dressed up.”

After leaving Skye, the couple flew to their honeymoon destination of Portugal where they are now touring in a campervan.

  • Mark and Victoria want to thank their photographer Becy, wedding day hair and make up by Zoe Corrigall and the Interfaith Minister Kim Atherton.

You might like to read: Our wedding day skiing in Canadian Rockies.

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