Of the many activities on the Isle of Skye, the Fairy Pools is one of the most popular destinations. We visited the Isle of Skye at the beginning of March and fit this hike into our 3-day itinerary on the Isle of Skye. If you’re looking for guides to other popular hikes on the Isle of Skye, check out my guide to Hiking the Old Man of Storr and my guide to Hiking the Quiraing.
What are the Fairy Pools?
The Fairy Pools are a series of stunning, crystal-clear blue pools and waterfalls located in Glen Brittle on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Nestled at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains, these pools are fed by the River Brittle, which flows through a picturesque landscape of rugged terrain and verdant hills. The water’s strikingly vivid hue, attributed to the mineral-rich environment, attracts photographers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts from around the world.
The surrounding area was the scene of one of the last and bloodiest Scottish clan battles in clan history. Here, the MacDonalds of Sleat and the MacLeods of Dunvegan saw the end of their long and brutal history with the War of the One-Eyed Woman, which took place sometime in 1601. Legend has it that this fight was so bloody the Fairy Pools were completely red that day!
Hiking distance: 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Hiking length: 40 minutes – 1.5 hours
Hiking difficulty: easy
My experience at the Fairy Pools
The hike to the Fairy Pools is pretty simple. There is a well-marked, relatively flat path that leads you directly to the pools. The path takes about 40 minutes one way, so you likely need about 2 hours to visit the Fairy Pools (not including swimming time if you’re visiting during the summer). The walk is absolutely gorgeous as you are walking towards the Cuillin Mountain range the entire time. We were unlucky in that it rained heavily during the entirety of our hike, and we had already hiked to Neist Point and Old Man of Storr that day, so we were exhausted. Still, I didn’t regret hiking to the Fairy Pools, which should tell you all you need to know about whether it is worthy of your Isle of Skye itinerary or not!
While most of the trail is evenly paved, once you descend into any of the swimming areas or the Fairy Pools themselves, you’ll be faced with slippery rocks. I don’t recommend doing this hike in sandals such as Birkenstocks or Chacos. Waterproof hiking sneakers or boots are your best bet when hiking in this area.
How to get there
The Fairy Pools are located 15 minutes outside the small village of Carbost. From here, you’ll head south along the winding road leading from Carbost to Glenbrittle. Google Maps should be able to take you there no problem, but there are also signposts for the Fairy Pools to keep you on track in case you have trouble with your phone service.
There is a 120-space car park available at the Fairy Pools that costs £6 to park at for the day. The machines take both card and coins, so no worries about carrying cash. There are also free bathrooms (pretty nice ones actually) at this car park, so it also makes for a good break stop in case you need it.
The entrance to the car park is found on the opposite side of the road to the entrance to the Fairy Pools.
As we went during off season, we had no issue parking, but if you are going during peak season, you might want to show up earlier in the morning. The busiest times are in the summer months from 11am to 1pm.
Helpful tips for the Fairy Pools
What to wear
What you wear to the Isle of Skye largely depends on what season you are visiting. There are some nonnegotiables, though, regardless of season.
- Hiking shoes or sneakers with solid grip — I have these hiking boots from Sorrel that I love.
- Comfortable, lightweight clothing that you can sweat in
- Layers — especially if you are hiking during the transitional months. Your hike may start off chilly, but 30 minutes into it you will start to get hot! I wore this Outdoor Voices pullover that was perfect for the chillier weather.
- Raincoat — no matter where you go in Scotland, you should prepare for some rain! During our hike to the Fairy Pools, it started pouring. Thank god we had our rain coats or it would’ve been miserable.
- Swimsuit — you can definitely swim at the Fairy Pools in the summer months, but you’ll want to wear this under your clothing because there are no places to change once you start the hike.
What to pack
Below I’ve listed a few things you shouldn’t forget on your hike.
- Water bottle (don’t forget to fill it) — Make sure you fill your water bottle before leaving home for this hike!
- Sunscreen
- Midge spray — bring this if you are visiting the Fairy Pools between May and September. The midges particularly love this area due to the water.
- Camera — if you don’t already know, the views during this hike are incredible. What a shame it would be if you forgot your camera! If you’re looking for a digital camera, I use the Sony a6000, a great beginner-friendly travel camera. You can also find this camera used for around $300, which I recommend doing.
Best times to see the Fairy Pools
We visited the Isle of Skye during the off-season (late Feb/early March) and most of the places we went to were empty, which I find ideal for places like the Isle of Skye. That being said, it isn’t sunny and the temperature isn’t warm, so that effectively removes any swimming opportunities if that’s what you’re looking for. The most popular time to see the Fairy Pools is in the summer months (June – August) from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Personally, I would avoid visiting in the middle of the day if you can (11 am – 5 pm) and avoid weekends as these are peak hours in the summer. Visiting during the week will guarantee a quieter time, especially in early morning or later in the afternoons. You can make the most of it and catch either the sunrise or sunset too!
The Fairy Pools vs. Fairy Glen
When I first started researching the Isle of Skye, I thought the Fairy Pools and Fairy Glen were somehow connected. I mean, if you have “Fairy” in the title, there must be something whimsical about both places, right? While both spots definitely are magical, they aren’t linked in any way, and they’re actually located pretty far from each other. The vibes at both spots are also pretty different, so I recommend making time for both if you can.
Visiting Fairy Glen takes less time than the Fairy Pools, considering there is virtually no hike for the Fairy Glen, but there is an hour and a half hike (~40 minutes each way) to see the Fairy Pools. However, if you’re looking to swim, the Fairy Pools are one of the most popular swimming spots on the Isle of Skye. All along the hike toward the Fairy Pools you’ll see many little pools formed from the falls. Some are even bright blue, making them that much more inviting.
Something to note is the water is crazy cold no matter what time of year so be prepared for a chilly swim!
