Fairy Pools

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Features River/Creek · Views

This is one of the top hikes (at least by popularity) on the Isle of Skye. The route is generally easy as it follows the crystal clear Allt Coir a Mhadaidh (one of those words must be Scottish for "stream") up a valley towards the Cuillin mountains. There are quite a few small waterfalls and cascades along the way and many of these have small pools of deep green and blue water below them. (The pools are popular bathing spots).

The trail becomes narrower and steeper as it ascends, but you can turn around at any time. Experienced hillwalkers can enjoy a more solitary experience climbing into the Cuillins past the handwritten sign noting the end of the fairy pools hike.

This is a good earthen and stone trail. It gets more challenging the farther you go, but this short hike shown here is generally suitable for most people.

From the Cuillin mountains visible in the distance, the crystal clear Allt Coir a Mhadaidh stream flows down into the Glen Brittle valley. You'll cross a small stream at 0.2 miles and shortly thereafter the path follows right along the edge of the stream. The stream consists of a number of small cascades and waterfalls. Many of these empty into small pools of water. These have deep aqua-blue coloration, and thus they are called fairy pools. The trail and surroundings are really quite beautiful.

However, you won't have a solitary experience on this hike, except perhaps really early or late in the day as the trail is extremely popular. The path is quite wide in places due to the high number of visitors the area receives. Some of the pools will have been commandeered by groups of bathers.

The "Fairy Pool" route ends abruptly at the end with a handwritten sign saying this is the end of the fairy pools. However, the trail continues up into the Cuillin Mountains, but only experienced hillwalkers should continue up into the mountains. For the rest of us mere mortals, turn back and retrace your steps to the starting point.