Visiting the Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Faerie Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Today, on a tour bus, I went to the Fairy Pools a.k.a. Faerie Pools on the Isle of Skye.  The pools are located in what looks like a glacier-carved valley below the Black Cullins mountains.  You’ll find them after a fifteen-minute walk from the Glen Brittle parking lot.

Tiny waterfalls pour into bright green pools.  The whole area is covered with blooming pink heather and tiny green ferns.  If I were a fairy, I would live there.  For sure.  It’s hard to translate into pictures but all these pools and waterfalls are miniature, coming from a stream.  It was like Niagara Falls scaled down 1000%.

Some brave souls were swimming there.  The water was freezing.

I didn’t realize prior to today that fairies are such a huge part of Scottish folklore and still today, many people believe them to be real.

According to our guide, fairies are not always nice and should best be avoided because of their potentially dangerous behavior.  They can shapeshift and change size but the one thing they cannot do is change their personality.

I was warned that if I meet a very attractive adult that acts like a child, I may be interacting with a fairy who is trying to kidnap me via temptation.  This led me to surmise that I have dated at least 102 fairies.   Now it all makes sense.

Roughly the location of the Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye

The guide told us about a book, called The Secret Commonwealth: of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies which was written by a Scottish minister in the 1600’s after his interactions with these nature spirits.  This seems to be the ultimate guide to fairies if one is interested in such things.

Rowan trees are said to repel fairies and driving around the Isle of Skye it’s noted that Rowan trees have been planted at the entrance of many properties.

How to Get to the Fairy Pools

Getting there by bus/walking: Getting to the Fairy Pools is not easy without a car.  The nearest public bus stop is 6 kilometers away.  More info.

Join a tour: TourSkye offers this Fairy Dust Trail tour. I have not done it myself.

Getting there by car: To get there by car, take the road towards Glen Brittle.  Park in the Glen Brittle parking lot.  Across the road, there is a clear path that leads to the pools. Stay to the right.  There are some parts of the path that cross small streams so prepare to stone step or get your feet wet.

Do you believe in fairies?

Photos of the Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland: