Why you should visit the Isle of Skye Fairy Pools

The Isle of Skye Fairy Pools are a natural wonder not to be missed by anyone who is planning to visit the island. Located near to the north-west coast of the Scottish Highlands, the Isle of Skye is the largest and furthest north of all the islands in the Inner Hebrides.

It's also the second largest attraction in Scotland after Edinburgh, and for good reason!

The coastline has an abundance of dramatic steeps cliffs, caves, bays and waterfalls ideal place for exploring. The pools themselves are beautiful and offer the opportunity to go wild swimming. Plus there are plenty of other natural and historical attractions nearby.

Read on while we break down why the fairy pools are one of the island’s many gems you shouldn't miss.

The beautiful Fairy Pools

Although an island, you can travel to the Isle of Skye from mainland Scotland by car across the Skye Bridge. Alternatively, you can fly from the nearest airports of Glasgow or Inverness, or take a ferry for a more scenic route.

The fairy pools are located south east of Glen Brittle Forest and are not too far from Glen Brittle Beach. They are best reached by foot (a mile or so from the nearest car park) and are a collection of rock pools formed by the stream that runs off of the Cuillin mountain range.

Despite there being no real explanation behind their name, you can see why the pools might be associated with the magical creatures due to their vivid and bright blue and green colours that contrast brilliantly against the grey and orange rock face.

The water in the pools is often so still that you can see the reflections of the surrounding scenery as you look into them. The pools are best viewed on a slightly overcast day when reflections in the water won’t be hindered by too much sunlight.

As one of Skye’s most popular attractions, you are sure to fall under the spell of these mystical pools!

Try wild swimming

If you find it hard to resist a refreshing swim in the beautiful water of these pools, you won't be alone. However, although the pools look inviting, don’t be fooled into jumping right in! As you might expect on a northerly island situated in the Atlantic Ocean, the water is freezing even in the height of summer!

If you're determined to take a dip, to take a wet suit with you and enough towels and blankets to dry off and keep warm afterwards. If you are feeling brave, there are a few rocky areas higher up where you can leap into the deeper pools for a real adrenaline rush!

If you are planning to spend the day at the pools, take a picnic and pack some hot drinks in a thermos. Goggles can be a good idea to help you get spectacular views of the bottom of the pools and waterproof, hard-wearing shoes are useful too, as the rocks around the pools can be sharp.

Don’t forget your camera to capture the stunning array of colours in the pools!

Other nearby attractions

Glen Brittle Beach is another location attraction worthy of a visit, and a day at the beach here is a great way to spend some time with the family. It's situated at the head of Loch Brittle and is large and sandy - perfect for kite-flying, walking and relaxing.

There's a car park right next to the beach, a shop nearby for drinks and ice creams, and plenty of campsites offering spectacular views of the Cuillin mountain range behind it.

About an hour’s drive north from the beach, you will find Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. The oldest and continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, it has a wonderful display of treasures and fine art with five acres of immaculate gardens for the family to wander around and enjoy. From here, you can take a short boat ride out to visit the seal colony in Loch Dunvegan.

The magical fairy pools on the Isle of Skye are a wonderful natural feature. Once there, you feel as though you are a million miles away in an enchanting landscape of crystal blue waterfalls overlooked by the peaceful mountains of Cuillin.

These pools are well worth a visit as part of your next Scottish camping holiday!