World Places: Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland

If you are backpacking in Scotland generally or are planning a trip to the Isle of Skye then I heartily recommend that you visit the so-called Fairy Pools.

They are just southeast of Glen Brittle Forest and about two miles before you reach Glen Brittle beach itself. I’m not sure anyone really knows why they are called the Fairy Pools but it’s got to be down to how they look, right?

They are part of a stream running off of the Cuillin mountains, full of vividly coloured pools of often almost still water which are punctuated by busy waterfalls. It’s best to visit on the day after a small rain shower, on a dry day with some cloud cover.

That way the water levels will be topped up but not too urgent, and the cloud cover will mean that the water’s surface doesn’t reflect too much light – thereby dimming your view of the stunning colours beneath. If you have an IR filter for your camera now is the time to employ it properly to delete those reflections!