The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye

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The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye

The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye near the Black Cullins are an amazing sight. The River Brittle starts in the Black Cullin Mountains flowing towards Glenbrittle, it has several waterfalls and some of the most beautiful natural pools I have ever seen. While you can find some great information about the location and hike on Isleofsky.com there are a few things you may also wish to know from personal experience about the Fairy Pools. If you really wish to enjoy them you need to get there either very early or late in the day, make sure to bring a second set of foot wear and make absolutely sure some midge repellent.

You want to arrive at the Fairy Pools either first thing in the morning or near the end of the day depending on your schedule, this natural attraction is one of the most visited on the Isle of Skye. As early as dawn there are hikers on the trail trying to get that first glimpse of the pools without the crowd and by mid morning the trail can be packed with other hikers and photographers. Trust me, this is for good reason and really well worth the visit but if you are like me and want to enjoy the natural beauty of a place without rubbing elbows then try to schedule your hike the first or last item of the day.

The hike up the River Brittle and the Fairy Pools involves crossing several streams and given the nature of the weather in Scotland have a second set of footwear is really advisable, not much is worse than wet shoes for a few days. There are several stream crossings and many of which can only be done by large rock stepping stones, these stones depending on the recent weather can be quite slippery or even completely submerged and impassable. Additional if you have any inclination to set from the graveled path which follows the pools you can find yourself is some very muddy tracks. I strongly recommend bringing a good set of muck boots to wear or a second set of hiking shoes depend on the space you have and how you are traveling. Crossing the contributing streams to the River Brittle which feed the Fairy Pools can be as easy or difficult as the Scottish weather.

As stunning and peaceful as the Fairy Pools are, if you want to wish to enjoy them at all then you have to deal with the midges. Let me tell you from personal experience, the midges are nothing like mosquitoes and will absolutely ruin a perfectly good day. As long as there is a breeze this public nuisance is manageable but that is the only things that will blow this annoyance away. Rain has no effect at all but what does and is recommended by the locals whom I spoke with is Skin so Soft.  There are many products sold as a midge repellant but take the word of those whom have to deal with them daily, I did and it has made a huge difference.

The Fairy Pools of Skye are certainly a must see but if you are really want to enjoy the experience get there without the crowd and be prepared. If you found this article helpful or have any other suggestions I would love to hear them, learning is life long. Even better though, if you enjoyed it enough to not want to miss out on new articles please subscribe at the bottom of the homepage.

 

By | 2017-08-15T18:26:25+00:00 August 14th, 2017|Photography articles, Travel and destination articles|1 Comment

One Comment

  1. White Label SEO January 30, 2020 at 4:07 pm - Reply

    Awesome post! Keep up the great work! 🙂

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