The Isle of Skye is not lacking in beautiful landscapes and those found at the Fairy Pools will not disappoint. The setting will definitely feel magical and fairy-like with a beautiful series of waterfalls, cascades, and water pools backdropped by the imposing and often cloud-wrapped Cuillin mountains. Though the trail to the Fairy Pools is technically considered a hiking trail, the path is wide and well-groomed, and there isn’t much elevation gain, making it easily accessible and one of the most popular walking trails on Skye. It’s simply a beautiful location to go for a walk in nature. Its close proximity to the village of Carbost makes it an ideal activity to combine with a visit to the Talisker Distillery. Below we present our Fairy Pools Hiking Guide, which includes information on how to get to the trailhead, trail length and difficulty, and other nearby sights of interest.
Disclosure: This page (The Fairy Pools: Hiking Guide to one of Skye’s Magical Landscapes) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.
You might also be interested in these pages:
Top Things to See and Do on Skye
4-Day Roadtrip Isle of Skye Itinerary
Isle of Skye Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye
Skye’s Best Hiking and Walking Trails
ORIENTATION – WHERE ARE THE FAIRY POOLS?
The Fairy Pools are located in south-central Skye, 33 km from Portree (about a 40-minute drive) or 56 km from the Skye Bridge (a one-hour drive), which connects the Isle of Skye to mainland Scotland.
Note that to get there you will have to drive a long stretch of single-track roads, the last 7 km of the drive starting when you exit Broadford on road B8009.
For advice and tips on how to drive in Scotland, check out our Scotland Roadtrip Driving Guide. For advice and tips that are more specific to Skye with a focus on single-track roads, check out our Isle of Skye Road Trip Driving Guide.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Scotland.
Getting to the Fairy Pools by public transit is somewhat difficult, requiring the accurate timing of 2-3 buses, each of which has limited departure times, combined with some additional required walking. If you don’t have your own rental car, it’s best to join a group tour from either Portree, Inverness or Edinburgh.
Parking: There is a large parking lot across the road from the trailhead.
The car park operates a one-way system with the bottom car park reserved for camper vans, minibuses, motorhomes and larger vehicles. No overnight stays are allowed.
Hours: The trail is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can visit any time you like.
Costs: Hiking the trail is free, but the car park is Pay & Display (£6 for the day (2023)). Payment only applies from 8 am – 8 pm. Parking outside of these times is free of charge. There is an alternative Fairy Pools car park, but it is a short but steep 15-minute walk away along a fairly steep road with no sidewalks.
Facilities: There are public toilets by the parking lot. However, they toilets are generally closed outside of daytime hours.
THE FAIRY POOLS TRAIL
Even before you take your first step on the trail, as you cross the road from the car park, the views of the Cuillin mountains are just stunning and spectacular. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the car park to appreciate the spectacular scenery.
From the trailhead, you can clearly see the path wind its way down along the river, and then up towards the mountain range.
Trail Details
Distance: 4.2 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 70 m (cumulative elevation gain: 158 m)
Start point: Fairy Pool Parking lot
AllTrails rating: (4.5, 1340 ratings (2023))
Alternative route: Turn the out & back trail into a longer 7.4 km loop.
Duration: 1h-1h30
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
Trail Summary
You can expect to complete the full trail length of the trail (including the return) in about 50-60 minutes, with added time to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. Altogether, you can expect to spend about 1h30 on-site if you stick to the main walking trail. There is a longer and more challenging loop trail variant presented below for those who would like to hike for a longer distance in the Fairy Pool area (though the return leg of the trail takes you back away from the pools).
The majority of the trail is along a large and well-groomed path – it’s only towards the end of the trail, once you’ve already passed most of the waterfalls and pools, that the path narrows and becomes more rocky. Many people turn back before reaching this point as most of the pools and waterfalls are already behind you and continuing forward will simply take you closer to the base of the Cuillin mountains.
As you first reach the trailhead, the first section of the trail descends steeply, but only over a very short distance. Soon thereafter, the path crosses the river where a large wooden bridge was recently installed to help visitors cross the river more easily.
Once you have passed the bridge, for the remainder of the trail, the river along with all the pools, waterfalls, and cascades will be on your right hand side.
The very cold, many take a dip in the fairy pools. Not being fans of cold water we did not go in, but we saw several folks go for a quick dip while we were there.
The further up the trail you go, the fewer people there were likely to be. Many stop at the first pool and waterfalls, but there are several more ahead. So if you have the energy and time, keep on going!
Once it’s time to turn back, you return to the car park along the same path you just walked. You should be able to return to the car park without stops in about 20-25 minutes.
If you didn’t stop here on the way down, be sure to check out the additional waterfall that requires only a 20 m detour from the main path. Don’t worry, it’s hard to miss. It’s about 150m from the trailhead, roughly halfway between the wooden bridge and the car park.
Hiking Packing List
All Trails subscription – This comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
External Battery – If you are using your phone to track your progress along the trail or to help with navigation, you certainly don’t want your phone to die on you. That’s especially true in the unlikely event that you might get hurt or need assistance.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in steep trails or muddy/boggy trail conditions.
Alternative Trail Option
If you want to spend more time in the area, you can turn this hike into a 7.4 km loop trail. There’s quite a bit more elevation in this version of the trail, and it takes on average 2h-2h30 to complete. Not that the return leg does not follow the waterfall- and Fairy Pool-filled river.
FAIRY POOL TIPS
- Come early if you can, to avoid the crowds (preferably before 9 am) – the Fairy Pools are a very popular attraction in Skye. Alternatively come later in the day, after 3 pm.
- Check the weather before heading out. Our favourite weather app for the area is the Met Office app.
- If coming during the summer months, beware of the pesky little midges. You can check the midge forecast beforehand.
- Stick to the designated path to protect the surrounding environment.
- Wild swimming is allowed in the pools but jump into the cold waters at your own risk. There are no lifeguards or staff around, so only swim the pools if you are confident in your abilities.
Where to eat nearby
Your best bet is to head to Carbost, a very small town 15-minutes away with a few good eating options. This is the town where you will also find Skye’s famous Talisker Distillery (more on the distillery below).
Caora Dhubh Coffee Company – a small coffee shop right across the street from the distillery with delicious sandwiches and pastries. Though there is no indoor seating, there are several lakeside picnic tables to enjoy the food with a view.
The Oyster Shed – Here you can enjoy delicious fresh seafood in a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere.
The Old Inn & Waterfront Bunkhouse – your only option for a proper sit-down meal with service.
OTHER SKYE HIKING TRAILS
To get your fill of green lush otherworldly landscapes – The Quiraing
Easily our favorite hike on Skye. Located about a 65-minute drive from the Fairy Pools trail.
Another Skye classic with iconic otherworldly views – The Old Man of Storr
The Old Man of Storr is the most popular hiking option along the Trotternish Peninsula Loop, roughly a 45-minute drive from the Fairy Pools trailhead.
A lesser-known coastal beauty favourite of ours – Camanusary Bay
A beautiful and tranquil trail that approaches the Cuillin Mountains from the east, as opposed to from the west like the Fairy Pools trail. The trailheads are roughly a 60-minute drive apart.
To find yourself on a beach between sea stacks, cows and a stunning waterfall – Talisker Bay
Like Camasunary Bay, a very peaceful and tranquil trail. Located about a 25-minute drive from the Fairy Pool trail.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Sligachan Old Bridge and Waterfall – A more than worthy photo stop along Skye’s main road.
The bridge is about a 20-minute drive from the trailhead.
Dunvegan Castle – Visit Skye’s most impressive and well-preserved castle. The castle is about a 40-minute drive from the Fairy Pools.
Talisker Distillery – Sample some whiskey at Skye’s oldest and most famous distillery. Located a short 15-minute drive from the Fairy Pools.
Town of Portree – Take a stroll through Skye’s largest town and its colourful harbour homes. The town is a 35-minute drive from the Fairy Pools.
Eilean Donan – Although it’s not quite on Skye, it’s without a doubt a worthy stop on your way in or out of Skye. The castle is about a 65-minute drive away.
Neist Point Lighthouse – A beautiful drive along a long and winding road will take you to the stunning vistas of Skye’s most photogenic lighthouse. The lighthouse is about a 65-minute drive away.
Trotternish Peninsula – Not a single attraction but rather a collection of several, including several waterfalls and hiking trails including the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr.
Preparing a trip to the Highlands?
You might be interested in these pages:
Top Things to See and Do on Skye
4-Day Roadtrip Isle of Skye Itinerary
Isle of Skye Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye
Skye’s Best Hiking and Walking Trails
Preparing a trip to Scotland?
You might be interested in these Scotland pages:
10-Day Scotland Roadtrip Itinerary (Edinburgh and Highlands)
Scotland Driving Guide and Tips
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Scotland
Lonely Planet Scotland’s Highlands
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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e-Sim cards
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eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Fairy Pools Hiking Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to Scotland’s beautiful Isle of Skye.
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