Overview

After a delightful journey through beautiful mountain scenery, we arrived at the famous pools and small waterfalls. FAIRY POOLS, ISLE OF SKYE, IV47 8TA. The car park looks over towards the peaks of the Black Cuillin mountains, hopefully you will have a day when the mist relents for a short while so as to admire the scenery. The Isle of Skye certainly lived up to its reputation, the Black Cuillin mountain range, which run for about 11 miles west to east, were hidden behind the mist, which was a shame, because there are a number of Munro,s (high peaks of over 3000 feet) that walkers and climbers wish to challenge. (READ OUR REVIEW ON KYLEAKIN for our story about the Munro,s) The range may mean as taken from the old Norse, Bred Dal, (broad river, or valley) with “gleann” (Glen) added later.located in the Black Cuillin mountain range. The river Brittle flows from the heights of Bruach na Frithe, ( it’s the first range on the left of our photos, and runs down the valley floor, passing waterfalls and through small pools now known as “Fairy pools” before reaching the Glenbrittle campsite, and then running into Loch Brittle. Down there on the beach you may spot Grey Herons, Ruddy Turnstones, Rinded Plovers, Dunkin’s, Curlews and Oystercatchers.Opposite the mountains are plantations of forest, looked after by the Forestry and Land Scotland, and running the full length down the middle of the valley is a narrow mountain lane, a very popular road which can get quite clogged during the main seasons. So a large dairy compressed car park (with toilets) has been built to help tourists enjoy this beautiful region of Skye. Hidden away in the mist, (but shown on photo 2) would be Scurr Dearg “in pin” Red Peak 986m. Scurr na Banachdich “peak of the milkmaid, 965m. Scurr A’Ghreadaich, “Peak of Torment” 973m. Scurr A’Mhadaidh “peak of the fox” 918m. Photo 3 shows the walk that can be taken to see the river Brittle and Fairy pools, but this is over very uneven dirt tracks, and very unsuitable for disabled, but you can see this view from the carpark. It is a twenty minute walk to reach the pools, but worth it. There are a number of small pools, ideal for the little people (fairies) to use, as the river Brittle meanders over the valley slopes of the valet Coir’a’Mhadaidh (burn of the Corrie of the wolf” These pools can be a beautiful shade of Aqua blue, and they are a popular visit. Wild life here is abundant, although you may not see any yourself due to the large crowds who come, but who can blame them, it is indeed a treat, quiet and restful, in magnificent mountain scenery. The area is inhabited by Red Deer (in quiet areas of course) lots of rabbits and sheep. You will see and hear flocks of crows and ravens, and of course, the gulls. The landscape is mainly rock, with some boggy areas, but this will not effect the tourist who just come to see the pools. In the car park, There is a toilet block, with a ramp at the end, and it does have an accessible toilet, BUT YOU WILL NEED A RADAR KEY. It’s a bit tight inside, but we think you should all manage, otherwise it’s the ordinary public cubicles. If you are on a coach trip, then as your normal fellow companions get off to enjoy the walk along the river Brittle, the coach driver will take those who stay on the bus on a short drive to Loch Brittle, or of course you can drive yourself there. It’s a pleasant short drive to take you to have a coffee break at the campsite. GLENBRITTLE CAMPSITE AND CUILLIN COFFEE CAFE, GLENBRITTLE, IV47 8TA www.glenbrittle@dunvegancastle.com Photo 5. A car park area that is used by the shop and for campers use. Opened in 1961 it has been awarded as the “no1 best cool coastal campsite” in September 2020 issue of Coast Magazine. This site offers wild camping experiences that younger people will love. Photo 6 shows the shop, but this will be bettered over the next few years. PHOTO 7 Being small inside, it can get crowded, and waiting for your food and drink order may involve waiting for some time. PHOTO 8 If it’s a nice enough day, there are plenty of wooden benches to sit at and admire the views , and it overlooks more of the peaks of the Black Cuillins, our photo 9 shows the range over towards the highest peak in the Isle of Skye, Scurr Alastair’s (Alexander’s peak) A short walk the disabled could manage on their chair, would be just beyond the cafe on the mountain lane itself and down towards Loch Brittle PHOTO 10. This is a lovely quiet out of the way loch, with lovely views back over the Cuillin mountains. You now return to the Fairy pools, and pass the Loch Brittle, (Photo,) and you may stop for a view of the Brittle Falls. There is a small pull in in just a few hundred yards, worth getting out to see the fast flowing river and its little waterfall. PHOTO 11 Brittle Falls, a beautiful stretch of the river. You now pass the carpark again for the pools, and we will take you to Portree, the main town on the island READ OUR REVIEW FOR PORTREE foe sat nav directions.

Transport & Parking

There is a large enough car park now, on compressed land, but not to difficult for a chair to ride over

Access

Access to the toilets where ok, but basically impossible to go towards the pools themselves, the path is not very wide, rather bumpy and difficult, but you can see river and slight sights of the pools from the car park.

Toilets

There is accessible toilets, but rather minimalistic, but at least they are handy.p

Staff

Just one or two, concentrating mainly on parking of cars.

Photos