Fairy Pools, Skye

The Fairy Pools are a chain of clear, cold pools and little falls on the River Brittle, Glen Brittle, with the Cuillin sitting over them like a threat and a backdrop. They are beautiful. They are also one of the most visited short walks on Skye, which means your photograph of empty turquoise water is either luck, dawn, or a lie.

Practical

There is a car park. It costs, it fills, the roadside is a mess when people pretend it has not filled. The path is obvious and can be rough and wet. The water is swimming-pool-in-January cold even in August. If you go in, that is your decision and your towel.

The name is marketing that stuck. The geology is meltwater and rock. You do not need a legend to stand there. Pair with a quieter bit of the island, not with four other viral lay-bys. Skye, Skye the candle.