The Fairy Pools Reactive Dog Hike, Isle of Skye
- Ella
- May 25, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 18
The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye are a series of beautiful crystal-clear pools and waterfalls nestled at the foot of the Cuillin mountains. Looking like something straight out of a fantasy novel, this walk has some truly breath-taking views. It is a short(ish) but very scenic hike, taking you through rugged landscapes, crossing some small streams, and following a long winding path alongside the pools. Getting their names from Skye's rich folklore and mythology, the island has long been associated with fairy legends. Whether you believe in fairies or not (we won't judge), the Fairy Pools definitely have a magical charm.
If you're feeling particularly brave, the pools are also a designated wild swimming spot, but the water itself is absolutely freezing! Even in the summer, the pools' temperatures rarely rise above 10°C.


When to Go
When we went, it was a Friday morning during term-time in September, so theoretically it was 'off-peak'. By the time we had begun the walk, it was around 9am and still rather quiet, but because of recent popularity on social media, the Fairy Pools have become quite a busy walk frequented by tourists. Additionally, the car park has a tendency to get very busy during peak times, with the busiest times being 11am to 1pm during the summer months, so the earlier you arrive, the better.
While we did see a number of people on our walk down to the fairy pools, only a few of them had dogs, and there were plenty of passing places. Dogs are required to be kept on a lead due to grazing livestock, and luckily everybody stuck to the rules. Unlike what we experienced at Pen Y Fan, the paths were a lot wider and easier to navigate. However, on our walk back to the car, we did encounter many more people, many more tourists, and, unfortunately, many more dogs. Considering how busy the trail was getting when we were returning to the car at approximately 11am, I can't begin to imagine how busy it would be in peak-season.
How to Get There
The Fairy Pools are only a short drive from Portree, which is the main town on the Isle of Skye. If you are traveling from Portree, then the drive is approximately 21 miles and will take approximately 30 minutes. The easiest way to get there is by car, following the signs to Glen Brittle and the pools themselves are located approximately 5 miles from the turnoff to Glen Brittle on the B8009. This road is a very narrow single-track road that has passing places, but is not suitable for buses.
While it is free to see the Fairy Pools, there is a charge for parking. The car park itself is well signposted and is directly opposite the pedestrian entrance gate for the walk. It is only £8 for all-day parking, and there are Pay and Display machines in the car park which take both card and cash payments, but when we visited, there were also car parking attendants taking cash. The car park is one-way only and the lower section is reserved for larger vehicles only (such as campervans, minibus vans, etc.). There is also a toilet block in the car park that is pretty well-kept and free to use.
If you are planning to travel by bus, then check the Stagecoach website, or alternatively, there is a smaller village nearby called Carbost which buses run to. However, from Carbost, you will either need to walk the 5 miles to get to the Fairy Pools or arrange for a taxi.
Walk Statistics

Walk distance: 4.2Km
Time to complete: 1-2 Hours
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation: 518ft
Terrain: Gravel, wide paths, not wheelchair friendly though as rocky in places
Pub or Grub: No nearby places
The route is commonly regarded as fairly easy and is suitable in most weather conditions. However, during winter months when there has been heavy rainfall, the water can rise rather high. Additionally, in colder months, the narrow road can become icy and hazardous to cars, so extra precautions should be taken. There are generally four stages in the hike, the first stage being the walk from the car park to the footpath. The second stage has a good gravel path that crosses over grassland and an area of peat moorland. Stage three begins at the second footbridge, and just after this is the first waterfall, which has the deepest pool and is also the tallest of the waterfalls. The second pool is the more famous one and is generally recommended as the best for swimming, but as you continue your walk, there are many smaller pools. The fourth and final stage is the return, doubling back on yourself and using the same footpath.


Be Prepared:
Wear the right footwear. While most of the walk can be dry and is on a gravelled path, some sections can be very boggy so waterproof boots are recommended.
Open fires are not advised and flying drones is prohibited without a license
Mobile phone coverage is unreliable so make sure people know where you are if hiking alone.
There are no bins, all rubbish (and dog poo) must be taken back to the car park with you and not left on the trail.
If you are planning on wild-swimming its advised to bring a wetsuit, towel and a change of clothes
Respect the countryside code, there are sheep grazing on the mountain, dogs are asked to be kept on lead
Our Rating:
Scenery Score:

Views of the surrounding mountains are stunning
The pools are easily accessible and are magical, the moorland is equally as beautiful too
Accessibility Score:

The route is not easily accessible for wheelchair users. The first half of the walk after the initial uneven ground is, but after the second bridge it becomes difficult
The route gets slightly more difficult for less abled or arthritic dogs about halfway through the walk
The route is fine for children, and many young children complete the hike
Reactivity Rating:

Dogs are to be kept on-lead
Timing is key, we saw very few dogs when we arrived but as we were heading back to the car it was getting busier.
Good passing places on the trail and wide paths near the start, near the actual Fairy Pools passing places are more difficult
Amenities:

The car park is a decent size and fits approximately 120 cars
The toilets are well kept and clean
There are no shops to buy food or drinks from, and no nearby cafes within reasonable distance- bring food and water with you.
Final Thoughts- Do we Recommend The Fairy Pools Hike For Reactive Dogs?

We absolutely recommend visiting the Fairy Pools, but this could be a walk where it's better to leave the dogs at home. It's popularity often means crowded trails, especially during the summer months. However, this can be mitigated by early morning or late evening visits.
We would not recommend this trail for people reactive dogs, but with careful considerations a dog reactive dog could be managed.
Thank you for reading!
Ella, Mulder and Scully
Comments