GLEN BRITTLE, ISLE OF SKYE / OUT AND BACK
Fairy Pools Walk on Skye: Upper Pools Route and Parking
Follow the Fairy Pools path into Glen Brittle on Skye, with an upper-pools turnaround, parking advice and a plan that does not depend on wild swimming.
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At a glance
Why this walking route is worth doing
The Fairy Pools are a chain of clear pools and cascades beneath the Cuillin. Walking upstream changes the view repeatedly: a small drop close to the path, a wider pool, then the mountain backdrop further into the glen. It is worth deciding how far you want to go rather than treating the first pool as the whole visit.
Our return route reaches an upper section of the mapped pools path. It is a little longer than a quick lower-pools visit, but it does not turn into a Cuillin mountain ascent. The same path brings you back to the roadside entrance.
VisitScotland describes the Fairy Pools approach as a popular gravel-path outing, with bridges along the route. The line here is around 3.4 km return to its upper-pools endpoint. That scope matters when comparing it with shorter advertised visits.
The pools are a walking destination whether or not you enter the water. Photograph them from firm ground and leave room for others. Cold water, slippery rock and changing flow mean an attractive pool is not a promise of safe swimming.
Where to stay
Carbost: A useful nearby village base for the Glen Brittle approach; check the final road distance.
Portree: Consider for a longer island stay, with more time allowed for the drive to the pools.
The accommodation map is centred on Carbost. Compare your own dates, cancellation terms and the journey to the actual trailhead. Check breakfast times, parking, dog charges and somewhere to dry wet kit before booking. Booking through some links may earn Days Out Now a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Plan another day
Plan an Isle of Skye road trip · Old Man of Storr walk · Glen Affric loch loop
Mapped and ready
See the real route before you set off
Open the interactive map before setting off and save an offline map for the walk.
Step-by-step directions
Follow the route
Leave the roadside entrance for the glen
Cross the road carefully where the walking approach begins and use the established gravel path into the glen. Save a view of the route before leaving parking, as the walk begins beyond the car-park boundary.
Pass the lower pools
Follow the path beside the Allt Coir’ a’ Mhadaidh stream and use the current bridge crossings. Take photographs from stable places rather than balancing on wet rocks beside the falls.
Continue to the upper-pools turnaround
Remain on the mapped walking line until its upper endpoint. This is an extended pools visit, not a route into the higher Cuillin. Turn back earlier if the flow, wind or footing makes you uneasy.
Return along the same path
Retrace the approach and allow time for the final climb back towards the road. Recheck road traffic before crossing to parking; finishing the riverside section does not finish the day’s hazards.
Useful overnight bases
Make a break of it
Carbost
Carbost, Scotland
Compare stays →Portree
Portree, Scotland
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Things to do on another day
Compare the provider’s current activities for a longer stay. Check the meeting point, duration and travel time; keep a demanding walk as its own outing.
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Before you go
Practical information
Route checked against mapped paths on 2 October 2026. This out and back measures approximately 3.4 km along the supplied OpenStreetMap line. It does not include travel from your accommodation, optional detours or time spent at attractions. Walking time is a planning estimate, with room for short stops.
Download the file before leaving and use it with a detailed offline walking map. The KML is independently assembled from OpenStreetMap paths, rather than a recorded walk or a route copied from another travel publisher. It has been checked for continuous mapped segments; this is not an on-foot condition survey. Current closures, landowner notices and signed diversions take priority.
Route data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.
Parking
Use the designated Fairy Pools car park near the Glen Brittle road. Follow the operator’s current payment and access instructions; access to the pools and car-park charges are separate matters. Keep the road and entrances clear.
Tickets and booking
No pool admission ticket is part of this plan. Pay any current car-park fee. A booked transfer or tour is a separate service; confirm how long you will actually have on the trail.
Seasonal considerations
Pick a daylight visit with manageable water levels. After heavy rain, assess the crossings and footing before continuing. Allow extra time for wind, rain and slower photography stops.
Toilets and refreshments
Use facilities advertised by the car-park operator when open, but do not depend on food or water sales at the trailhead. Make a stop near Carbost before or after the walk.
Terrain
Gravel path, uneven steps and streamside ground. Water and mud can affect footing after rain. This file follows the walking path rather than informal lines along the water’s edge.
Accessibility
The complete upper-pools route has not been assessed as step-free. Gradients and uneven surfaces mean it should not be advertised as a wheelchair or pushchair walk.
Dogs
Keep dogs under close control and on leads near livestock. Prevent them chasing wildlife or pulling towards steep stream banks, and bring water for them.
Public transport
No direct dependable scheduled bus to the path entrance has been verified. Check a transfer or tour’s actual time allowance, as some visits provide only enough time for the lower pools.
Road conditions, tolls or permits
Use the exact start coordinates to locate the walking entrance. Follow current local parking, access-road and signed restriction information.
Safety
Wet rock beside a cascade is slippery. Stay on the path and use current bridges and signs rather than wading an unsafe channel or entering fast-flowing water. The KML does not authorise access into the pools.
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Useful answers
Fairy Pools Walk on Skye: Upper Pools Route and Parking FAQs
How far is this version?
About 3.4 km return along the mapped upper-pools line. A short visit to only the lower pools is a different, shorter outing.
Do I need to swim to enjoy it?
No. This is a walking and scenery guide. It makes no claim that any particular pool is safe for swimming.
Are the pools free?
The pools are not presented as a ticketed attraction here, but the designated car park may charge separately. Check its signs.
Is it a flat walk?
No. There are gradients, rough surfaces and the return climb towards the road.
Can I fit it into a Skye road trip?
Yes, provided you leave enough walking time and avoid combining it with an overambitious mountain day.
Can I use the KML in a walking app?
Import it into an app that supports KML, or into your own map project. Check that the whole route is visible after importing. Download the underlying map for offline use too: a line without terrain, paths and place names is a poor navigation aid.
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