Fairy Pools, Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye

The Fairy Pools sit beneath the dramatic western faces of the Black Cuillin ridge in Glenbrittle, and the walk to reach them follows the Allt Coir' a' Mhadaidh burn upstream through open moorland with increasingly theatrical mountain scenery closing in overhead. The pools are carved from the dark gabbro bedrock and filled with glacially cold, gin-clear water that takes on extraordinary turquoise and blue tones in good light. A series of waterfalls link the pools together, the largest dropping through a natural arch before emptying into the deepest swim pool. The path is generally well maintained following significant investment by the local authority.

This is a very popular dog friendly walk on Skye and for good reason. The clear mountain water provides outstanding swimming access at multiple pools, and dogs generally take to the conditions enthusiastically. Off-lead potential is good on the open moorland sections between pools. The lack of livestock along the burn makes this relaxed for owners. The main challenge is crowd management in high summer when the site is extremely busy. Early morning visits dramatically improve the experience. The surrounding Cuillin scenery is among the most dramatic in Britain, giving the walk a scale and atmosphere that shorter distances rarely deliver.