Wild Swimming
Fairy Pools
The Fairy Pools are one of Scotland's best-known swim spots — a sequence of clear, blue-green pools fed by cascades from the Black Cuillin, set in the Allt Coir' a' Mhadaidh above Glen Brittle. The reality lives up to the pictures, but the crowds on summer afternoons do not — go early morning or early evening. The water is genuinely very cold even in August.
Quick facts
- Type
- Waterfall
- Region
- Skye
- Grid ref
- NG 438 255
- Entry
- Rock slab
- Depth
- Medium (chest-deep)
- Midges
- Very high
- Dogs
- On lead only
Key hazards
- very cold water year-round
- cold water shock
- busy in summer
- slippery rock
- midges
Getting there
Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland car park on the Glen Brittle road (a minor road off the B8009); parking is charged. About a 20-minute walk on a surfaced path to the first pools. Arrive early on sunny summer days. Access rights apply.
Safety
Not a designated bathing water. Cold water shock is the primary risk — this is mountain water and stays very cold even in August. Enter slowly, never dive, and acclimatise before full immersion. The rocks are extremely slippery. Do not swim when the burn is high after rain. Midges are ferocious on calm days — bring repellent or swim on a breezy morning.
Best for
- bucket-list wild swim
- Skye photography
- Cuillin combination walk
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:33
- Sunset
- 16:44
- Civil dawn
- 06:52
- Civil dusk
- 17:25
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Common questions
- How cold are the Fairy Pools?
- Very cold — the pools are fed by mountain burns off the Cuillin and stay cold even in August. The colour comes from the clarity of the water, not warmth. A wetsuit is strongly recommended.
- When is the best time to visit the Fairy Pools?
- Arrive early in the morning or in the evening in summer to avoid the peak crowds. The morning light on the Cuillin gives the best photography.
- How do you get to the Fairy Pools?
- Take the Glen Brittle road, a minor road off the B8009 near Carbost. The car park is run by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland and is charged. From there it is about a 20-minute walk up a surfaced path. Allow a couple of hours for a good explore.
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Around Fairy Pools on the SCOT network
Travel context for the area on TripSCOT.