Fairy Pools: A dive into the Isle of Skye's Fairy Pools, from how they got their name to their dark history

One of the most popular destinations in Scotland, the Isle of Skye is home to the Fairy Pools - one of the country’s most popular attractions.

Surrounded by the beautiful natural landscape of Skye, the series of waterfalls and rocky pools are hugely popular among tourists who can often feel as though they are stepping into another world when visiting them.

A scuba diver jumps from a rock ledge into one of the Fairy Pools. | Getty Images

With such crystal clear waters, Skye’s ethereal Fairy Pools often attract brave swimmers or - as the legend goes - mythological creatures such as fairies.

But what is the real story behind the Fairy Pools on Skye?

Here, we dive into the history of Skye’s fairy pools as well as where you can find them and what you should know if you’re considering a visit.

What are the Fairy Pools?

Skye’s Fairy Pools are a series of natural rock pools which have been carved and enlarged across a large period of time by small waterfalls along the Allt Coir a ‘Mhadaidh - a burn - which drains from one of the Cuillin hills.

While they are now known as Fairy Pools, in historical texts they are more often referred to by their original Gaelic name; Coire na Creiche, meaning corrie of the spoils.

According to a local historian, “Fairy Pools” first appears to have been used in relation to the attraction by a tour guide in the 1930s.

Where are they?

Close to Carbost, you can reach the Fairy Pools by following a single track road down Glenbrittle to the east of the village. Before you reach Carbost, turn left at the sign for Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe.

While the pools themselves are free to visit, the car park is community run and owned and as such drivers will need to pay for access.

From the Glumagan Na Sithichean car park, you can then follow a 2.4km gravel path along the Allt Coir a ‘Mhadaidh to reach the Fairy Pools.

Bordered by heather, peat and rocks, visitors should take care as the terrain can become rough.

What’s behind the name of Skye’s Fairy Pools?

As we have acknowledged, the site was originally known by its Gaelic name which bears little resemblance to the modern “Fairy Pools”.

However, the story behind the name of Skye’s Fairy Pools comes from a local myth in which a clan Chieftan married a fairy woman - the Fairy Flag legend of Dunvegan Castle.

The legend goes that the chieftain of Clan Macleod of Dunvegan was set to marry a “bean sidhe”, or fairy woman, who was princess of the Shining Folk - in other words, fairies.

The pair were in love with one another, but despite this the King of the Fairies forbade their marriage. After seriously upsetting his daughter, the King eventually allowed the pair to be married but only for one year.

While married, the couple had a child together however once the year was up, the Fairy Princess was commanded to return home to her realm, leaving behind her husband and child.

Known by a variety of names, fairies are one of the most recurring creatures in Scottish mythology and this is especially true for the Isle of Skye where many place names feature ‘fairy’ elements e.g., Glumagan nan Sithichean (Fairy Pools). | Book of Fairy Poetry (1920)

It is said that one night, distraught, she heard her baby in the human world weeping. She instantly returned to him, wrapped him in a silk shawl and lulled him to sleep through song. This is why the tale is named the “Fairy Flag”.

There are many versions of this legend, though they can be split into two categories; fairy and crusader, and some tales even say that the Fairy Pools attract other creatures from Scottish mythology such as selkies.

Selkies are seals that can transform into humans by shedding their aquatic skins. It is said that they would arrive at the foot of Glen Brittle in disguise as large seals, only to shed their skins to bathe in the pools under the light of the full moon.

On the isle, it is said they would go to the beach at the foot of Glen Brittle and from there make a pilgrimage to the fairy pools where they would bathe under the light of the full moon.

History of Skye’s Fairy Pools

Although there are many tales which link mythological creatures to the Fairy Pools, their true history is something much darker.

As a land of clans and castles and bloody battles, it should come as no surprise that the Fairy Pools were once the site of a vicious feud: the battle of Coire na Creiche in 1601 between MacDonalds of Sleat and the MacLeods of Dunvegan.

The clans had been feuding for years and in a bid to bring peace, the MacLeod Laird offered his sister Margaret’s hand in marriage to the MacDonald laird. The pair were handfasted and remained together for a year as a trial.

However, when Margaret did not become pregnant by the year’s end she was deemed ‘useless’ to the MacDonalds.

Dunvegan is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years but parts of the rock on which it stands are falling away. PIC: Getty /Ade Russell

Determined to humiliate the woman, who had gone blind in one eye, she was returned to her brother tied to a horse led by a servant with a dog; all of which only had one eye. In response to the belligerence, the MacLeod laird called for the battle of Coire na Creiche which is often referred to as the ‘Wars of the One-Eyed Woman’.

The MacDonalds won but many men were killed, and it is said that the Fairy Pools of Skye ran red with their blood on that day. In fact, the brutality was so shocking that both sides were forced to call a truce after reports reached the Scottish crown.

It was the final Scottish clan battle to be fought on the Isle of Skye.