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Fairy Pools of Scotland

Scotland Day 3 — Skye to Oban

Fairy Pools of Scotland. Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

One of the things I was most looking forward to seeing on the Isle of Skye were the famed Fairy Pools of Scotland. So after breakfast on our first morning in Skye, we made our way to the mystical, spooky trail that would lead us to the Fairy Pools.

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The trail was very well marked and even had a small parking lot at the trail head. Here is some more information on hiking the Fairy Pools, including directions, maps, and GPS coordinates of the trail head if you’re interested: Hiking the Fairy Pools.

Fairy Pools of Scotland. Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

Kevin and I love hiking and especially waterfalls. Every year for our anniversary we try to get back to nature for a weekend and spend a few days hiking and waterfall sight-seeing. So, so neat to be able to do this in Scotland!

Fairy Pools of Scotland. Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

The trail follows a crystal clear stream full of pools and waterfalls

Fairy Pools of Scotland. Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

I could not get over how vibrantly turquoise blue the water was in the deep, mysterious pools.

Fairy Pools of Scotland. Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

It was like nothing we’d ever seen back home.

Fairy Pools of Scotland. Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

Beautiful views of the Cuillin mountains.

Fairy Pools of Scotland. Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

The trail is relatively flat and easy. It takes about 45 minutes (one way) and follows the stream. The trail crosses the stream several times, but there were always plenty of rocks to step on to cross, so we didn’t have to get our feet wet. I wore these hot pink L.L. Bean Waterproof Hiking Boots, and they kept my feet dry through rain and puddles. I also wore these knee-high gaiters to help keep my jeans from getting wet and muddy from splashes. If you step in knee or ankle-deep water, they probably won’t keep you 100% dry, but they help protect against water and mud splashing up. They worked great, especially when it started pouring rain out of nowhere as soon as we were about a 45 minute hike away from our car. We attempted waiting it out at first, but quickly realized it wasn’t going away. It poured the entire 45 minute hike back. Since I had on my long waterproof trench coat with hood, waterproof boots, and gaiters, only my knees got wet. Kevin was soaked from the waist down.  Anyway, I’m glad I had the gaiters, but they were kind of expensive for just a one-time thing. At the least, a waterproof jacket with a hood is a must in Scotland!! :) I also had this waterproof backpack for my camera equipment.

After about 45 minutes, the trail continues on and turns left away from the stream, but we turned around at this point and headed back for the car.

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

Of course as soon as we got back to the car, the rain stopped and the sun came out like it’d never even been raining, lol!

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

We headed down the west Scotland coast and through the highlands to Oban, our next destination and home for the next two nights.

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

One thing I could absolutely not get over in the Scottish highlands were all the waterfalls! There were tons of them, everywhere, just hanging out on the side of the road. Kevin said if we had waterfalls like this back home, they’d build stairs, a viewing platform, and a parking lot around it, and charge you $5 to get in, lol! This was just on the side of the road. You could pull off, hike down, and be at the base in 5 minutes.

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

Gorgeous turquoise waters everywhere in Scotland!

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

And sheep everywhere. :)

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

We took the scenic route from Skye -> Mallaig -> Ft William -> Glencoe -> Oban. This involved taking a ferry from Skye to Mallaig, so we could make the scenic drive from Mallaig to Fort William. This is definitely the scenic route — you can go another way and take a bridge to get to Ft William. But the ferry is the only way to get to Mallaig. This took up a little extra time, as the ferry only runs once every hour (on the hour) and was a bit expensive (I think around $30 to take the ferry) but the drive from Mallaig to Fort William was one of my favorites and one of the most beautiful routes of our entire trip. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was also Kevin’s first time on a ferry, so that was fun!

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

It also didn’t hurt that we had a gorgeous day!

Glenfinnan Viaduct from Harry Potter + Tips for Traveling to Scotland. What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

In Fort William, we passed the viaduct for the Jacobite steam train.

Glenfinnan Viaduct from Harry Potter + Tips for Traveling to Scotland. What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

This is the famous 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct shown in the Harry Potter movies.

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument.

Tips for Traveling to Scotland! What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

Afternoon on the west coast of Scotland.

Castle Stalker. Tips for Traveling to Scotland. What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

Just before arriving in Oban, we passed Castle Stalker and pulled over to watch the sunset.

Castle Stalker. Tips for Traveling to Scotland. What to Do, See, & Eat. www.kevinandamanda.com

A castle on it’s own private island.


View Scotland Day 3 — Skye to Oban in a larger map

Here’s a map of our route for Day 3 in Scotland. Click on any of the icons for more info.

More to come soon! :) Next we explore the islands of Mull, Iona, and the mysterious Fingal’s Cave… also known as the Cave of Melodies.

 

Follow along on our Scotland, London, and Paris Vacation!

Scotland

Scotland Day 1 & 2 — Inverness, Loch Ness, Skye, and Talisker Bay
Scotland Day 3 — Skye, Fairy Pools, The Highlands, and Oban
Scotland Day 4 — Islands of Scotland: Mull, Iona, and the Cave of Melodies
Scotland Day 5 — Fa’side Castle, Edinburgh
Scotland Day 6 – Edinburgh & Castle Driving the Coast of Scotland
Everything I Ate In Scotland

London

London Day 1: Notting Hill, Seven Dials, and The London Eye
London Day 2: Tower of London, Borough Market, and Big Ben
London Day 3: Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Fortnum and Mason
London Day 4: Bakery Hopping, Harrods Food Hall, and the London Tower Bridge
London Day 4: Sunset at The View from The Shard
Where We Stayed In London: Hotel Indigo Tower Hill
Everything I Ate In London

Paris

Paris Day 1: Sunrise and Sunset at the Eiffel Tower

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30 Responses
  1. Allia

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience and tips!
    The pictures are gorgeous!
    My husband and I are thinking to rent a car and visit Scotland from Inverness like you did.
    Do you recommend any rental car ? We are thinking to pick up the car at Inverness and drop it at Glasgow.
    Many thanks in advance! 

  2. rajesh shenoy

    Wow.. absolutely amazing blog. No words to describe. We feel as if we are travelling through the place with such stunning photographs and details. Love you guys

  3. Deborah

    Your photos are amazing! For the Paris ones of the food you commented about using your phone. For these of Scotland you said you had camera equipment. Two questions: what kind of phone do you have and what kind of camera equipment? I will be in Paris and Bavaria in June and I would love to try to take pictures like these.

    1. Amanda

      Hi Deborah! You can click on any image to see the camera, lens, and settings used to take the photo. :) Hope this helps! :)

  4. Rebecca

    As a long time reader and having read these posts months ago, I’m so excited to be reading back through them now that we’ve booked out trip to Ireland and Scotland! I only hope we get such pretty sunsets! Thanks for the tip on the camera bag, I’m going to need a good one for the trip!

  5. Laura @ My Friend's Bakery

    Your pictures are absolutely stunning! What a fantastic trip you must have had. Now I’m completely jealous! This would be fantastic for my 20th anniversary – are you listening, husband of mine? lol

  6. Jocelyn@Brucrewlife

    These pictures are stunning!! Scotland always seems like such a mysterious interesting place. Maybe someday I’ll have the pleasure of visiting!

  7. Shaina

    For real. I’m with Kevin on the stairs business. I hate that about National Parks. We always try to go for the “hiking club” trail because they’re a bit less industrialized. Industrialized nature. Ha.

    Now all I want to do is visit Scotland. Thanks for the photo tour.

  8. Rachel

    Love, love, love your pictures and am completely enthralled with your vacation to Scotland–we were thinking of heading there this year but had to put it off…maybe for good reason because your trip will give us much more amazing ideas!

  9. Holly

    You’re recipes have been a go-to for me for the last couple of months and you never disappoint! My husband and I love everything on here…seriously, EVERYTHING. I have been trying to coax him into planning a trip to Scotland and Ireland so I was so excited to see your pics. I’m not sure if you’re much of a reader but if you are check out the “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon, you will love it especially if you have the Scottish bug right now!
    ~Holly

  10. Amy S

    Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express train bridge AND yarn grazing on the countryside (aka sheep)… that would be a perfect day for me!

  11. Carol-Dee

    Kevin and Amanda~~Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and interesting commentary about your trips. I know I will never be able to go to Scotland so I’m living my dreams through you!

  12. Heather K.

    These photos are phenomenal! We are really going to have to make that trip for our anniversary in a few years!! I had tossed around the idea of paying for a tour group, but maybe renting a car and going on your own is the better way to go. It just seems scary to set off like that in another country, not to mention driving on the other side of the road!

  13. Kristin

    Oh, you’re bringing back so many memories. We drove that route, but Ft. William to Skye. When it was our turn to get on the ferry, we discovered that the clutch on our rental car was stuck on the floor. My husband had to pull it up with his hand. Did it again when we got off the ferry. It never did it again, but we worried about it the whole time. Gorgeous photos!!

  14. Anele @ Success Along the Weigh

    It is absolutely gorgeous there and given the Mr has been on a “my homeland/people” Scotland kick as of the past 2 weeks, I’ll forward this over. ;-)

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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