Tucked away down a single track road at the North end of the Isle of Skye the Fairy Glen can be missed by a passer-by. A quick check of Instagram photos and it would seem the whole world knows where it is, however there is no local signage! We managed a wonderful visit during Lockdown and found ourselves in the lucky position of being the only folks in the glen apart from maybe the Fairies!
Location of the Fairy Glen
Head towards Uig on the A87 from Portree. As the road starts to drop down towards Uig you will see Uig Tower on the cliff top on your left. Opposite this take the right turn towards Balnaknock. Drive very carefully up this narrow single track road. It is very steep with a lot of tight corners and often very very busy with tourist traffic. It is also the road to people’s homes so please drive with respect. Use the passing places on the road to allow traffic to pass in either direction. As you come to the start of the Fairy Glen there is a new car park under construction, please use this and walk into the glen. It is not far, and is a beautiful walk.
Myth and Legend of the Fairy Glen
There are many legends of fairies on Skye and it is easy to see why they are said to live at the Fairy Glen. The attraction of the Glen is the dramatic, almost mystical landscape that gives it its name. However this means that the landscape is inaccessible for many. For those of us that cannot make this journey to the summit where the fairies are said to live do not be too sad. The fairies are known to be wicked, tricksy creatures and the landscape surrounding Fairy Glen is still very dramatic even from the roadside. If you can get there when it is quiet, maybe early morning due to it’s popularity, it is still possible to enjoy the magical atmosphere. You may even catch a glimpse of one of the wee sprites.
Walking in the Glen
For those of you with better mobility who feel able to attempt it there are two paths to the summit. One is steeper and littered with loose gravel making it more hazardous. The other has less obstacles and zig zags up the slope making it less steep but it is still challenging. While not exactly mountaineering it is a more strenuous walk. From the car parking area walk down the edge of the road into the Fairy Glen. Marvel at the wind carved fairy mounds all around you. Just before the lochan take the path on the right. The path winds its way up hill until you reach the huge chunk of basalt known as Castle Ewen. There are no right and wrong paths up here, just explore.
Higher in the glen there are some small waterfalls, trickling burns and twisted coppices of birch and willow. This is sheep grazing land so please, if you take any dogs, keep them on a lead. The further into the glen you explore the quieter it gets. Keep your eyes open for any Golden Eagles that may fly by whilst you are exploring. There are some steep drops when you are at the top of the glen so mind how you tread.
Stone circles and stone stacks
The stone circles and stacks that you may have seen on photos on social media have been removed. They are not a part of the natural landscape and were contributing to soil erosion. This in turn had a detrimental affect on the grazing for the sheep. The stone circle was started by a minibus tour company to give their clients something to do at the glen. Rather than encourage them to enjoy the majestic scenery they actually spoilt the scenery by adding man made objects. It also became the norm to leave an offering for the fairies. Please do not leave anything behind in the glen, it is simply litter and very dangerous to our native wildlife. Stone stacks do not add anything positive to the landscape and again moving them damages the soil. Please be responsible, take photographs, make memories and leave nothing behind. This attitude will preserve the Fairy Glen for generations to come.
We were lucky enough to be able to enjoy the peace and quiet during lockdown and were the only people there when we enjoyed our picnic lunch there. There is a bench near the lochan that is the perfect place for a picnic, but be careful the fairies don’t steal your sandwiches. Fairy Glen is near Uig, where there is plenty to see and do and Staffin can be reached via the Quiraing which can also be enjoyed from the roadside. Skye is not just a destination for hikers and mountaineers as the landscape is so dramatic, many more inaccessible places are still worth seeing even from a distance.
