Looking for a place off the beaten path on the Isle of Skye?
Go look for fairies in the pyramid hills and mini summits of Fairy Glen Skye!
Below is my guide to plan your visit to this surprising and peaceful small area and let your imagination go wild.
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Why visit Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye?
If you are looking for something different and a little further from the main touristic crowds of the Isle of Skye, head to Fairy Glen.
Out of nowhere, a small area is covered with small pyramidal hills, lochs and mini mountain ridges.
It became a point of interest as it looks like Scotland in miniature!
The environment is peaceful, green and feels magical. Even though I did not see any fairies.
View at Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye
Virtual Tour
Below is a short video to give you a feel for the place and help you decide if you want to get off the beaten path - get a virtual tour!
About Fairy Glen History and Geology - how was Fairy Glen formed
- A geological theory is that it was formed by a landslide that was remodeled during the ice age... or it is just fairies doing some home improvements...
- In terms of history, there is no real fairy legend associated with the location (as opposed to the Fairy flag in the Dunvegan castle). It is just that it looks like fairies could live there because of all the strange shapes.
Fairy Glens mix-up
Many locations in the United Kingdom refer to a place as "Fairy Glen".
The other famous one is the Fairy Glen Walk with a waterfall. it is located in the Manchester region. It is not this one.
Here we are talking about the one on the Isle of Skye. There are no waterfalls.
And do not mix this location up with the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. It is another location. (see my other article).
More photos after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS & Map - Fairy Glen Skye
Where is Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye? How to get there - Map
- North of the Isle of Skye, just East of Uig
- There are no public transports going there (nearest bus stop in Uig and the 30min walk)
- Single lane road after the turn in Uig
- Portree to Fairy Glen = 25min drive
- Uig to Fairy Glen = 5min drive
- Below is a map to help you locate Fairy Glen:
Map - Fairy Glen Location on Isle of Skye
This location, with its GPS coordinates is included on both my Travel Guide eBooks that help you plan your Scotland road trip:
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Visit Tips
- There are not many parking places. So, in summer in the middle of the day, it is recommended to Park in Uig and walk 30min along the road. It is a pleasant walk.
- It is also written The Faerie Glen with the Gaelic style
- Plan at least 1 hour to explore the area
- Access is free
- Walk is on grassy land - it can be slippery if wet - I recommend wearing proper walking shoes
- No facilities
- Light might be better in the morning. After walking up hill at the end of the afternoon I had the sun facing me for pictures (as you will see below)
- Make sure not to park on the entrances of private lands!
- Kids love the area!
Where to stay on the Isle of Skye?
- Portree is the main town and the most practical place to explore the island - Check out the best rated accommodations in Portree
- However the closest town to Fairy Glen is Uig - Check out the best rated accommodations in Uig
- Find out more tips on my Isle of Skye article
Road from Uig to Fairy Glen
The turn from A87 in Uig is very discreet. You have to engage in a small dead-end road.
While driving on A87 from Portree, just before the Uig Hotel, there is a road doing a Y. It is indicating Balnaknock (and if you come from the North, drive past Uig).
Road turn to Fairy Glen
Then drive on the single-track road for 2.2 km (1.4 mi).
As you arrive in the Glen's area, you will see a couple of areas where it is safe to park.
Don't forget to leave space for crossing of other vehicles.
Do not park on private land entrances.
If you are visiting in Summer in the middle of the day, don't even try to get there by car. Park in Uig and walk 30min to the area.
You can also drive further where you can park after the lake, not so much where the car is on the photo below but after the curve to the left.
The mini cone mountains
I recommend exploring both sides of Fairy Glen: left and right from the road.
On the left side you discover perfect cones where sheep like wandering.
Walking in this section is easy, although it can get muddy after the rain.
The mini loch
If you are short on time, I recommend only exploring the lake and the right side.
The lake is really peaceful and gives you great views of the highest point and more cones.
It really looks like Scotland in miniature (see all the best lochs in Scotland)
If you have more time, this is a great place to settle down and relax after a long day exploring the many things to do on Skye island.
The mini summits, the Fairy Glen Walk & Castle Ewan
A track goes through the trees and leads you to the top of small hills.
You can also climb to the top of the highest point. I did not, it looked narrow in the middle and I suffer from vertigo.
But, as you can see in the pictures below, several people were there.
One of the hills still has its basalt topping intact. From a distance it looks like the ruins of a mini castle, so typical of Scotland lol. It has been called Castle Ewan (Faerie Castle).
I am wondering if maybe the fairies were hiding in this 'castle' for the day...
Please respect the local's rules
Many visitors have been creating stone circles and spirals in the area. The locals are removing them to leave the area in its natural state.
Please respect the local's wish and don't participate.
The view
So, I picked another summit and was once again rewarded with beautiful views over the lake and conical hills. What a peaceful moment!
Want to see more? Here are other amazing things to do on the Isle of Skye:
- The Old Man of Storr icon - read article
- Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls - read article
- The Quiraing viewpoint - read article
- The sparkling Fairy Pools hike - read article
- The Elgol Boat tour to Loch Coruisk - read article
- Or enjoy my complete article about the best things to do on the Isle of Skye
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