Skye or Isle of Skye is one of the largest islands in Scotland. The scenery here is very beautiful, with rolling green hills, towering cliffs, waterfalls pouring down from nowhere or gentle, clear streams. Every place on this island makes visitors feel very beautiful, very peaceful.
Not only that, the legends about the appearance of fairies on the island make many people feel this place is extremely mysterious and attractive.
Fairy Lake
There are many fairy pools at the foot of the Cuillin Mountains. They come in all shapes and sizes and are all crystal clear. The fairy pools are essentially large pools of water that lie beneath any of the waterfalls on the Isle of Skye. They are a popular destination for most hikers.
These pools often glow green or blue due to the creatures living beneath the water. The color depends on the reflection of sunlight, creating a magical aura. It is believed that water fairies such as selkies were attracted to these pools, transforming into human form at night, then bathing in the light during the full moon.
But for humans, the water here is bone-chillingly cold. Although the temperature in Skye sometimes reaches 26.7oC but it is cold almost all year round. The average temperature of this island is 6.5oC. The water in the fairy lakes is as cold as ice.
Fairy Bridge
It is also said that an ancient MacLeod chief married a fairy princess, which is why many places on this island are associated with the word “fairy”. One of them is “Fairy Bridge” located quite close to Dunvegan Castle. This place is very beautiful, but it is associated with a sad ending. This is where the MacLeod chief stayed with his wife before parting ways with her to return to the Fairy World.
This is also where the 'fairy flag' that now stands in Dunvegan Castle was found. It is said that the flag has the power to 'avert danger and trouble' when waved.
Fairy Hill
Those who want to find a real place to meet fairies should go to Fairy Hill. However, be careful with this land, it is also said that fairies have very strong abilities, can even manipulate time and space. There is a legend that a musician came here to play at a fairy party, the next morning he woke up to find that 100 years had passed.
The legend is so ingrained in local culture that it is believed that if you get close enough, you can hear the faint sound of violins. However, the place is very difficult to access, surrounded by trees and dense forest.
Fairy Valley
Like the Fairy Hills, the Fairy Valley is a favorite place of the fairies in the Isle of Skye. This vast green land stands out with its diverse natural landscape, from majestic rock layers to beautiful lakes, stunning waterfalls, lush green hills, and charming undulating mountains...
The area is very peaceful, making it a popular spot for picnics or sightseeing. It is also home to Ewen Castle, a famous landmark with a towering stone tower that visitors can climb to get a panoramic view of the valley.
On sunny days, the Fairy Valley shows off its vibrant green vegetation, dotted with colorful wildflowers. On the smooth green background, small spiral stone circles emerge, adding to the mythical atmosphere.
Quiraing Plateau
This vast plateau is located on the Trotternish Ridge peninsula. Although the Quiraing only rises to around 543m above sea level, it is still enough to make the climbers' knees weak.
Standing on the Quiraing, the view is endless, of cliffs and dunes dotted with small lakes. They were formed by massive landslides on the Trotternish Ridge.
Even now, the Quiraing’s underground remains unstable, fraught with potential for landslides. Yet here, landslides are not only natural disasters, but also master arrangers. They reveal high cliffs, deep valleys, wide lakes, and towering peaks. In the immediate aftermath of landslides, vegetation fills every gap, growing in droves, transforming the Quiraing into a giant green carpet, flat in places, undulating, even folded in places.
While there is no specific legend that takes place here, it is said that each of these hollows, even the hidden valleys within them, are home to fairies who dwell on the Isle of Skye.
A little further away is the Old Man of Storr. It is a massive 49m high rock, shaped exactly like an old man sitting. Locals here say that the rock is the fossil of a giant who once lived on Trotternish Ridge.
However, reaching the Old Man of Storr is quite a challenge. You will have to cross the seemingly endless ridge at an altitude of 700 m above sea level called the Sound of Rasaay, then continue climbing over the undulating grassy hills like waves. But the scenery along the way is very beautiful, it has been chosen as the setting for some famous movies, for exampleThe Wicker Man(1973),Prometheus(2012),Snow White and the Huntsman(2012)...
Kilt Rock
In the Inner Hebrides, the group of islands off the coast of Skye, you will see the magnificent Kilt Rock, a 90m high cliff that surrounds a small island. From the top of the cliff, a white waterfall cascades down, creating a majestic and magnificent scene.
For safety, fence posts are placed at the tourist attractions on the edge of Kilt Rock. Interestingly, the posts are also drilled with holes that look like flutes. Whenever a strong wind blows from the ocean, they make a sound.
Of course, the sounds from these "fence flutes" do not follow any melody. But when combined with the sound of the waterfall, they seem to blend together, creating a perfect, majestic harmony.
