"Much-needed" work at one of Scotland's most iconic and popular sites has been completed ahead of the summer holiday season.
The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye have undergone a "makeover" following an increase in tourists to the island. In recent years, the rising number of visitors has taken a toll on the natural environment surrounding the pools.
The damage around to site led to concerns for visitors' safety, prompting environmental charity Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) to kickstart a project with the creation of a "necessary" car park to accommodate as many as 180,000 visitors annually. Through collaboration with and funding from the Skye Iconic Sites Project (SISP), they have also repaired and improved the pathways on route.
Other improvements include the installation of two new steel and timber clad bridges across the burns, and the restoration of the site’s most prominent viewpoints. As well as making the site more safe for locals and tourists, major habitat restoration work has been undertaken to help restore the area.
The Fairy Pools are one of three sites on the Isle of Skye that have benefitted from habitat restoration through SISP, with work also being carried out at the Quiraing and Old Man of Storr.
CEO of Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland Dougie Baird commented: "As the Fairy Pools continue to make people’s bucket lists, we are seeing visitor numbers doubling with thousands of visitors year on year. We all know that what makes it so popular is the exquisite surroundings of Skye and in order to keep that we must cherish and maintain the island’s natural habitat as much as possible.
"Through the project, we have been able to install safer, more viable options for those visiting the pools, we urge walkers to stick to these paths to help the area thrive once again and allow future generations to enjoy the magic the Fairy Pools has to offer."
NatureScot’s Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund Project Manager Kirsten Makins added: "The completion of works to improve access, interpretation and infrastructure at Skye’s Fairy Pools is warmly welcomed. These improvements, which include impressive habitat restoration works, will ensure that another of Skye’s iconic sites will be able to offer a quality and sustainable visitor experience."
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