Details
Region: Argyll & Bute
Location: Appin PA38 4BJ, Scotland, United Kingdom
DEN Rating: 8/10
Trail Length: 2 miles total via Pine Marten Trail, 0.4 miles total via creekside bootpath
Trail Type: partial loop or out and back
Hike Time: 60-90 minutes via Pine Marten Trail, 20 minutes via creekside bootpath
Trail Difficulty: moderate 5/10
Elevation Gain: 530 feet via Pine Marten Trail, 100 feet via creekside bootpath
Trail Surface: dirt, mud in places
Popularity: 1/10
Family friendly: no
Pet friendly: yes
Handicapped Accessible: no
Swimming: no
Camping: backpack camping
Restroom: none
Open Hours: open 24 hours
Season: year-round, best April – October
Pass or Permit: none required
Managed By: Forestry Commission Scotland
The Fairy Bridge of Glen Creran is exactly what it sounds like it should be – a storybook arching stone bridge in a ferny woodland. The little footbridge was likely built in the 1500’s over the small creek and stands today in a forgotten corner of a Scottish Highland glen south of Glen Coe. The hike to find it is a bit of an adventure, but it’s absolutely worth it and you will likely have it to yourself if you venture into these enchanted woods. It was a cloudy July evening with showers around when we visited and the atmosphere was moody and dramatic yet peaceful right at the bridge…one might even describe it as spellbinding.
The normal route is via Pine Marten Trail – park at the Elleric carpark at the end of the road, take the left trail, cross the wood bridge, and go either way at the split since it’s a loop (higher trail has better views). Take the little spur bootpath at the switchback corner – it heads west through the often muddy woodland and leads to the Fairy Bridge after passing through a gap in a fence. Apparently this trail has been closed for several years as repairs are needed on the wooden bridge. Also wild garlic and bluebells bloom prolifically here.
There is another much shorter bootpath that leads from where the creek passes under the main road directly up to the Fairy Bridge. There is a large passing place there and two trucks were parked there already so we just parked there as well (still leaving room for passing) and followed the bootpath up the side of the creek. This route takes about 10 minutes to reach the bridge with an elevation gain of around 100 feet and has a small stream crossing and patches of mud. You will almost immediately pass the ruins of a brick building. There is also a fairly tall waterfall en route – around 60 feet tall, found about 60 feet downstream of Fairy Bridge. When we visited in early July it was flowing nicely. We also found a big patch of bilberries (blueberries) along the trail…almost like the fairies wanted us to be there!
Finding The Fairy Bridge in Glen Creran was a fantastic adventure through the misty evening forest in Scotland’s incredible West Highlands. I scrambled down the bank onto the rocks in the stream to get this shot, which is the only angle where you can see the little waterfall behind the bridge.
The Fairy Bridge – Limited Edition
Lost in a lush and ferny woods in Glen Creran, The aptly-named Fairy Bridge is as straight-from-a-fairytale as you can find. Being there in the evening alone felt like entering a forbidden place, that “maybe we shouldn’t be here” feeling. I remember walking around as quietly as I could and talking softly to my husband, … Read more
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If parking at the bottom of the bootpath doesn’t seem advisable to you it is always possible to park at the Elleric carpark and walk back on the road to the bootpath, which adds an easy 1km / 0.7miles each way.
The Fairy Bridge was an exciting adventure to find and a magical place to discover. Finding a place like this, lost in time and forgotten, makes you wonder how many more little hidden treasures lie out there in the forest waiting to be found. I very much hope I can return someday to this fairytale gem hidden in a beautiful wooded Scottish glen, hopefully with a little more light next time!
Cautions
Once you find the trail the only real concern is mud, which there can be plenty of. Also it’s Scotland so bring your midge spray. Beware of cliff dropoffs if you go looking for a view of the bigger waterfall.
Getting There
From A828, take the road heading east toward Glasdrum / Glasdrum Woods at the roundabout at the north end of the bridge over Loch Creran. The road becomes single-track and is paved. The short creekside bootpath is just under 5 miles up the road on the left at a long passing place – listen for the creek. Continue straight up the road for another 3/4 mile to the Pine Marten Trail carpark if opting for that route.
Photographer’s Tip
The bridge is in a fairly shady spot, and spots of sunlight will shift quickly throughout the day across the scene. There are lots of good views around – I liked the ones from slightly downstream the best. A 24-70mm lens worked well for me here.
Links
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/scotland/argyll-and-bute/fairy-bridge-of-glen-creran
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/fas-na-cloiche.shtml
https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/glen-creran
