The Fairy Bridge of Glen Creran

56° 35' 13.06762", - 5° 12' 52.94592"

It has been a while since I last wrote a blog post. Quite a while, actually. Since starting YouTube, my time has been pulled in many directions. That said, a blog reaches a different audience and offers a far better way to showcase images from a specific location. After returning from two weeks in Scotland on what I would call a semi photography focused adventure, and having already completed the videos I had planned from that trip, I still have a mountain of images to sort through.

Rather than bury these moments nineteen minutes and forty one seconds into a video, I wanted to slowly revisit some of the locations and share both the photographs and the experience here. For those who prefer video, I will include a link at the bottom.

To start, there is more than one Fairy Bridge in Scotland, but the one I am referring to lies in Glen Creran. The other is on the Isle of Skye and, in my opinion, is not nearly as charming in either structure or setting. The Glen Creran bridge is well off the beaten path, roughly forty minutes from Glencoe or about three and a half hours from Edinburgh.

Time pressure seemed to be the recurring theme of this entire trip, and this stop was no exception. Although the bridge is marked on Google Maps, I have been misled by that before. There is a walking trail called the Pine Marten Trail with a small parking area, and the route to the bridge branches off from it. From what I read during my research, the turnoff can be easy to miss. I simply did not have the time for a long hike or a scavenger hunt.

The bridge crosses a river, which, when you think about it, makes perfect sense. From years of chasing waterfalls, I have learned one simple rule: follow the water upstream. That became the plan. Where the single track road crosses the water, there is a large pullout. I saw no "no parking" signs, plenty of room for other vehicles, and enough space for traffic to pass comfortably. I parked there, stepped into the woods, and almost immediately found a well worn path.

The hike in was short but entirely uphill, with the river flowing along the right side. There was a respectable waterfall along the way, though the view from the path was heavily obscured by trees. I am certain there is a way to reach the base of the falls for a photograph, but as mentioned earlier, the clock was ticking.

Just past the falls, the bridge appeared, spanning the stream. It was much smaller than I had imagined, with a noticeable hump as you cross it. I did a bit of digging later and most sources place its age somewhere around five hundred years, which only adds to its quiet magic.

With limited time, I shifted fully into photography mode. I noticed waterfalls both upstream and downstream, though only the ones below offered an easy composition, especially without obstructions. I worked my way below the bridge and settled into a classic setup, letting the water lead into the foreground with the bridge resting gently behind it.

Thanks to the heavy cloud cover, I only needed a circular polarizer and a three stop neutral density filter to achieve exposures just over one second, enough to smooth the flowing water beautifully. The water level in mid September was healthy, and while I am sure it can be far heavier or far lighter depending on the season, this spot would be stunning in autumn if the flow remained consistent.

I worked through several images with varying shutter speeds before climbing out of the riverbed to focus more on the bridge itself. I kept the polarizer on to reduce glare in the foliage, being careful to avoid bright patches of sky peeking through the canopy.

This was a truly lovely area, and I found myself looking back more than once as I made my way down the muddy path and out of sight. It felt like a hidden gem. Considering how busy some far less interesting locations were, it was surprising to encounter only one couple walking their dog, likely locals.

This spot should be a must visit for any photographer in the area, even if, like me, it required a two hour detour each way.

Castle Stalker is also very close by, a small castle perched on an island and easily visible from the road. Unfortunately, this stop was planned at the last minute and time simply was not on my side. I do have some regrets there, as I had come across the castle during my research but dismissed it as being out of the way. The Jubilee Bridge, which I discovered while researching this blog, also looks like a promising photography location. Both are in Appin and are either on the way to, or just beyond, the Fairy Bridge by about fifteen minutes.

Sometimes the places you almost skip end up being the ones that linger the longest.

Below is my Youtube video starting at the Fairy Bridge  (I hope, 19:41)