Travel: Mystical and magical – a way with the fairies in Scotland

From childhood tales of Tinker Bell and the Fairy Godmother, the magic of fairies has long been part of our lives.

And that probably explains why Scotland is simply daft about them.

Now TV show Carnival Row has sparked adult interest in the mythical creatures, too.

Scotland is a one-stop shop for fairy-obsessed families to explore, whether its trails and festivals or glens and fairytale castles, there are plenty of places to visit.

So whether you want to spend a day in the forest searching for the little winged creatures or to step inside the castle where the Fairy Flag was unfurled, we bring you the most magical sites to flutter to…

Archerfield Walled Garden

As fairies were flying by the harvest moon over East Lothian, they spotted Archerfield Walled Garden’s magical wishing tree.

Deciding to land for a closer look, they had arrived in magical Old Archerfield Wood and loved it so much they made it their home.

Allow yourself to drift into a magical mood and keep your eyes peeled for their exquisite homes hidden in the trees.

Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie

Once known for well-dressing ceremonies, where children would decorate springs with flowers, hoping the fairies would keep the water clean.

Take a walk along its beautiful woodland paths and look out for waterfalls and the Money Tree, which features hundreds of old coins hammered into its bark as offerings to the fairies.

There are other magical waterfalls in the area, too, such as the breathtaking Falls of Foyers or the Divach Falls.

Fullarton

This beautiful fairy walk was discovered back in 2015 when the people of Troon were desperate to meet some fairies, so the fairies who were known to fly over the town were asked to make the woods their forever home.

The whole forest has been decorated with fairy doors and homes – there’s even some elves!

A special area, which has been created for the fairies to remember other fairies that died long ago, is the ideal place to take little ones to if they have lost a friend or relative.

Balloch Park

Patrick Muir, a local tree surgeon, has carved fairy houses and other fun things from the stumps of trees in West Dunbartonshire.

He has created a variety of carvings, ranging from a simple face to a majestic dragon.

Hunting for the carvings makes for a fun, whimsical walk through the park.

Doon Hill

There were a lot of strange and unexplained occurrences in Aberfoyle back in the 1600s, and the villagers believed that they were the work of the fairies. A local minister investigated the goings on, but this upset the fairies as they did not want people knowing what they were up to.

One day when the Reverend was walking up Doon Hill, the fairies stole his soul and imprisoned it in the big Scots Pine at the top of the hill.

Brechin Castle Centre

The country park’s latest attraction is a magical fairy trail weaving and winding its way through acres of Angus woodland, while there’s also go-karting, climbing, sandpits and a zip slides.

Pressmennan Wood

This beautiful woodland overlooks Pressmennan Lake and the surrounding East Lothian countryside.

It’s home to deer, owls, otters and bats, as well as some mythical creatures, including the Glingbobs and Tootflits.

Morag’s Fairy Glen

Gifted to Dunoon by Bailie George Jones, Morag’s Fairy Glen is a delightful glen full of charm and magic.

If you stand still, you may hear leaves rustling or feel a faint wisp of breeze – the work of the fairies.

Glenshee

Taking its name from the Gaelic meaning “Glen of the Fairies”, Glenshee has some of the most magical scenery in Scotland. From high peaks over fertile farmland and rolling hills, the landscape is breathtaking.

Waternish Bridge

In folklore a Chief of the MacLeods married a fairy and they lived together on Skye.

She was only permitted to be together with him for a year after which she had to return to her own people.

The bridge is said to mark the point where she departed, leaving her husband behind.

Highland folklore is rich with creatures such as Cat Sìth, a black cat that steals souls; the Caoineag, a banshee who would wail at the foot of waterfalls; and Ghillie Dhu, a kind fairy spirit who guarded the trees.