VISITORS to a Scots tourist destination have been warned of a major disruption affecting access to the iconic site.
Access will be restricted for two weeks as long-awaited road works will start on Monday.
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It follows major disruption over the busier visitor months on the Isle of Skye, with the Fairy Pools experiencing some of the worst congestion.
We previously told of the summer of chaos which saw the lifeline single-track road brought to a standstill on several occasions due to vehicles being stuck on the soft verge.
The island’s seven-mile winding Glenbrittle Road saw long queues of cars and campervans gridlock the rural track as they attempted to pass each other.
The rural route – which passes tourist hotspots like the Fairy Pools towards Glen Brittle Beach – is also used by hill-walkers who wish to take on the island’s magnificent Black Cullin mountains.
The road is frequently used by emergency services and mountain rescue who need quick access to Scotland‘s 12 most challenging munros.
Some 400 vehicles can get stuck in a traffic jam on this road at one time with up to a four hour wait.
More than 200,000 people visit the Fairy Pools each year.
And the poorly maintained road causes dozens of flat tyres each week, leaving the route blocked for hours on end by stranded cars.
There have been calls for urgent action to improve the road to deal with the demand being placed on the region.
Highland Council have now confirmed a programme of work for the busy road due to start on Monday at 8.30am.
During the works, it will be residents’ only access on the Merkadale to Glenbrittle Road until 6pm.
The route can be accessed at night during the period.
But it means tourists will not be able to visit the Fairy Pools site during daylight hours until after the road reopens on 6pm on Friday, November 15.
The local authority confirmed in September they would make improvements to the route – with money being confirmed from the Scottish Government in October.
The public have been asked to avoid the area for non-essential trips while improvements are being made.
A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “The road will restricted to essential local access only – during amnesty periods – and be closed to all other traffic to allow the works to progress safely.
“During the restrictions The Highland Council will undertake urgent remedial works, passing place extensions and resurfacing.
“The works will commence at 8.30am until 6pm so evenings will be unaffected.
“The local roads team asks non-essential visitors to avoid the area while repair works are being carried out on the road.”
It comes as a tour business taking visitors to a once-hidden gem location in Scotland says traffic is now “total chaos” – with four-hour car park queues.
Once a relatively off-the-beaten-track destination, the vivid blue water is popular with tourists worldwide.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Gordon Pearson, who runs WOW Scotland, a tour company, said traffic on the island has increased over the last 10 years.
But said driving to the island’s Fairy Pools over the last few weeks has been “a horrific experience.”
