Our 'Be Local' Stories

Delve deeper and become a temporary local.

Take time to read our stories which will give you a real insight into what is happening across Scotland and provide inspiration for trips to take, destinations to visit, and individual community enterprises where you can 'Give, Stay, Eat, Buy, Do or Enjoy'. Learn how your tourism pound gets invested and makes a difference in these individual communities.

Every community has a wonderful story to tell.

Don't forget to share your Scottish adventures with us. We'd love to hear your stories.

Share using #belocal and #beatemporarylocal Follow and tag us on social media @belocalscotland

Local Stories from Local Communities

Over winter 2023, award-winning Scottish travel writer Robin McKelvie met with 24 different community tourism initiatives across the country to discover just exactly what they are up to and to help them tell you their story.

Take a few minutes out your day to delve deeper - meet the locals who are the driving force behind these initiatives. Learn why they do what they do to make your visit that bit more special and what it means for their communities.

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Grantown

The Grantown Society

Preserving, protecting, and promoting the area's unique heritage for the benefit of both locals and visitors alike.

Our Story
Looking Over Ettrick From Gamescleuch Forest Road
Scottish Borders

Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company.

Discover the hidden beauty of Ettrick and Yarrow—where nature and community thrive.

Our Story
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Argyll and Bute

The Kintyre Way

On the same day, you can savour a burning sunrise and then hike on to savour a gorgeous sunset. It is unique in so many ways.

Out Story
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Banff

Portsoy Community Enterprise

Unspoilt and never overcrowded, and has even been dubbed ‘Cornwall without the crowds’

Our Story
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Dumfries & Galloway

All Roads Lead to Whithorn Trust

An old Victorian dame brought to life by the community, that packs a powerful punch with facilties for the benfit of all

Our Story
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Moray

Elgin Museum

Scotland's oldest continuously independent museum where history doesn’t stop in the 1800s - it just keeps evolving.

Our Story
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Perthshire

The Cateran Ecomuseum

A museum without walls designed to reveal the hidden heritage of what is a little-known part of Scotland by the community who live there.

Our Story
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Loch Ness

Loch Ness Hub

With savvy local advice, the Hub is a one-stop spot for everything to do in the Drumnadrochit area - there's more than just monster spotting.

Our Story
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North Carrick

Bruce 750

The community celebrating the 750th anniversary of the birth of Robert the Bruce and that putting their warrior king on the map.

Our Story
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Aviemore

Aviemore Ice Rink

A heartwarming story of a community's dermintation to bring back an ice rink to Aviemore.

Our Story
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Wester Ross

The GALE Centre

An impressive oasis that is no mere tourist information centre.

Our Story
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Girvan

Go Girvan

Girvan is most definitely not just a place to pass through.

Our Story
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The Cairngorms

Laggan Wolftrax

From heart pumping runs to family focused routes, Laggan Wolftrax is for any age of skill level.

Our Story
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Orkney

Stromness Museum

One of the oldest Victorian Enlightenment natural history museums still in existence today and still full of life!

Our Story
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Fife

Silverburn Park

A place where your heart, mind and soul will be taken care of.

Our Story
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Moray

Discover Cullen

Epic beaches, a world-famous soup and a warm welcome from a vibrant community.

Our Story
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Highlands

Easter Ross Peninsula

A seriously underrated and unexplored corner of Scotland ready to be experienced.

Our Story
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Dumfries & Galloway

A' The Airts

An award-winning community art centre keeping the unique tradition of Sanquhar Knitting alive.

Our Story
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Scottish Borders

Hike and Bike Galashiels

With guided cycling and walking tours, the Hike & Bike Hub is an oasis of information on getting outdoors in Galashiels area.

Our Story
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Scottish Borders

Trimontium Museum

The only museum in Scotland dedicated to the Roman Iron Age in Scotland.

Our Story
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South Ayrshire

Colmonell Community

A welcoming community in the Stinchar Valley and a handy stop if you're walking the Whithorn Way with their award-winning community owned toilets!

Our Story
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Central Scotland

Callander Hostel & Youth Project

With views to Ben Ledi, stay in this modern-style hostel and accessible, friendly pods run by local young people

Our Story
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Galloway Forest Park

The Glentrool Hive

At the heart of the Galloway Forest Park, and blessed with jaw-dropping beauty the Hive is a perfect base to explore from on foot or bike.

Our Story
Long Beach Camping Knoydart
Lochaber & the Small Isles

Knoydart Foundation

Knoydart’s community is something that stretches well beyond the peninsula. We’re like that with visitors too – we welcome them as ‘temporary locals’.

Our Story
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Isle of Eigg

Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust

Visit the first island in the world to generate all its energy from green sources.

Our Story
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Moray

Moray Way and Walking & Outdoor Festival

From the foothills of the Cairngorms to an award-winning coastline, explore Moray's natural, historical and cultural landscape.

Our Story
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Isle of Skye

SEALL

More than a place for trending insta photos- it's a place where you can experience world-class events in small halls.

Our story
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Shetland Isles

Wild Skies

Discover Unst - somewhere between Mars and Jupiter?

Our Story
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Isle of Bute

Bute Community Forest

Stay in Scotland’s largest community forest with eco ‘charcoal huts’ and the local residents - woodland wildlife!

Our Story
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Dumfries & Galloway

The Hive Moniaive

"Some people see the greatest asset of the Moniaive area as the landscape, but it’s the people who are our greatest asset."

Our Story
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Central Scotland

Linlithgow Union Canal

Slow down, switch off your phone and take a trip on the Union Canal, where you can experience life at a different pace.

Our Story
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Dumfries & Galloway

New Galloway Community Enterprises

"We’ve got it all here, whether you want to savour complete solitude, or to be welcomed like a ‘temporary local’ in our village of New Galloway."

Our Story
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Outer Hebrides

Bùth Bharraigh

The ‘Outer Hebrides in Miniature’ is awaiting you -this pocket island packs a punch when it comes to beaches, seafood, historical sights and warm welcomes.

Our Story
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Wester Ross

Wester Ross Biosphere

This is a community organisation already on the UNESCO world map who are thinking big!

Our Story
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Stirlingshire

Bridge of Allan

Go-getting community-driven Discover Bridge of Allan are out to put this glorious town on more people’s radars and to encourage us all to be ‘temporary locals’ who linger on to savour its charms for longer.

Our Story
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Sarah MacLean, manager of Bùth Bharraigh Ltd

When the ferry is late it’s an issue for people. They might be a single traveller coming to an island for the first time and feel a little daunted. We will stay open to welcome them with a smile and help them sort everything out.”

“For every £1 spent in Bùth Bharraigh it equates to £2.58 for the local economy (LMF).”

“We get young people coming through from the community. We work with programmes like the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Saltire Awards. We help them towards the workforce, giving them transferable skills and the confidence that comes from working in a shop and information centre.

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