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.
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Portsoy Community Enterprise
Unspoilt and never overcrowded, and has even been dubbed ‘Cornwall without the crowds’
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
Elgin Museum
Scotland's oldest continuously independent museum where history doesn’t stop in the 1800s - it just keeps evolving.
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.
Aviemore Ice Rink
A heartwarming story of a community's dermintation to bring back an ice rink to Aviemore.
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.
The GALE Centre
An impressive oasis that is no mere tourist information centre.
Stromness Museum
One of the oldest Victorian Enlightenment natural history museums still in existence today and still full of life!
Discover Cullen
Epic beaches, a world-famous soup and a warm welcome from a vibrant community.
Easter Ross Peninsula
A seriously underrated and unexplored corner of Scotland ready to be experienced.
Laggan Wolftrax
From heart pumping runs to family focused routes, Laggan Wolftrax is for any age of skill level.
A' The Airts
An award-winning community art centre keeping the unique tradition of Sanquhar Knitting alive.
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.
Trimontium Museum
The only museum in Scotland dedicated to the Roman Iron Age in Scotland.
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!
Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust
Visit the first island in the world to generate all its energy from green sources.
Callander Hostel & Youth Project
With views to Ben Ledi, stay in this modern-style hostel and accessible, friendly pods run by local young people
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.
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’.
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.
SEALL
More than a place for trending insta photos- it's a place where you can experience world-class events in small halls.
Bute Community Forest
Stay in Scotland’s largest community forest with eco ‘charcoal huts’ and the local residents - woodland wildlife!
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."
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.
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."
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.
Wester Ross Biosphere
This is a community organisation already on the UNESCO world map who are thinking big!
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.
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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