Meeting locals and connecting with them in a meaningful and authentic way is an experience on the top of most people’s travel wish list – especially on the Scottish west coast. After all, it’s the people that make this part of the world so special. But engaging total strangers in conversation can feel a bit awkward – am I right?! Here are 9 approaches to connect with locals in Scotland and hear their west coast stories in a non-cringey way.
This post is sponsored by West Coast Waters, a campaign to highlight the beautiful west coast of Scotland.
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Hailed as home to some of the friendliest people in the world, the Scottish west coast is a warm and welcoming place, known for its exceptional hospitality and friendly locals.
Most visitors hope to have authentic experiences and encounters with locals in Scotland – and luckily, the west coasters are eager to oblige. As they say – strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet!
But speaking to strangers, and even more so asking them to share their story with you, can feel awkward – and even intrusive.
And that’s why in this post, I share with you nine ways to connect with locals in Scotland and listen to their stories from the west coast.
The Year of Scottish Stories
Every two years, Scotland chooses an inspiring theme to celebrate all things Scottish – the landscapes and nature, the people and their ways of life, the history and of course the food.
While 2020 was the Year of Coasts and Waters, highlighting everything from dreamy islands to water wellness, 2022 is Scotland’s Year of Stories.
And stories is something that the Scottish west coast has plenty of.
I have no doubt that the mythical folktales and literary heroes of Scotland will get their fair share of attention this year. But I’d also like to encourage you to connect with Scottish locals and listen to the stories they tell. Be it their own stories, takes about their land and its people, or other legends they tell with a passion.
It’s those personal stories that can’t be found in a history book that will put a charming spin on your local encounters in Scotland.
So without further ado, read on to find out how you can connect with locals on your next west coast adventure.
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How to connect with Locals on the Scottish west coast
Listen to West Coast Stories
History is not just what you find on the shelves of a dusty library. History is a living, breathing thing that is created by people like you and me. It needs to be recorded and written by contemporaries in order to be passed on for generations.
And that’s exactly what the project The Coast that Shaped the World (or short: Coast) is all about.
Coast is an oral history project that gathered the stories of over 1,300 west coasters alive today. Over 30 story gatherers travelled along the west coast and to the Scottish isles to record stories about people, places and happenings that range from a few sentences to epic tales.
The project is currently selecting 400 stories to be shared online, via an app and in exhibitions. Stay tuned!

Follow art trails and visit local artists
One of the easiest ways to connect with locals on the Scottish west coast, is to look for artists and makers who live and work in the area.
I have found that most artists are very happy to tell you about their work and the inspiration they draw from their surroundings. I’ve heard more than one great story about lucky finds on the beach, unexpected wildlife encounters and incredible adventures to get the right inspiration.
Many artists on the west coast open their workspaces, run small shops or even offer workshops on site. It’s easy to find them by following local art trails like Wander Argyll, the Arran Art Trail or the Mull & Iona Arts Trail.
One of my all-time favourite experiences was the morning I spent with artists Miek and Rutger on the Isle of Mull, foraging for seaweed and learning about their relationship with the island.

Stay in a Bed & Breakfast
Arguably the best way to meet locals is to stay with them! Traditional bed & breakfasts are like little family-run hotels with big personalities. You’ll get a warm welcome, a comfortable space to yourself, an indulgent cooked breakfast and a direct link to a Scottish person who has opened their home to visitors.
Engage with your hosts as much as possible. In my experience, hosts are happy to chat when you arrive as well as in the morning during/after breakfast. Ask them for their top tips and explore the local area through their eyes.
Some of my favourite encounters with B&B hosts on the Scottish west coast have been Sara & Sean at Kingsrech B&B in Kilmartin Glen, Maurice & Steve at Carradales on the Kintyre peninsula and Cristina at Vigadale House on the Isle of Harris.
Their stories will stay with me forever!
And don’t worry – B&Bs have gone with the times! Even though the hosts often live in the same building, you get utmost privacy and the standard of service & facilities are really high. Still not convinced? Read my post about why you should stay in B&Bs and guest houses.

Hire a Local Guide
No one knows an area better than the people who live there. Hiring a local guide can be a great way to make an authentic connection with a Scottish local. They will show you Scotland from their perspective, share their story and tell many more along the way.
Whether you are looking to hire a hiking guide, tour historic sites with an expert or want to hire a driver-guide to take care of navigating the narrow west coast roads for you – local guides will enrich your stay in Scotland with their stories.
Some of my favourite guided experiences have been with Tony from Walk Mull, Will from Kayak Summer Isles and Karl from Otter Adventures. Karl told me fantastical fables about the West Highland Peninsulas as we were kayaking on Loch Sunart. Will took us on an underwater wildlife safari while we were driving the North Coast 500. And Tony taught me about the wonderful plants growing in a bog on Mull. I never thought I’d be fascinated by a bog!
You might also like: 11 Educational & Science-Based Tourism Experiences in Scotland
Our boat guide at Corryvreckan Whirlpool Our hiking guide on Mull
Visit Local Museums & Heritage Centres
Local museums and heritage centres can be a great way to learn about an area, its history and its people. Very often they tell stories that are deemed too small or not important enough in the grand scheme of history – stories that you won’t find in large history museums or collections. Stories that are full of local context, heroes and fate.
On my trips to the west coast, I have found that many local museums and heritage centres have a number of volunteer guides and/or researchers. Everyone with an interest can get involved to tell and preserve the history of their homelands.
Some excellent examples of these kinds of museums are the Kilmartin Museum in the Heart of Argyll (which will re-open 2023), the Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre on the Isle of Lismore, the Gairloch Museum on the North Coast 500 and the Bernera Museum of the island Great Bernera.
The latter also offers tours around a replica of an Iron Age house on Bosta Beach – a beautiful place with fascinating history!
You might also like: How to engage with Scottish Gaelic culture as a visitor

Attend a Local Festival
Local festivals offer an excellent opportunity to mix and mingle with locals and connect over some of the things you both enjoy. Whether it’s a festival about books, food, music, whisky or art – this is where like-minded people can meet!
Most communities on the Scottish west coast host at least one festival per year to celebrate local culture and food, but also as a great way to socialise and have a laugh together.
Some of these festivals have become real bucket list items for Scots and international visitors from far and wide. Fèis Ìle (the Islay whisky festival) or the Tiree Music Festival come to mind.
Others are still flying a bit more under the radar, like the Colonsay Book Festival. But that just means it’s even easier to meet locals there and make meaningful connections during your time in Scotland.

Follow the footsteps of travelling authors
Books are one of the best ways to travel without leaving your home. Reading books from and about Scotland will transport you there long before you make the journey yourself.
And once you’re here, why not follow in the authors’ footsteps to see the places they write about for yourself? One of my favourite books to inspire Scottish adventures is Madeleine Bunting’s Love of Country. Her book is an ode to the Scottish islands and has inspired more than one trip to the west coast, exploring its landscapes, history, wildlife and people.
If you like fiction and don’t mind some crime and suspense, check out Peter May’s books, especially the Lewis Trilogy (The Blackhouse, The Lewis Man and The Chessmen). These books are set in the Outer Hebrides and a great way to inspire your trip to Lewis & Harris.
Instead of following the footsteps of fictional characters though, you could also discover locations associated with famous authors who lived in or visited Scotland. George Orwell, for example, spent some time writing in a cottage on the Isle of Jura – you can walk there and enjoy the same views, while also connecting with an amazing small island community.
You might also like: 20 Adventure Books from Scotland

Listen to Scottish stories on podcasts
Last but not least, I encourage you to connect with locals in Scotland by listening to their podcasts.
As a podcaster myself, I appreciate the way podcasts allow people to share their stories in their own words with ease. And you get to listen to their beautiful accents!
What We Do In The Winter is full of stories by locals from the Isle of Mull and surrounding islands. BBC Scotland Outdoors gathers stories about nature and adventure from all over Scotland.
And then of course, there’s my own podcast Wild for Scotland which is full of stories from the west coast and other parts of Scotland.
You can find more Scotland podcasts to listen to here.

Go to the pub
How could I write an article about connecting with locals in Scotland without mentioning the single-most social place in every Scottish town, village or hamlet. The pub.
There is no better place to meet locals in Scotland than the local neighbourhood pub.
Get yourself a dram, stand by the bar and strike up a conversation – or wait until a local approaches you. It won’t take long!
I have had some of my favourite encounters with local people in west coast pubs – from well-known hot spots like the McNeill’s in Stornoway (Isle of Lewis), to hotel bars that are also “the only pub on the island”, like the bar at Coll Hotel (Isle of Coll).
Scottish pubs on the west coast are full of friendly locals who are just waiting to tell you their story – and hear a bit of yours.

From personal encounters with artists, hosts and guides to mingling with locals at museums, festivals and connecting with Scots through books, stories or podcasts – there are many ways to connect with locals in Scotland while you’re travelling here.
The people on the west coast of Scotland are fantastic storytellers. In the Year of Scottish Stories, don’t miss out on listening to their stories!
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We are wanting to travel to Scotland in November to December of 2023. This is our first time out of the United States (except Canada). We would like to get to know the local people and take a relaxing informative trip. Is it a mistake not to book lodging ahead of time? We are worried we will miss calculate how long it takes to get from place to place and how long we might want to stay in one place.
I would definitely book accommodation ahead of time – even in the off season. Some places still close for the winter, others are extra busy due to winter deals, so it’s best to book ahead to avoid disappointment. Otherwise you may have to spend more, get less comfort or stay in different areas than you had hoped for.
An itinerary review to discuss your route, how many nights in each place, travel times and so on might be a perfect choice for you: https://watchmesee.com/itinerary-review-service/
I’d love to help! 🙂
Wow! I love this post. What great ideas & tips! Thank you for such a clear, helpful post. Saved for sure.