The North-East of Scotland and Altbayern (Old Bavaria) have long been perceived as the heartland of the respective linguistic varieties. Due to their association with a largely rural lifestyle the associated regional vernaculars, the Doric and Old Bavarian, are often regarded as the “purest” forms of the local variety. Considering that these regions are regarded as prominent, this study investigates what the speakers think of their varieties and how they construct their identity in the light of these perceptions. Using mainly qualitative data, gathered in the small towns of Peterhead and Aichach, the study explores the attitudes towards the varieties and its speakers as perceived by themselves. Issues, such as age-related competence, positive and negative discrimination, are one aspect of the investigation. Another focal point are the strategies employed by the participants to construct their identity as vernacular speakers. Drawing on methods connected to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), themes, such as character traits and the relationships in the community between locals and incomers, are studied. The status of the standard variety and the vernacular and the relationship between them is investigated; the concepts of Abstand and Ausbau languages and diglossia also inform the assessment.