Accent variation has the potential to be a source of perceptual confusion in speech. Until recently, however, relatively little research has addressed the details of how unfamiliar accents are processed. In this talk I will sketch some of the theoretical issues that arise from considering how perceivers deal with accent variation. I will present preliminary data from two lines of research into Glaswegian and Standard Southern British English, one concerning the impact of accent differences on how people segment speech in noise, and the other concerning how people learn about another speaker's accent depending on whether they interact 'live' with the speaker versus watch a video. I will also outline a new project into cross-accent production and perception of the fine phonetic detail of timing patterns.