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Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

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Original poster

DS going to Aberdeen uni from soft south of England - how cold is it?

51 replies

buckingfrolicks · 19/08/2016 22:58

I took my DS to look at the university at Aberdeen last October and he loved it from the moment he clapped eyes on the city, the sea, and the beautiful campus - and this week he has - hurrah - been accepted to study there.

When we went, we had glorious weather! but now, I'm not sure whether to encourage him to take nothing but huge jumpers, winter boots and a big furry hat. Or is that overkill?

OP posts:

rogueantimatter · 20/08/2016 21:16

its. Oops. Not 'it's'. I only did one year of English.

MissMargie · 21/08/2016 07:37

By tie up hoods I mean one with a string round it, or Velcro, not a big fur lined loose one which is supposed to stay up on its own, as it will be blown back.

Charlieismydarlin · 21/08/2016 07:42

Congratulations!

A good down puffa. It does rain, but not as much as the west. Give me a bracing east coast chill wind over relentless rain any day 😬

Seriously - buy him a vitamin D3 spray to take all winter. Something we should all do anyway!

Fadingmemory · 21/08/2016 07:45

Cold (very) and dry. A good down jacket (if he will wear it) and a 2 layer duvet. For 2nd year onwards - rents are falling in the city due to oil industry downturn. DD had a ball there.

prettybird · 21/08/2016 09:38

Talking about duvets, I remember taking my duvet across to St Andrews but got my mum and dad to take it home when we saw that the Hall of Residence already had one. (Duvets weren't as ubiquitous back in 1978 so I hadn't assumed they'd have one).

Next trip they had over, they brought it back as the Hall-supplied one wasn't nearly warm enough (thin polyester one, as opposed to my feather filled one that my parents had had sent over from Denmark when I was a child)

babynugget · 21/08/2016 09:43

The main problem with Aberdeen weather is how unpredictable it is. You could get dressed on a sunny mild morning in summery clothes and by lunchtime be knee deep in snow! So layers are definitely good!

Puremince · 26/08/2016 18:21

I was in Wavell and so was DH (nostalgic). As every one else has said, Aberdeen is freezing, but much drier than the west coast.

OhFuds · 26/08/2016 18:30

This time next week we'll be packing the car to drop my DD off at Wavell House, it feels like it's came round too fast!

still wishing she had got into a uni closer to home

fruitpastille · 26/08/2016 19:33

It is cold but that just meant I wore tights with my v short skirt and velvet jacket

When I was there it seemed like all the private school types got the halls close to Kings and the rest of us slummed it at Hillhead.

oldlaundbooth · 26/08/2016 19:35

Make sure he has good boots too, with a good sole. Cold toes make a miserable undergrad.

Not the city for Converse.

Original poster

buckingfrolicks · 27/08/2016 20:32

OhFuds I'm flying up with DS on Friday while DP drives with the stuff. One night in town then drop him off ( he refused all warm clothing point blank on today's shopping trip 😫) and DP and I drive about 700 miles home.

He's in North Court wherever that is!

He's doing politics and international relations. What's your DD doing?

It's good to hear all your positive memories

DD (his twin) is off to London so only 40 mins away.

I'm going to try again with the warm clothes. Tbh it was so hot today it was impossible to believe it would ever be cold.

Is a bike s good idea?

OP posts:

GinandJag · 27/08/2016 20:37

DP is a saint. What is amazing about the drive to Aberdeen is that it is a full three hours past Edinburgh. From London, Edinburgh is 7 hours. Looking at the map, you would not expect Aberdeen to be that much further.

DD is doing PIR in London. Good course.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/08/2016 20:44

Bucking - ds3 is just about to go into his second year at Aberdeen. We live in Scotland but are originally from England, and he has had no problems from anyone about being English, as far as I am aware.

He hasn't complained too much about the cold either, but we have lived up here for a number of years, and have had the odd winter where temperatures have gone down as far as -17, so maybe he is a bit more acclimatised.

inlectorecumbit · 27/08/2016 20:44

Beautiful day in Aberdeen today--tomorrow not looking good tho!!
That about sums up the chnaging weather up here

fruitpastille · 27/08/2016 20:59

North court is on the Hillhead accommodation area. Flats rather than halls. They were the nice new ones when i was there (ages ago!). Approx 20 min walk cutting through Seaton Park to lectures.

OhFuds · 27/08/2016 21:14

Bucking, that is some amount of miles! I'm in the central belt so it's only just over 2hr drive for us.

My DD's course is Hispanic Studies, the walk to the campus isn't long. As a PP said only 20 mins and when we did it we had a 2 yr old in tow. I took this photo and I've made DD promise she will never walk thru the park in the dark and to walk the longer route.

Do you know what is happening in the moving in weekend?, my dd hasn't had any info yet.

DS going to Aberdeen uni from soft south of England - how cold is it?

Teladi · 27/08/2016 21:20

I'm from Aberdeen but didn't study there.

He'll be OK in the cold, OP. Unsurprisingly we have plenty outdoor clothing shops here, I just got my own (wee) DD's winter jacket from Cotswold in Union Square, they have a sale on right now!

Not sure about a bike. I commute to work on a bike but mainly off-road, I find the driving pretty lethal here, but might be different in Old Aberdeen/Seaton etc because there are more students and probably more cyclists.

I echo OhFuds' warning. Don't go through Seaton Park at night. It is fine in the day.

OhFuds · 27/08/2016 21:46

teladi Is the train station within walking distance from the uni?

Original poster

buckingfrolicks · 28/08/2016 23:48

OhFuds, we've had naff all about the freshers' week/moving in times etc.

Will tell him about Seaton Park at night - and Fruitpastille, I'm glad to hear they were the nice flats, because he's of the view they look like Norwegian prison rooms! Your name reminds me, usefully, to get heaps of fruit pastilles for the journey...

OP posts:

Teladi · 29/08/2016 18:41

It's about a mile and a half I think, OhFuds. I don't drive so everywhere's walking distance for me! There will be a bus from Union Street, check the First Aberdeen website.

Original poster

buckingfrolicks · 04/09/2016 00:15

DS delivered with jumpers and wind proof coat! Glorious sunny day. Quite fancied staying there myself! Thanks for all the advice.

OP posts:

EddieStobbart · 04/09/2016 00:23

I studied there for a year. It was the wind I remember more than anything else but then I've lived in Scotland most of my life. No umbrellas!

There were 10 people in my flat, lots were English, and I don't remember anyone having any problems there with the exception of one thinking some guy had just randomly told her mid conversation that she was fit. Love to have been listening to that conversation...

Notfastjustfurious · 04/09/2016 00:27

libra you're heating on today?? Seriously? Today it was fine warm and sunny. You shouldn't need heating till November. It's not that cold I have no idea fit on earth youre all gan on aboot. My dh is English and he only gets the piss taken during football and by me when he doesn't understand the language

OhFuds · 04/09/2016 10:39

bucking What did you think of North Court? I was impressed with Wavell House, the rooms are lovely.

The sun was shining yesterday so that was nice! even tho I dressed for winter

CarpeJugulum · 04/09/2016 10:41

They must have done them up since I was there 20 odd years ago! They used to be the arse end of crap.

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