I don’t mind…but there goes my anonymity on the SDMB… 
Thanks everyone! Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply but I’ve had trouble getting back here… seems I keep hitting peak hour, when the hamsters are panting and fairly useless at bringing pages up.
This is great stuff. I’m printing out this thread, and marking the highlights on my map. What’s gran’s address, Kwyjibo?
Celyn, I may yet email you for further advice! Less than two weeks to go, and we’re not terribly organised… thank goodness for the Last Minute!
It is your Doper’s Duty to make extensive inquiries & investigations as to what Scotsmen wear under their kilts.
We expect a full report.
Ooh ooh! I know one! ::waves hand madly::
You absolutely MUST see the number one best thing about Scotland :
The road to London.
It’s quite some time since I last visited Aberdeen, but I spent a number of holidays there as a child (also staying with relatives).
First the bad news. You’ll be there in early November so the weather is going to be less than ideal. Think wind, rain and cold. You should also check whether particular attractions are open as you’re definitely going there out of season.
Aberdeen itself is a nice enough city, but it doesn’t really have anything that I would call major tourist attractions. As a large provincial city, it has all the usual things - a few historic buildings, some museums, an art gallery, some nice parks - but nothing particularly special. Marischal College, as suggested by Kilt-wearin’ man, is the only thing that comes close. Even for your first trip abroad, I suspect that you’ll exhaust most of the ‘sights’ pretty quickly.
Now for the good news. Aberdeen/Portlethen is an excellent base from which to explore the north-east of Scotland. If possible, get a car. With one, you can easily do the following as day trips.
Stonehaven and Dunnottar. See above.
Deeside. Balmoral is the obvious objective but the castle itself is only open during the summer.
The Spey valley.
Inverness, Loch Ness and Culloden.
Stirling. The castle is almost as good as the one in Edinburgh.
All these trips will take you through areas with impressive scenery but bear in mind that they’re not quite so impressive if it’s pouring with rain.
Edinburgh as a day trip would be more ambitious, but if you leave early, take the train and come back late you should be able to get in almost a full day’s sightseeing. Not enough time, of course, to see the place properly, but enough to give you a flavour of the place.
Aberdeen also has some pretty good restaraunts and pubs…and the city itself is quite lovely.
As for Bosda’s “assignment”…check the sig.
For shame!
Another question: What are clothing prices like in the UK? I’m going to need some warm clothing, and since the local stores are full of summer gear, I’m having a little trouble finding what I want.
Depends where you go. Certain shops are cheaper than others, and certain cities are cheaper than others. I’d recommend looking for the factory outlets if you’re in London, since central London prices are hilarious. You won’t have any problems finding winter gear here; if in doubt, the camping shop chains also do warm clothing.
The most picturesque town I saw in Scotland when I went there was a fishing village in the north called Ullapool. All the buildings are white stone. Absolutely beautiful, especially in the rain. And you should see a lot of rain there. Remeber to bring your Gore-tex. The Isle of Skye was also lovely. Oh dear, happy memories are making me tearful now.
I’ve been to Ullapool. Sadly I remembered it as a grim, wet fishing port. I was staying in a small village just north of there that was very nice - Lochinver, I think it was.
Beware of the VAT tax. I was in Aberdeen in November, and IIRC a light ski jacket and jeans were fine - Of course being a coldfingered girl, I had a pair of cotton gloves along to to keep the wind off me, as well. It was colder in Edinburgh. If, however, you have two weeks, jump on the train and head to Edinburgh. the Royal Mile is worth a look see. The Castle at one end Holyrood at the other and a half a dozen other historic museum in walking distance. And the shopping on Princes Street isn’t half bad - got a nice muffler there for 95 pence