UK Dopers: Advice needed on Scotland

In My Humble Opinion
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So, I’ve gotten into the University of Aberdeen to read for my MLitt, and need advice on Scotland. Dublin had been my first choice, as evidenced by some of my other posts, but they have neglected to even reply to me. Both University of Ulster in Coleraine and University of Aberdeen had accepted me for grad school, and the latter is probably it.

The only problem is that as much as I’ve traveled, I’ve not been to Scotland before. I don’t know anything at all about Aberdeen other than there’s a big crude oil industry and the people I’ve been in contact with are extremely friendly.

Can anyone give me advice, tips, hints?

Help me pay my loans? :smiley:

AK

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Can’t help with the loans,AnnaLivia, wish I could. I’m not UK, I’m NC, but travel much in Scotland, love it best of all. The people are, in my experience, extremely friendly. Aberdeen is an industrial city but has much to offer. Scholarship is honored. Boys and older men wear the kilt. Scotland is small, travel is easy, you will find much to see and enjoy.

I love Inverness and the islands, especially Skye. Scotland is beautiful, the bars are great; crafts shops are everywhere, affordable and lovely; tartans by the yard, hand-knit woolens, etc.

Oh, God! I want to go back! The local food isn’t terribly appealing to me, except for the “cooked breakfasts.” Never tried the hagis. Love the scotch. Indian restaurants and take-out are everywhere & excellent. You leave the tip with your payment for your meal, if you pay at a front desk.

Lots of little shops everywhere, specializing in one thing: practical jokes, greeting cards, gemstone jewelry, etc. I find Scotland very reasonable for shopping.

Scots are understandably proud of their history & will happily share. Attend a “mod,” if you can – a local talent show & community gathering.

I wish you well and hope you love this beautiful place – snow-capped mountains in view as you paddle on the beach – fog and sun in the same minute – kilted golfers “playing through” a flock of sheep.

Last time I went, I booked for a week, ended up spending 17 days.

I envy you! Best of luck!

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Bring warm clothing. You’ll need it.

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And waterproof clothing. And an umbrella.

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Hope you like granite.

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Do you enjoy skiing? Aberdeen apparantly is the UK’s skiing resort!

Be prepared to walk up and down more hills than ever before, and don’t worry too much. The Scots are a wonderfully friendly lot. What kind of advice specifically are you looking for?

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well as someone who has lived in aberdeen his whole life i suppose im qualified to answer this. as has already been mentioned oil and gas is a massive part of the economy, but its not a depressing industrial wasteland (well not all of it) a wee drive out into the country and you’ll be knee deep in some top notch scenery, Balmoral, the highlands etc.

As for the city itself, there isnt a massive amount to do, unless you like drinking, but we do have a museum, and a theatre if you like that sort of thing, or you could go to glasgow or edinburgh both about two hours on the train.

The University is in the old part of the town and has some beautiful buildings on campus, i coudlnt tell you much about the academic side of things, they got wise to me and failed my ass after a year, but i think it is generally a good school.

Im not sure about everyone wearing the kilts, but if you give us a bit of warning im sure we can arrange something. Aberdeen isnt the uks skiing resort, that would be aviemore but its only about an hours drive, and as much as i hate to reinforce the stereotype of this great city being freezing, wet, and grey, its probably true, sometimes, but you get used to it (honestly).

if you want some more info the council has a half decent website or feel free to email me.

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I’ve just spoken to my PhD student, who studied in Aberdeen.

He echoes the warm & waterproof clothing and adds:

Don’t swim in the sea, even in hot weather.

He thinks it’s a good studenty place, accomodation and food aren’t too expensive, but clubbing is (though there is plenty to choose from).

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From Rich Hall’s excellent book things snowball:

Rich goes on at some length on the further delights of Aberdeen, but I think you get the general idea. I bet you’re really looking forward to it now, no?

P.S. Did I mention the granite?

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I jumped in the sea at Aberdeen one New Years Day many moons ago.

I didn’t find my testicles again for a fortnight. :eek:

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Yay!

This is exactly the sort of stuff I need…

I think I’m just nervous/excited as all hell.

I do know about the oil- I’ve recieved my briefing on that from the director of the program. I also know about the granite. I know about batter-dipping tings, such as mars bars, but was unaware that fried granite was a local specialty. I’ll have to give that a try to blend in.

I’m not much fond of swimming, so I would be leaving that out anyway.

It’s nice to know there’s a museum, because I could find next to nothing in tour guides on Aberdeen and I have a responsibility to get kicked out of at least one museum in every country I visit.
thanks,

AL

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Another piece of advice: eat haggis. Ignore what other people say, and don’t think about what goes into it (it’s no worse than what you find in most sausages anyway). It’s delicious.

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Outside Aberdeen, I recommend a trip to Dunnottar Castle just south of Stonehaven. A nice day out amongst the seaside ruins. Come prepared for hill climbing, and be sure to look for the puffins on the cliffside (but don’t fall off).

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mulling over what i wrote earlier, it seems that i didnt really sound too enthusiastic about the ‘granite’ city, but it really is a great place, well at least homer simpson seems to think so. in the rest of the uk people seem to think it is some kind of backwater village where the men are men and the sheep are frightened, but nothing could be further from the truth, its a beautiful city filled with intelligent, humourous, all round good eggs like myself.

on the things to do front, depending on your idea of fun there are a few more things to do, weve got a half decent football/soccer team, a good independant cinema, and a vast array of pubs and clubs centred around belmont street, once described in the local paper as aberdeens greenwich village,hahahahahha (maybe i was wrong about it being a backwater), aswell as various other places to go. finally, if you want a guided tour, consider my services offered.

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I once celebrated quite a Hogmanay (New Year’s) in Aberdeen. Very friendly people.
Don’t know where you are traveling out of, but have seen some good airfare to Aberdeen by way of Amsterdam.
Rent the movie “Local Hero.” It was filmed in small seaside villages, one of them the tiny town of Pennan, which is not far from Aberdeen.

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I’ve found couple good fares for flying out of Philly (say that five times fast), but most involve buying a round trip and losing the second ticket.

I’m quite enthusiastic about going and with good advice, or at least well meant advice, I don’t think I can go wrong. I’m glad to hear it’s hilly there- is it almost entirely denuded of old trees the way Ireland is? (I feel bad, because I also know nothing about Scottish History aside from James VI of Scotland being James I of England)
AL

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there are plenty of trees, im not sure how old they are, but they some of them look to be getting on a bit.:smiley:

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What is there to do in “JOHN O’GROATS”? Never been there , but always intrigued by the weird name of thisplace!

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You can catch a ferry to Orkney from there. That’s about it.

Or you could see all these!!!

It’s named after some Dutch boy called Jan de Groot, in case you were wondering.

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Pretty much shag-all, except to have your photo taken with the sign or have a pint in the hotel, or buy a crap souvenir. Or leave. It’s the most North-Easterly point of Britain, and is furthest from the most South-Westerly point, which is Land’s End in Cornwall. The distance between them is the greatest in Britain, at around 900 miles, IIRC.