<p>I’ve never been to Stirling, but the weather in Scotland is changeable and temperate just like the rest of the UK. Unpredictable. Rarely very hot, rarely very cold, can rain any day. </p>
<p>Cold clear frosty days are just the best. The sun is very low and it’s blinding even in London. More so further north. But it’s a cold sun. The best weather for walking in my opinion.</p>
<p>It’s very very unlikely to be as cold as the mid-west in winter, at least consistently. The dark is more of an issue. When it’s dark at 4pm, for the first couple of weeks I feel like going to bed. Brings out some kind of hidden hibernation instinct I think! But you just have to get use to half your day actually being the night. Also, January/February is the worst. In the lead up to Christmas most places have lots of Christmas lights up and it is quite cheerful.</p>
<p>I honestly feel many people make this into a big deal when it isn’t rain won’t kill you and you really have to get over basing your mood for a whole day/week/year on the weather. But if good weather every day is a deal breaker for you, you will hate the place.</p>
<p>You will have some great hiking opportunities up there. You are going at the right time of the year not for weather but for social life. The first week of uni in September in the UK there is a “freshers fair” which you should definitely go to. There are stalls here for all the student social societies, and you can sign up to join (or just join the email list) those you want. Look for the hiking/walking club. I was a member of the Oxford walking society and I really got to see a lot of the UK and make lots of friend through this. There were walking trips most weekends. I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>In Scotland you will do a lot of hill walking and you will have to be prepared for any weather. So you end up carrying a lot of gear basically. Don’t go on your own. I recommend the West Highland Way. This is Glasgow to Fort William. Takes a week to walk it.</p>
<p>I know Stirling has a famous castle but I’ve never been there. It’s quite a small place as far as I know. I am guessing that the nearest international airport is Glasgow. there is a small airport at Inverness (yes, this is the town where the river runs our of Loch Ness, of monster fame) but you won’t be able to fly there from the US. So if you want to travel round Europe you are looking for cheap flights from Glasgow. Consider northern Europe eg Iceland or Norway. Not fashionable or very well known in the US, but both gorgeous places. You’ll be able to fly from Glasgow to these places very quickly. Also, a flight to Ireland will take less than an hour. Train to London from Glasgow probably takes 5-6 hours. There is also an overnight (sleeper) train which I have always wanted to go on, but never have.</p>
<p>Drinking is a big part of the social scene in every UK uni I am sure. This is because a lot of socialising takes place in pubs and the drinking age is 18. However, you can go to the pub and buy soft drinks including coke, lemonade and a whole lot of fruit drinks (NB The word “cider” is used to mean apple juice in the US. In the UK cider is an extremely alcoholic apple drink! Also it’s home-made brother “scrumpy”, and it’s French cousin “cidre”). When you have been walking for 7 hours uphill in the driving rain and cold, a traditional pub with a huge open fire will suddenly seem the most desirable place on earth (and they often serve food too).</p>