Exeter To Aberdeen

[lyall]

My nephew is currently at college in Exeter, he has been accepted at Aberdeen university and would love to go but is doubtful how to get all his things from one end of the country to the other. He has looked at a couple of ways but they have proved too be too expensive. Knowing many of you here would have experience of family going off to university I thought I would ask if anyone has any ideas that don't cost the earth. He is hoping to be in halls of residence but would like to bring some of his own furniture when I asked if it would all fit in a transit van he said he wasn't sure but didn't think so. Any ideas or pointers would be appreciated. He has friends on route he can stay with. I forgot he doesn't drive so van hire would be a problem.

[Cloverjo]

He will have all the basics in his room, and won't need or have room for extra furniture.
People who I know from the south who went to study in Scotland had their parents take them up.

Megabus and National Express are the cheapest ways of getting up there without too much luggage, as far as I know.

[Buenchico]

If he's going to be living in a hall of residence (which, of course, are fully furnished anyway) he should simply forget about taking his own furniture. It would be pure madness to turn down a place at a first class university for the sake of a wardrobe or a bookcase! (Otherwise his only alternative would seem to be to investigate 'man and a van' services in Exeter to find one which would take both him and his furniture to Aberdeen - but that seems pointless when he'd have nowhere to put the furniture anyway!).

Perhaps a look at the halls of residence at King's Campus
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective-students/catered-halls-43.php
or Hillhead
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective-students/self-catered-halls-44.php
might help to convince him of his folly in attempting to take his own furniture?

To get from Exeter to Aberdeen (sans furniture) he could travel with FlyBe for around £68 (based upon some specimen dates I've tried around the start of this year's Autumn term):
http://www.flybe.com/

[Buenchico]

PS: Travel from Exeter to Aberdeen is possible (via London) for between £11 and £17 (depending upon the times of travel) with Megabus but it's a really long journey! (Around 5 hours to London and then a further 12 hours to Aberdeen).

[Cloverjo]

Ooh, I didn't think the Megabus journey would be that bad! They are good for cheap shorter journeys though, for future reference.

[Maydup]

He's very young to have more than a transit van full of possessions. I would encourage him to travel light. Maybe an adult or two could go up with him either in a car or on public transport and carry a bag each. All he needs are his clothes, shoes, coat, his electronic gadgets, toiletries etc. once there he can do what students do and pick up anything he's missing from a charity shop, but he will have no need or room for furniture of his own.

[Prudie]

It's a long shot but he should also consider putting an ad on the students noticeboard (probably online these days) at Exeter Uni to see if anyone's planning any trips to Scotland and is looking to car share. Agree about the furniture, taking your own is madness and there wouldn't be space in the room anyway.