Clothing in November for a Floridean

Having spent a month in Scotland (all areas) last year, I can say that the layering technique of clothing served me well. As each day's weather could include, part sun, rain showers, wind. The following took me from the Orkneys, to Edinburg, hiking on the Great Highland Way, to island hopping all along the coasts. I found that I kept returning to this basic daily outfit: light tank top, long sleeve tee, fleece vest, lightweight puffer jacket, outer shell type rain coat. And a very small nylon back pack that I could carry the layers I wasn't using during the day, but have access to don them again, as the weather changed. With this technique, the only multiples of items I brought were several of the base layer tanks and tees. I wore a technical - type nylon pair of pants that shed rain, yet weren't too hot in the sun. I brought two pair of those. With this simple routine, (and waterproof Vessie brand sturdy loafer type shoes), I was able to travel for 6 weeks, bringing only a roller carry on and a small back pack. (the foldable nylon day back pack was inside my roller bag on the flight).

I think she’ll need a lot of warm clothing to be honest. It could be very cold by then in Scotland. I recommend a thigh length warm and waterproof coat, gloves, hat and scarf, and probably some thermal base layers. She will also need fleece jackets and other warm layering pieces. I very much doubt she will ever feel too hot in the coat given her age and the fact that she is not doing any strenuous activity.

The clocks go back at the end of October, and November can have a very wintery feel. It can be cold, but above all damp and wet. The best thing is layers and prepare for rain.

70 is not old!
Just saying….. ;)

I think if she really wants to go, and knows you have been before and know what to expect……I really hope you can politely get her on board for bringing the right clothing.
You will be the ones who won’t enjoy it if she is not prepared!

Has she visited you up north in winter and felt the cold there?
It is a damp cold in Scotland in winter, and added to that the wind can go right through you.
At the very least she needs a wind and waterproof jacket, at least thigh-length; comfy waterproof walking shoes, a hat, gloves and warm scarf, and good socks.

I would get her some lightweight long underwear as a gift, and give it to her on arrival in Scotland.
I’m betting at the end of the trip she would have worn it a lot, and rave about her thoughtful daughter-in-law.

Do you or your friends or other relatives have clothes you can lend her? When my 80+ father who lived in Southern California visited us at Christmas in the wet Pacific Northwest we would lend him our down vests, sweaters, etc. I know you don't want to haul that stuff around but if you are helping her with her luggage won't you be hauling it around anyways? So beg or borrow a long warm coat (packable down from Costco or Uniqlo maybe?), get a few thermal base layers and some nice warm socks for her. Or, if she's like my in-laws in Florida, suggest she go to the numerous thrift/resale shops in Florida and pick up the nice winter clothes the other snowbirds no longer need.

MIL is likely to be in for a shock. Acverage temperatures at the start of November are unlikely to be much above 50˚F.... You may be lucky and get a spell of sunshine with warmer days. However watch out for the wind chill can be quite severe and make the temperature fell a lot colder, especvially if it is damp too! . Come prepared with warm hat, scarf and gloves. Also think layers. A warm showerproof coat is also an advantage to cut the wind chill factor. Otherwise think layers and warm socks too!

I'm in Oban right now, and it's been pretty rainy and damp. Our tour guide is predicting a hard winter because of the amount of berries already growing on the Rowan trees...no idea if that's just an old wives tale, but layering and waterproofing are essential. One thing I thought of yesterday that would have been helpful is a pair if waterproof gloves. I have gloves but they aren't waterproof and my hands got a bit chilly. Wool socks are also highly recommended, as they have moisture wicking properties.

The OP has not returned, so I’m hoping she is busy shopping for her MIL!

Hi everyone, I'm still here! Thank you for the advice - I had a feeling MIL would need some warm winter layers, but I felt silly recommending them!

Let's see - she lived in NY state most of her life, but she moved to FL at retirement and has been there over 10 years. So she's no longer a northerner, and I think she's probably gotten rid of most or all her cold-weather clothes. We can lend her a few warm layers, but her style is very different than mine or my daughter's and I doubt she would accept loaners of the visible layers. Trotter, great point about the second-hand shops in FL. I'll recommed she look for some merino and fleece. I'm sure she has a decent rainjacket (Florida DOES have rain after all!).

Helen, you make an excellent point about the lower activity level. It's true, we won't be warming ourselves with any true activity. Linnae, you mentioned waterproof gloves and I definitely wouldn't have looked for those. They sound useful for me too!

Thanks again for confirming that she really will be chilled and I'm not over-planning. We'll do our best to make sure she's prepared!

You are a very thoughtful DIL. You can always purchase clothing that is suitable while in Scotland should you forget something. I am now the proud owner of an Arran wool cap as a result of freezing my ears teo days ago.