The towns and villages north west of Aberdeen are predominantly surrounded by countryside, river valleys, forests and the Grampian Highlands. Bennachie, a popular hill for climbers and naturalists, is close at hand.

Inverurie is a sizeable town of around 10,000 people, located 17 miles north west of Aberdeen, or about 25 minutes by train. It has a full range of facilities including supermarkets, restaurants and a variety of local shops. A mixed range of housing is available from 19th century to newly built, with rural properties also available. The town has both primary and secondary schools.

Kintore lies 4 miles beyond Inverurie, with good access to the town's amenities. This is a traditional village, but recent development has added a large number of new houses in the vicinity. There is a local primary school and secondary schooling is provided by Kemnay Academy. The village has a range of basic shops and several pubs.

Kemnay is a little larger than Kintore, with similar facilities and a similar mix of Victorian and newly built houses.