Nicest parts of Aberdeenshire to live in please

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Property would preferably be a 3 bed for about 350k. Good schools. Community. Bit arty would be nice. Friendly. Going to scout the area so would be great to get some guidance on where to start

Somewhere in Royal Deeside might fit the bill. Banchory perhaps. Stonehaven is nice too. If you don't need to be super close to the city, Ballater is lovely.

Banchory and Stonehaven probably tick all your boxes. I also really like Aboyne but it’s just a bit further out. Balmedie might be another option. Or even Insch.

Deeside area. Ballater and Aboyne.
Wee bit of a trek though if you need easy access to cities

Would second Stonehaven and Banchory. Johnshaven is also nice.

Laurencekirk/Auchenblae
Fairly rural but just off the A90 and 30 mins to Aberdeen, good schools I think.

I live in the centre of Banchory. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

I'd highly recommend living here.

I've name changed for anonymity.

This arts centre is in Banchory.

www.thebarnarts.co.uk/

There are also lots of artists living in Banchory that contribute to NEOS.

www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk

Depends on whether you need to commute/ where to; but as others have suggested , Banchory & Aboyne are both good for schools; Alford on Donside is growing on the arts/ crafts front and an easy commute to Aberdeen.
Ballater is gorgeous, but only a primary school.
Stonehaven has the train line and there are pretty coastal villages, like Catterline, which feature in many a painting.
Personally, I am not a fan of the landscape to the north, but that’s me.

It might be a good idea to search in ASPC in your price range and narrow it down from there. Prices seem to have dropped slightly from the oil downturn and covid.
www.aspc.co.uk/

For instance Portlethen can be cheaper than Stonehaven despite being 7 miles nearer Aberdeen. Where will you be based for work?

It depends if you want Coast or inland. Some coastal areas such as Stonehaven prices have exploded since the pandemic. They are beautiful but suffer from haar and are extremely busy on a sunny day now. They were always popular but now even more so.
You get more for your money in Laurencekirk and it still has a train station.

Inland is generally warmer depends on if you want to factor in commuting time.
Aboyne is stunning and warm in summer but also cold in winter, Inverurie is a fab town which is expanding quite a bit so is Kintore nearby.
Oldmeldrum used to have a pottery/art place nearby and is lovely bit further out from Aberdeen.
Banchory is also very popular money for houses doesn't go as far.

Portlethen is cheaper because altho it has a train station it's not really got a town centres and isn't as "pretty" as Stonehaven. Also the secondary in Stonehaven (Mackie) was more highly rated locally than Portlethen. However not sure if this is still the case. I know a number of youngsters who went to Portlethen and who are now doing very well - studying medicine,dentistry, law, engineering etc.

Echt is lovely in the spring! x🤗

I'd suggest Inverurie. Plenty going on, fantastic countryside on your doorstep. That bit warmer than the coast. Lots of different types of accommodation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverurie

Where will you be commuting to and where is the rest of your life?

If you are heading south regularly then Stonehaven or some south makes getting away easier though the by pass has improved things from the north, it just still adds to travel time.

I don't really think there are many bad places in Aberdeenshire. Portlethen is not pretty and wouldn't be for me but it's convenient and people seem happy there.

West Aberdeenshire is beautiful but beyond Banchory will feel more remote depending what you are used to.

South and the mearns is more gentle rolling hills, north is more pine forest and a bit more rugged but inverurie is well served.

I agree with that @Calmdown14 ! I have friends out past Inverurie and it's the best part of an hour further from the central belt compared to places like Stonehaven. Also, Stonehaven has good access to trains, a couple of my colleagues drive there from places like Aboyne to pick up the train to Edinburgh and avoid going into Aberdeen.
I'd also consider the risk of snow further inland if you have a job that requires you to be in a certain location or you don't have the option to WFH if the schools are closed.

This is a bit of a zombie thread.

Lumsden seems to have a lovely community, my son spends all his time there! 😇x