I was up in Braemar only 4 weeks ago doing the Tourist bit with Mrs Jakarta before an offshore trip and we noticed how the temperature was hovering around freezing and that there was already snow on the hilltops when back in Sunny Aberdeen where we were staying (only 50 or so miles away) it was quite mild - obviously the Highlands have their own microclimate?
I lived in Aberdeenshire for a year in 1989, a few miles outside at Fyvie. I experienced pretty much what you are saying mate re temperatures