Hello Branwen hope your well, I spoke to a lady who stays in a croft near Oakenknowes, great name, a historian who mentioned the Danes and that the Picts used the road to help set up defences. Durn Hill to the north at Portsoy, an ancient fort, is clearly visible the Knock Hill. She also told me some tale that people in the Grange/Glenbarry area would light their fires at approx the same time into the New Year as this would bring good luck to the area. Don't have a clue about that either but would guess that it's something to do with a lump of coal being a lucky charm etc.