 Castle Knowe was considered artificial by early visitors and natural by later visiting experts although formal archaeological investigations have not taken place.An oak tree was located on its east side that is significant in regard of a suggestion that it was once used as a moot, court or justice hill and by association a gallow hill where a dule tree may have been located and where condemned male prisoners were executed whilst women were drowned in a pit.The Castle Knowe lies within the ancient Barony of Hunterston with its caput at the nearby Hunterston Castle.