Logged Visits:

31st Mar 2024  23:18  by MickSan

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

31st Mar 2024  17:25  by Motor mic

FB Number: S3341  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

31st Mar 2024  16:23  by The Trudges

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Parked at the knock car park then up road to metal gate and over the field to the pillar, Trig in good condition, Centre cap missing

Trig
Flush Bracket ©The Trudges
Trig security
Spider with centre cap missing ©The Trudges

28th Jan 2024  14:43  by Felonevrihil

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

24th Aug 2023  14:20  by Kctrig

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Lovely views towards the Knock

Ballencrieff Trigpoint towards the Knock

28th May 2023  15:45  by dmwhite

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

On a training day with Lothian 4x4 Response on this site so was able to drive up to this pillar.

26th May 2023  10:25  by Lynnebe

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

With Cairnpapple Hill, Cairnpapple Henge, James Potter's stone circle, Bathgate Hills and The Knock. A multitude of paths, off road driving tracks, beautiful gorse & a couple of fences.

7th Apr 2023  13:10  by Nettle

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 4/10

Mobility Training on Wolverine with Scottish Ambulance Service.

7th Jan 2023  12:42  by Poppy60

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

19th Dec 2022  08:39  by Katrinaandrea89

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

1st Nov 2022  16:43  by ruari2022

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

parked in the wee car park just south of 'The Knock' (also visited the viewpoint up there) walked up past the junction and in the gate on the left couple hundred metres from there to the trig.

24th Sep 2022  16:09  by GrowlerOutdoor

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 6/10

Found with Biffin, Bones, Adcock and Mufasa

24th Sep 2022  16:09  by Biffin

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Found with Growler, Matt, Joel & Andy

13th Aug 2022  14:14  by alright_dave

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Hiking from Armadale to Linlithgow. Came up from South passed the Knock to where road splits to the right. Over farm gate on your left and across field. Two minute potter West to trig. Easy to find. Lots of standing stones in the area and Cairnpapple Roman site, 10 minute walk away, worth a visit.

Ballencrief Hill
Ballencrief Hil Flush Bracket

6th Jun 2022  06:47  by Oldhortus

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Short walk up to another great view

13th Feb 2022  13:10  by Felonevrihil

Gridref: NS 98748 71150   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

5 mins from the road.

©Felonevrihil
©Felonevrihil
©Felonevrihil

23rd Jan 2022  11:56  by Fife Walking

Gridref: NS 98748 71147   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 8/10

From Beecraigs Park to Witch Craig, Cairnpapple henge, Cairnpapple summit (Ballencrieff), the Knock, Cockleroy Hill.

©Fife Walking

18th Sep 2021  11:00  by YvetteW

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

16th May 2021  00:00  by Llondon

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 7/10

11th Apr 2021  10:48  by Jawzdiesel

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

One I’ve visited before will the hill called Bathgate knock long time ago with my father first I went up the knock as the gate to the trim was lock you can see the trig from the top on a nice clear day then I saw people climbing the gate so got down went up the road climbed the gate up a hill saw it and headed to the trig the box next to it been damaged but not the trig cap missing one home jammed with trash even saw a deer is well

View from the knock ©Jawzdiesel
Plate on the knock ©Jawzdiesel
View of trig from knock ©Jawzdiesel
Trig With damage box ©Jawzdiesel
S3241 ©Jawzdiesel
Spider Cap missing ©Jawzdiesel
View of knock from trig ©Jawzdiesel

11th Mar 2021  14:14  by pricklyangelduo

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Sweet jaunt over between doing Raven Craig Hill and The Knock

©pricklyangelduo

24th Feb 2021  09:55  by Bkennedymeehan

Gridref: NS 59874 87116   FB Number: 3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

24th Feb 2021  09:52  by Bkennedymeehan

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

7th Oct 2020  12:00  by GM7something

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Excellent views

©GM7something

11th Sep 2020  11:45  by greenbell

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Some fine Scottish weather - stop off on the journey north to get the West Lothian historic county top. Lots of fresh barbed wire but accessible via road. Brief pause in the weather gives a view of North Berwick Law, Pentland, Fife and the bridges.

3rd Aug 2020  16:29  by rococo1805

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Easy to get to from Knock car park and good views.

29th Jul 2020  19:27  by grannymermaid

Gridref: NS 98750 71160   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

All good here, nothing new to report

14th Apr 2020  11:56  by COVID Trig Point Challenge

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Visit by Debs. Fantastic views. Parallel to The Knock, in adjacent field west side of the road. lots of easy tracks upto it. great panoramic views of Lomonds, Ochils, Queensferry Crossing and Pentlands. Cow trough at base.

The Pillar
Cap

27th Jan 2020  16:00  by A1Mushroom

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Parked in the free parking area next to the view point. Walked back down the hill for 20m where the fence was crossed (opposite the driveway for 'The Knock'). Straight up to the trig from here.

12th Sep 2019  13:40  by thejackrustles

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Parked at Knock viewpoint for an easy enough walk after climbing gate - tractor track almost all the way to the trigpoint. Climbed up to viewpoint on the way back which was worth it for the view and I don't think I would have noticed the nearby stone circle otherwise.

Ballencrieff Hill selfie Ballencrieff Hill selfie©thejackrustles
Ballencrieff Hill pokestop ©thejackrustles
Ballencrieff Hill collage

20th Jul 2019  12:00  by madaddo

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Parked up at the parking for the hillfort and then realised my mistake when I realised I would have to pay £6. Relocated to the parking space for the Knock viewpoint and made an easy walk back up the road, over the gate and headed for the trig

28th Oct 2018  15:27  by jonglew

Gridref: NS 98747 71154   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Short walk from parking area to the east. Pillar sits in a rocky cattle pasture at the top of Cairnpapple Hill. Centre cap missing, no plug; BSM style FB; all sight holes open. Extensive views.

Pillar TP0991©jonglew
Spider TP0991©jonglew
Flush Bracket TP0991©jonglew

27th Aug 2018  13:13  by Sarah_Clough

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

With Matt

27th Aug 2018  13:11  by mjwjones

Gridref: NS 98747 71148   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

trig and view

21st Aug 2018  10:25  by scotti

Gridref: NS 98748 71150   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

Marilyn No.16. Easily reached from the road near The Knock to the east. Mist had lifted, but very cloudy with light drizzle.

Looking to Cairnpapple Hill

28th Apr 2018  17:10  by DauntlessNinja

Gridref: NS 98753 71141   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

Lovely first visit to this trig. 360° views are well worth it.

Flush Bracket ©DauntlessNinja
The Trig ©DauntlessNinja

28th Jan 2018  10:12  by Cootking

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Horizontal driving rain so may revise rating next time. Parked at topograph car park just south of trig. Back up road, over fence and gentle ascent for couple of hundred yards to left.

Collie on cairnpapple.
Flush bracket

26th Jan 2018  13:30  by Wubbleyew

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Good half-hour walk visiting Cairnpapple Hill, Ballencrieff Hill, and Knock Hill. Pillar has open cap, and all 4 s/h's open. As I approached the trig, a shepherd and his sheep-dog were driving their flock across the hillside before me. This county top of West Lothian is the lowest in Scotland, followed by Craigairie Hill in Wigtownshire. (321 metres). Gradually ticking them off.

15th Sep 2017  00:00  by caroleengel

Gridref: NS 98750 71147   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Also Marilyn summit (called Cairnpapple Hill)

3rd Jun 2017  13:18  by Geordie

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

3rd Jun 2017  00:00  by carolje

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

31st Aug 2016  16:05  by Sandgrownun

Gridref: NS 98749 71145   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Pillar looks in good nick to me. No cap/plug, all sight holes open, BsM type FB, good 360° views from top on a windy day.

Ballencrieff Hill. Pillar.
Ballencrieff Hill. Pillar.
Ballencrieff Hill. Flush bracket.
Ballencrieff Hill. Top.

17th Apr 2016  11:23  by trigging on an island

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Last pillar of the Trigger's Weekend but still time for just one more quick TuMP.

17th Apr 2016  00:00  by rupertal

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

With Trigging on an Island

24th Dec 2015  11:00  by Borderer

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

I was fortunate with a perfect weather window for this one. Parked in the rather run down car park at The Knock . Great views.

©Borderer

13th Dec 2015  13:30  by mm0veg

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Wish I was transmitting from the mast in the background. ©mm0veg

5th Aug 2015  17:26  by G4CFS

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

2nd Aug 2015  20:00  by Moacky

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Historic county top of West Lothian.

14th Feb 2015  13:27  by mntainman

Gridref: NS 98746 71149   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Cairnpapple Hill ©mntainman

31st Jan 2015  15:15  by tim747

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

23rd Dec 2014  09:28  by NormanW

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

20th Dec 2014  11:48  by Chalky

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Spider centre open, no cap or plug . BSM type FB. Re- visit.

18th Oct 2014  12:30  by Sprog

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

11th Jun 2014  12:48  by clochandighter

Gridref: NS 98749 71144   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Third visit. For GPS reading and updated photographs. HISTORY: Pillar completed 21st April 1944 costing £7.4s.0d. Computed as tertiary triangulation station NT18/T59 within the Dunfermline secondary block during 1947. The flush bracket was levelled and verified for height to Class 1 precision tertiary standards in 1964. This marker was last routinely maintained by the OS in August 1981. SITE VISIT: Approached from east. Free public car park to east of unclassified road at NS990710 just south of Knock. Walked 250m on unclassified road where a gate leads into the trig field. Direct route across grazing field to pillar. Column in good condition. Spider centre open. Flush bracket faces NNW, compass measuremet 343°. All sight holes open, innards filled with debris. Full 360° panoramic view includes the Ben Cleugh, Knock Hill, West Lomond, East Lomond, North Berwick Law, Arthurs Seat, Blackford Hill, Braid Hills, Allermuir Hill, Scald Law, West Cairn Hill, Culter Fell and Tinto.

S3241 - Ballencrieff Hill & self

25th Apr 2014  13:05  by ocean soul

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Parked on car park to South . Quick ascent from gate . Low cloud visibility down to about 5 feet ..

6th Apr 2014  20:56  by Robert Phillips

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

3rd Mar 2014  14:00  by ger

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

4th Oct 2013  12:00  by Trigger

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Driver training exercise Mudmaster 2013 with the Scottish Transport Regiment. Letter K for control 4 of the orienteering phase on Ballencrieff Hill.

TP0991
TP0991

1st Jun 2013  08:10  by g4wsb

Gridref: NS 98751 71147   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Codition rating! not found anything wrong,plug missing.

©g4wsb
©g4wsb
©g4wsb
©g4wsb
©g4wsb

14th Mar 2013  20:30  by THE CYCLIST

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

21st May 2012  18:30  by KevP

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Quick ascent from gate. Good views for little effort.

31st Dec 2011  14:00  by Mickandkim

Gridref: NS 98747 71150   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

Wet day but nice hill

18th Dec 2011  14:16  by peebs

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

©peebs

20th Nov 2011  15:29  by senrabyar

Gridref: NS 98751 71147   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

5th Aug 2011  15:52  by German68

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 2/10

4x4 competition getting set up when I visited on the way home from a day at the nearby Go Ape high ropes course in Beacraigs

©German68
©German68

28th Dec 2010  12:56  by descarte1

Gridref: NS 98748 71151   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Good condition pillar with no cap or plug and all sightholes open. No idea which direction the FB faces as no compass and was in a pea-souper. Easy snowy trudge up from parking at the nearby gate. No 4x4 competition on this time! Quite eroded around the pillar base. 21Aug2010: Found the cause of the vehicle tracks. Today had some sort of off-road vehicle meeting which meant I couldn't get nearer than 100m to the trig....bah! Went to Cairnpapple Hill instead (again...must be the 20th time!)

28th Dec 2010  12:55  by pog

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

24th Oct 2010  18:16  by coinea

Gridref: NS 98748 71148   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Lovely peaceful place tonight, great views even in the gloaming. Sunset afterglow to west, full moon to east, very atmospheric.

S3241 Ballencrieff Hill.

17th Jun 2010  13:00  by stan toon

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Another easy one not far from roadside

16th Dec 2009  13:30  by SlainteJimmy

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Up-scored for the neighbouring um-mapped stone circle and distance rose... so many vehicle tracks and craters; it reminds me of a target zone.

Ballencrieff Hill ..with all the neighbors :D

6th Nov 2009  10:11  by Aye Jimmy

Gridref: NS 98750 71147   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

FB of BSM type; cap missing. Nearby hillock has indicator and stone circle (forgery?) below. Visited the nearby Cairnpapple ancient monument but closed for winter; horrendous litter, beer cans, firework cases etc after last night's bonfire celebrations.

Ballencrieff TP and salt lick.
Ballencrieff TP and Forth Bridge.
Nearby hillock View from indicator.

28th Aug 2009  12:34  by Do you Always Get Lost

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Cairnpapple Hill?

16th May 2009  00:00  by Border Peat

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

S3241©Border Peat

20th Dec 2008  10:20  by Boys from the Dyes

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

One of the boys not been here. So quick visit.

Ballencrieff Hill, pillar and flush bracket,

16th Nov 2008  10:00  by Skerryvore

FB Number: 3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

clear day. Came up with Tim and visited Cairnpapple too. Good views over Forth estuary

Ballencrieff trig ©Skerryvore

11th Sep 2008  10:49  by Fester

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Marilyn bagging....

22nd Sep 2007  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

BSM style FB. Vgc, no cap or plug (just a broken bottle!) Pasture, nice view. Nearby steep craggy little summit just E of road has a topograph.

15th Jun 2007  18:14  by dpeberdy

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

After a very wet day, Mum and I nipped up to this trig (and the toposcope nearby). Moody atmosphere was wonderful. We could just make out the Forth Bridge in the distance. Me, Mum. 312m

No where to balance a camera and wet grass so Mum took this! You can see the nearby toposcope in the distance on the right of the picture, and in fact the Forth Bridge is next to my left shoulder!

19th Mar 2007  19:47  by perth pathfinders

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

weekends caching and trigging

16th Mar 2007  11:59  by snaik

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 3/10

Out on a caching and Trig weekend, visited the cache before the cache, very wet and windy.

18th Feb 2007  11:40  by Shunter

Gridref: NS 98748 71144   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Some cracks starting to appear. Visiting nearby cache, and came up here too. Surrounding area being used by 4x4 drivers

12th Feb 2007  13:00  by campagvelocet

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 4/10

There was a small bone on top of the pillar. Given my vegetarian inclinations I'm not best placed to judge whether it was left there by a human or a bird! Alas no view for me today: the mist was down to a little below the 300m mark. An easy marilyn indeed, but I made it a little trickier by hiking up from Linlithgow.

28th Apr 2006  18:15  by andyc

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

Not convinced that the pillar is the actual county top. Someone with a GPS might want to check the knoll around 200m East of the pillar.

26th Feb 2006  21:16  by scooby scrappy and mp

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Ballencrieff Hill ©scooby scrappy and mp

4th Jan 2006  15:00  by dugswell2

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

Cool and frosty...3rd top today...

18th Dec 2005  20:16  by Turtle II

Gridref: NS 98748 71148   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Base is becoming exposed through the small drinking trough being well used

19th Nov 2005  14:30  by Boys from the Dyes

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Cold and frosty day on the Bathgate Hills.

Pillar with Cairnpapple in the background©Boys from the Dyes

15th May 2005  14:18  by ipeattie

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Ballencrieff Hill - S3241 The pillar.
Ballencrieff Hill - S3241 The flush bracket. (BsM)

30th Sep 2004  13:36  by sky high boys

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Sure I've been here before when on Cairnpapple Hill but not sure. Its still grim but its not raining so heavily now.

FB ©sky high boys
Trig ©sky high boys

14th Feb 2004  00:00  by agentmancuso

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Revisited 27042023

1st Nov 2003  15:33  by vegibagger

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

with Jamie and I wonder if the Marilyn title should be amended to Ballencrief Hill??

13th Apr 2003  15:30  by clochandighter

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Revisit. Pillar still in good condition. OS plug missing from spider centre (open). BSM pattern flush bracket. Sighting portholes filled with loose debris, ground surrounding pillar eroded by livestock. Views to much of West Lothian. Visited and photographed 13/04/03, GRP.

S3241 - Ballencrieff Hill

6th Jan 2003  12:00  by iainmac

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Revisited 04/02/2004 to photograph

S3241
S3241

23rd Nov 2002  20:00  by Allymac

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Good views of Cairnpapple Hill

12th Nov 2002  14:20  by jimmy

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

the summit of West Lothian! 220 metres from the road--a tough day

18th Nov 2001  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 6/10

No details noted - easy bag - in dark but probably pleasant view

15th Jun 2001  18:31  by arranc

Gridref: NS 98700 71100   FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

21st Jul 2000  12:00  by Sandman

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

5th Mar 2000  18:58  by fasgadh

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Quick visit across a wet field. More interest on the other top across the way with the Irish style chambered cairns. One of the really easy Marilyns. Pillar has a basin beside it, probably for holding a salt lick.

Cairnapple Hill summit

6th Aug 1985  15:01  by clochandighter

FB Number: S3241  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

NS987711, LR65. First visit. To record FB number S3241. BsM flush bracket. Third trig of five for this extended West Lothian trip. No photographs taken.