Logged Visits:

19th Apr 2025  11:18  by webby675

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

Nice views.

Spyder

4th Jul 2024  16:51  by Robert Phillips

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

Along the woodland from the layby.

©Robert Phillips

30th Apr 2024  10:15  by ruari2022

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Parked at carpark and did loop E,N,W,S. Recently ploughed so followed fence line to trig. Straightforward. Nice views of Pentlands across the reservoir.

©ruari2022

7th Mar 2024  14:12  by jonglew

Gridref: NT 17040 64290   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Handy layby for parking to the E (NT 1669 6431). Pleasant walk through the trees, then an unpleasant mud bath of a field boundary to the trig. Original centre cap retained, lightly indented lettering; RHD side sight hole open. Views to Pentland Hills.

Pillar TP0992©jonglew
Spider TP0992©jonglew
Flush Bracket TP0992©jonglew

2nd Sep 2022  15:39  by pricklyangelduo

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

After a swim, well a paddle as it was too shallow, and a in Threipmuir we grabbed this

14th Jul 2022  15:45  by alright_dave

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Potter in the Pentlands. Walk up on the road from Balerno direction towards Threipmuir Reservoir. Top of the hill and the road forks. Leave the road and follow a small path in the tree line to the left. When path turns left the trig is in field to right. Bit of barbed wire negotiation but someone has left some helpful stones. Nice views of the Pentlands and Threipmuir.

Balleny

14th Apr 2022  09:43  by Oldhortus

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

While walking the Pentland hills and parked close by I bagged this trig.

23rd Jan 2022  10:47  by AFWFCL16

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

©AFWFCL16

27th Nov 2021  14:50  by Fife Walking

Gridref: NT 17047 64291   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Walk in the Pentlands over Black Hill, Bell's Hill and returning via the reservoirs. Took the opportunity to make a short diversion to this trig.

©Fife Walking

31st Aug 2021  10:04  by grianaig

Gridref: NT 17048 64286   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 4/10

Easy walk up the fence line from the south. Big view to the Forth, Fife and the Ochils.

Balleny trig from the south ©grianaig
Balleny trig from the north ©grianaig
Balleny FB ©grianaig

23rd Mar 2021  10:48  by Dav1d0212

Gridref: NT 17038 64289   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Balleny

16th Feb 2020  12:30  by A1Mushroom

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Route as Clochandighter. Nothing much more to add.

18th Jun 2019  10:29  by clochandighter

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Fifth visit. Approached from west. Parked on southeast side of Manfield Road in layby beside woods at NT166643. Followed path eastwards through woods to junction of fences at corner then a SSE beeline along field boundary to pillar. Multipurpose field with cut silage at date of visit. Column recently repainted and in good condition. Spider retains Original OS centre cap with shallow engraved letters. Flush bracket faces east across field, compass measurement 86°. Vented through north sight hole. 360° open outlook includes West Lomond, East Lomond, Black Hill, Scald Law, East Kip, West Kip and East Cairn Hill.

S3051 - Balleny & self

2nd Nov 2018  15:26  by campagvelocet

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Has been painted white.

2nd Nov 2018  13:15  by Wubbleyew

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

A pristine recently painted white pillar, looking good. Set between two sheep-filled fields in the shadow of the Pentlands. Cap in place; one s/h open. Lovely short stroll through a small wood with all the colours of autumn evident. Loved the rustling sounds of the fallen leaves as I scuffed my way through. I was back in my childhood.

7th Oct 2017  00:00  by caroleengel

Gridref: NT 17041 64285   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

5th Sep 2017  18:42  by RichardL

Gridref: NT 17041 64287   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

11th Jan 2017  15:35  by Sandgrownun

Gridref: NT 17039 64285   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Parked West of pillar, in layby by entrance to Marchbank House, path through the wood, then followed fence to pillar. Pillar in good nick, OS cap in place, one sight hole open. Good views on a bitterly cold day, starting to snow on way back to van.

Balleny Pillar
Balleny Pillar
Balleny Flush bracket
Balleny Top

30th Apr 2016  14:11  by descarte1

Gridref: NT 17035 64290   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Vgc pillar beside field boundary. FB faces east-ish with north-ish sighthole open only. Cap present with sunken lettering. Easy squelch across tramlines in the nearby field after visiting Scald Law.

14th May 2015  19:00  by Borderer

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Slight detour on my commute home from Fife. Bitterly cold for mid-May. New fence erected next to the pillar since last logged photo.

©Borderer

23rd Mar 2013  09:45  by Mickandkim

Gridref: NT 17038 64289   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Followed snow plough to edge of wood Winter walk across field short walk but bitter wind

5th Mar 2013  14:21  by ocean soul

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Between two field a short way from path beside Threipmuir resevoir ... Good views ...

28th Nov 2012  16:23  by trigging on an island

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Pleasant surroundings but not a particularly exciting bag.

10th Aug 2012  15:32  by Blackjack

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Walked up from Harlaw House Visitor Centre on a beautiful clear day. Then had to climb over gate into field. No animals about.

Trigpoint and Pentland Hills on a good day.

2nd Oct 2011  14:47  by coinea

Gridref: NT 10742 64284   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

In grazing field, currently occupied by sheep.

6th May 2010  00:00  by Border Peat

Gridref: NT 17000 64200   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

©Border Peat

20th Jun 2009  10:29  by Boys from the Dyes

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Nice easy walk over from car park. No problems field empty of livestock.

Balleny pillar, flush bracket and spider.

5th Nov 2008  13:35  by Sandman

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

Low cloud and lots of mud

14th Aug 2008  15:11  by agentmancuso

Gridref: NT 17034 64282   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Bull still there, still unconcerned. Easy from Thriepmuir Reservoir parking.

17th Feb 2008  12:53  by SlainteJimmy

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Muddy field with views South to the Pentlands, the Eastern field is now full of sheep in lambing season so try not to cut across it just now. N sighting open with the base a bit exposed.

Balleny at the start of another good Pentland Trek.

22nd Sep 2007  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

vgc, metal cap, shallow letters. In pasture E side of fence: an important point as there was a bull W side of fence, although I'd earlier cut across the corner of his field and he didn't seem much interested. Quite a scenic spot in shadow of Pentlands.

14th Mar 2007  17:11  by andyc

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Lovely spot on the edge of the Pentlands. Nipped in on my way home from work.

8th Jan 2006  17:14  by clochandighter

Gridref: NT 17041 64284   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Tertiary station in Block NT18, Dunfermline (even though this is south of Balerno). Trig pillar VGC. Spider still has original OS cap with shallow engraved lettering. The flush bracket is on the east side of the pillar. Livestock are eroding the ground around the pillar. RHS sighting hole open others plugged. One of Edinburgh's almost unknown outlying trig pillars, also the highest inside the city boundary (Allermuir is just outside). Located on the edge of a grazing field midway between the former Marchbank hotel and Threipmuir Reservoir some fence and gate climbing is necessary for access. Nothing too tedious and no known local GOML problems. First bagged in 1984.

S3051 - Balleny Photographed 27th July 2002.

28th Nov 2005  13:00  by Am fear liath mor

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Easy access and nice views of Pentlands and over to Fife.

30th May 2005  00:17  by clochandighter

Gridref: NT 17043 64292   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Fourth visit. Yes, it really was 17 minutes past midnight by the time I got here. Got home at 2:51am ending a mostly bog walk which started in West Calder 14 hours and 34½ miles earlier. Craigkelly TV transmitter (Burntisland, Fife) with its replacement lights stand out well in the dark, but over to its right is the distant glimmer of a much taller mast (not visible in photos) which has to be Craigowl beyond Dundee.

00:17 hours from S3051 - Balleny
00:17 Hours from S3051 - Balleny

26th Feb 2005  18:10  by Trigger

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

13th May 2004  13:30  by sky high boys

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Nice views to the Pentlands. Think this is the first pillar I have seen with original cap!

©sky high boys

25th Apr 2004  14:07  by ipeattie

Gridref: NT 17041 64282   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Balleny - S3051 The pillar.
Balleny - S3051 The flush bracket.

20th Apr 2004  10:15  by Haggis Hunter

Gridref: NT 17041 64285   FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Visited this Trig whilst on my way to get a couple of nearby Geocaches.

Flush Bracket
Trig Pillar In the background is Threipmuir Reservoir and Black Hill.

22nd Mar 2004  12:25  by fasgadh

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Intact and good condition. By a fence, one side pasture, the other barley stubble. Stubble field was very rich in wildlife, its a great area. Good views of the Pentlands, and north to snowy Highland hills.

Balleny view to the Pentlands

23rd Oct 2002  12:00  by iainmac

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 7/10

S3051
S3051

3rd Jun 1984  15:01  by clochandighter

FB Number: S3051  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

First visit. To record FB number. HISTORY: Pillar completed 31st March 1944 costing £5.4s.9d. Levelled for height to Class 1 precision tertiary standards during 1945. Computed as tertiary triangulation station NT18/T7 in 1947. Last maintained by the OS in April 1974. SITE VISIT: Field edge. No photos taken.