Logged Visits:

12th May 2024  11:20  by KJ

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

First top of 3 Donald round running from Gladhouse Reservoir coming up b y the Kipps then by the fenceline. Warm with a strong breeze to make for very pleasant conditions with hazy views. Continued on to Bowbeat Hill.

25th Dec 2023  11:23  by NJM

Gridref: NT 31528 48340   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Left home early and arrived at the Moorfoot Farm walkers car park at 9:40, up the South Esk glen to Clinty Cleugh then the track up to The Kipps, then followed fence-line and made it to the top of the hill by 11:23. If only I'd given myself another 30 minutes in bed this morning - it is Christmas Day for goodness sake - I'd have arrived for the best weather of the day. Got good views on the way back down but not that much while we were actually at the pillar with camera in hand. I could be tempted to do this one again, and link it to Dundriech which was the original plan anyway...

View East Storm's OS Pillar #600 and 12th County Top
View West Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho

9th Dec 2023  12:23  by CJO

Gridref: NT 31531 48337   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Asphalt cap. Wet and windy. Very boggy underfoot. A few pockets of snow on ground.

Pillar

30th May 2023  13:10  by [email protected]

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

16th Nov 2022  12:20  by jonglew

Gridref: NT 31524 48342   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

From unmapped parking area at entrance to Blackhope Farm (NT 3480 5244). Good mapped track up to Torfichen Hill then followed fenceline all the way. Pillar has such a small amount of top screed missing from one corner it warrants a 'good' from me. Top cap missing, centre tube sealed with an asphalt plug; LHD side sight hole open. Heather moorland views.

Pillar TP1448©jonglew
Spider TP1448©jonglew
Flush Bracket TP1448©jonglew

25th Sep 2022  11:16  by Biffin

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 8/10

Found with Growler, Matt, Joel & Andy

25th Sep 2022  11:14  by GrowlerOutdoor

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

Found with Biffin, Bones, Adcock and Mufasa

6th Sep 2022  10:12  by Bridgeman

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Circular walk. Parked at small car park on minor road to Moorfoot Farm (NT291528). Ascended via Clinty Cleugh and the Kipps. Weather closed in before summit so no views. On next around to Dundreich via Bowbeat Hill.

Blackhope Scar Trig Point ©Bridgeman
Blackhope Scar Trig Point FB ©Bridgeman

2nd Sep 2022  14:30  by G4VFL

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

County top of Midlothian and SOTA GM/SS-094. Activation. I parked on the B709 (55.708600, -3.038668) and followed the fences west across Garvald Punks. The bog was damp but quite walkable after the dry summer. Not such a good idea if there has been a lot of rain.

SOTA activation Antennas on the trig point©G4VFL

12th Mar 2022  00:00  by Fife Walking

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

A windy and soggy day (both from above and below) doing Blackhope Scar and Bowbeat Hill from Gladhouse, ascending via the Kipps. Pillar in good condition

1st Mar 2022  10:08  by Fellmonkie

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

14th Jan 2022  09:28  by ruari2022

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

very boggy around trig. part of round which included dundriech.

13th Aug 2021  13:30  by Oldhortus

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

Retrospective log. Up from Gladhouse reservoir.. Track then heathery plod to trig

26th Mar 2021  13:41  by fasgadh

Gridref: NT 31528 48335   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Beat the postcode lottery by starting in North Middleton. Ascent via Hose Law and Adams Rig, descent direct to Blackhope which was very rough. Pain made the descent distinctly Type II but it was not difficult.

Blackhope Scar ©fasgadh
Blackhope Scar ©fasgadh
Blackhope Scar ©fasgadh

28th Dec 2020  12:15  by A1Mushroom

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Little bit of a different route to others. Parked off the road at NT328425 on the B709 as I didn't want to block any of the road to Leithen Lodge and the forest. Followed the logging / windfarm road to Craighope and then up to Porridge Knowe via a small quad sized track up the hill. Keeping to the forest tracks as much as I could to avoid the deepest snow, eventually met the fence line at NT303475 and followed this to the trig. Had a bit of bog jeopardy because of the snow. Returned via the fence line to the wind farm and then followed the roads here to the northern most turbine and control building. Turned around as it was to late in the day to reach Dundreich. Forest roads back to the car, 26km in all.

Trig ©A1Mushroom

7th Oct 2020  16:37  by pricklyangelduo

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

Very tough boggy terrain

8th Aug 2020  15:45  by beckroad

Gridref: NT 31500 48300   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 10/10

2nd of 2 trigs today. Continued from Torfichen following the boundary fence in a SW direction and a long haul up to this summit. Peat hags even at this time of year require effort.Pillar shows last vestige of a white coat of paint. Spider is infilled and some surface top weathering.Fantastic panoramic views include Bass Rock, Firth of Forth, Pentland Hills to name a few. Decended via Adams Rig.Then at Blackside Rig a further decent to Blackhope Water. A lovely return. Highly recommend.The return via Blackhope Water adds interest to this route.

Pillar at Blackhope Scar Looking SW©beckroad

8th Jul 2019  16:34  by vegibagger

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

Midlothian high point and Graham and Donald. Clockwise circuit. windfarm next

11th May 2019  14:26  by greenbell

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Been hoping to do this Midlothian County Top for ages, make good time travelling south from the Cromdale Hills. Stunning views again - from Arran across the Trossachs and Grampians to Cheviot with the lovely North Berwick, Arthurs Seat, Lomonds nearer too. A wild quiet spot, hares boxing on the tops.

22nd Jun 2018  11:57  by BigJ

Gridref: NT 31527 48348   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Parked at car park area on the south side of Gladhouse. Walked past Moorfoot Farm and headed south on a good track up the South Esk River. Delighful glen. Turned east on the track leading up hill below The Kipps. Once on top made for the county boundary and followed this on to the summit. Trig has slight damage to the top screed. Good views today all round.

30th Oct 2017  19:48  by Geordie

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

29th Oct 2017  00:00  by carolje

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

13th May 2016  13:00  by Borderer

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

After reading other logs took a longer but better route I think. Starting and finishing at the end of the Blackhope Farm track followed the track to the first barn and turned right and followed the path up the narrow valley to the county boundary fence. Followed this fence all the way to the pillar via Mauldslie Hill and The Kipps. After reaching the pillar followed the fence eastwards then north east back to the car via the Yoke. Relatively easy going with quad tracks most of the way and great views over the Forth and Pentlands.

©Borderer

12th Sep 2015  00:00  by ngthack

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

15th Jul 2015  15:16  by clochandighter

Gridref: NT 31530 48332   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 9/10

Third visit. For GPS reading and up to date photographs. HISTORY: Pillar completed 3rd August 1958 costing £52.3s.3d. Computed as tertiary triangulation station NT33/T2 in 1959. Levelled for height also in 1959. Last maintained by the OS in May 1970. SITE VISIT: Overall approach from SSE. Parked on verge, west side of B709 just north of entrance to Leithen Lodge at NT328423. Up via Black Law (S9830) then from junction of tracks at NT311436, track NE to NT318451, path to higher level track at NT320456, followed that to NT317461 onto open hill where I recorded this as a waypoint on my GPS. Continued to top on a near direct route through deep heather negotiating peat hags and deeply dug drainage troughs. Pillar stands on the Peeblesshire side of the boundary fence. Column in good condition. Spider centre plugged with tar. Flush bracket faces ESE, ~117. Vented through SW sight hole. Extensive 360° panoramic view includes many familiar distant tops, and Edinburgh Castle.

10243 - Blackhope Scar & GRP
10243 - Blackhope Scar pillar & FB

10th Jul 2015  00:00  by caroleengel

Gridref: NT 31528 48334   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

5th Jul 2015  14:00  by Moacky

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

Visiting the historic county top of Midlothian.

23rd Mar 2015  08:40  by NormanW

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

28th Feb 2013  14:18  by Robert Phillips

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

12th Jan 2013  11:02  by RichTea

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

14th Feb 2012  12:56  by coinea

Gridref: NT 31528 48333   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 9/10

My 1000th trig pillar log on T:UK. Up from Gladhouse reservoir.

10243 Blackhope Scar

19th Oct 2011  10:48  by Garth Fenton

Gridref: NT 31526 48326   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

A cold but clear day, which makes a change this week, area however dominated by the wind farm

6th Sep 2011  16:30  by stonestreaker

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

©stonestreaker
©stonestreaker

1st Mar 2011  17:15  by Chalky

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Good condition with asphalt plug. Previously visited this Marilyn/Graham/Donald/County top 02/06/00, no trig details noted.

18th Feb 2010  10:27  by Eclipse

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 5/10

parked at the pipers grave, up to blackhope, then on to the windfarm, back to whitehope law and the back to pipers grave. Snow/frost made the going easy under foot. Trig slightly damaged.

Blackhope ©Eclipse

31st Jan 2010  13:17  by fasgadh

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

I have returned. 4th visit - the trick is to visit in a period of frost. Deep drifts, hard frozen, enabled a trouble free crossing of Garvald Punks, usually a no-go zone. Pillar holding up well.

Blackhope Scar The summit - Midlothian county top©fasgadh
Blackhope Scar ©fasgadh
Blackhope Scar Top surface©fasgadh

12th Jul 2009  12:27  by Fester

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Mixture of sunshine and showers.Awful going under foot.I shall not return..!

6th Jun 2009  11:20  by dugswell2

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

Parked 1KM south of Dewar, easy track until ridgeline then thro gate and onto vehicle track to gain further height. Path missing in middle bit then picked up again by fence on Blackhope Scar. Dry clear but cloudy conditions.

1st Mar 2009  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

vgc, asphalt plug, N side of fence, boggy peaty summit, decent view. From SE, layby just S of pass.

28th Dec 2008  22:53  by jester2005

Gridref: NT 31527 48339   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

A slightly overcast day here, we had views across to North Berwick Law and Traprain Law. Pillar seems to be in fairly good condition.

Glasgow HF Outdoor Club at the trig point
Glasgow HF Outdoor Club at the trig point.

5th Jan 2008  13:05  by AFWFCL16

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

21st Jul 2006  19:50  by [email protected]

Gridref: NT 31500 48300   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

Blackhope Scar is neither the high top in the Moorfoot Hills (the highest is Windlestraw Law (659m)) nor a particularly outstanding point for a days walking on these flat-topped unnoteworthy tops. However the line of the Lothian/Borders boundary has given Blackhope Scar the unexpected accolade of being a county top, and therefore (for this reason alone) a worthy target.

23rd Apr 2006  14:30  by andyc

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 4/10

Walked in from the B709 500m south of the Dewar. Nice track up to ridge line then very hard slog over moor to summit. Rewarding views from top though.

16th Apr 2006  15:55  by jimmy

Gridref: NT 31528 48340   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 4/10

made the mistake of slogging over from the Innerleithen-Heriot road--horrid hags and no decent view from the summit

31st Jan 2006  12:45  by fasgadh

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 7/10

Bits missing from the top surface, concrete plug. First visit since 1987 on a cracking day of cold clear air and warm sunshine. Most places under fog. No view of Edinburgh, even Arthur's Seat hidden. Big change of course is the nearby power station, but no movement today. Flat calm.

18th Jul 2004  21:00  by sky high boys

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Out to stretch the legs after watching the golf for two days solid on the telly. Been here before but many many moons ago.....

24th Jan 2004  00:00  by agentmancuso

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

Traditional round of Moorfoot Donalds.

22nd Mar 2003  00:43  by clochandighter

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Revisit. Pillar in good condition but top corner chipped. Spider is plugged with rough cement. Summit is highest point in Midlothian, but TP is on the Peeblesshire side of the fence. Area is surrounding by deep heather and peat bogs. There are no paths. (GRP 22/03/03).

10243 - Blackhope Scar pillar & FB.

1st Sep 2002  11:23  by arranc

Gridref: NT 31500 48300   FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

17th Jun 2000  12:00  by Sandman

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

Blackhope Scar ©Sandman

5th Feb 2000  12:14  by fergie

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

Graham

27th Aug 1990  12:00  by peregrinus

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

No details noted

21st Jun 1986  14:03  by clochandighter

FB Number: 10243  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

First visit. To record FB number. The pillar was completed 5th August 1958 costing £52.3s.3d. In 1959 this marker was computed for triangulation as tertiary station NT33/T2 in the Peebles secondary block. The flush bracket was levelled for height also in 1959. This trig point was last maintained by the OS in May 1970. Highest top in Midlothian and the whole of the Lothians. Trig in Peeblesshire. Highest trig pillar to date at the time.

14th Mar 1981  14:46  by fasgadh

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

Bog trot over from Dundreich. High point of Midlothian, visited since.