It’s that time of year again for the BBC’s Children in Need to hit offices, schools and tv screens across the country. But this year you don’t have to come to work dressed as a tellytubby nor undertake a 24-hour snog-a-thon with Beryl in accounts. Yes, for those few BMers who aren’t keen to pitch up to work in drag (so passé) the peeps over at the 7stanes project are offering the chance for you to help them raise money for Children in Need while riding at one of the three completed 7stanes sites this weekend.

Glentress, Mabie and Dalbeattie will all be open this coming Sunday, 16th November, from 10 am, on a ride and donate basis. If you’re not already aware of the 7stanes project and the quality of trails on offer then you should be. All three sites offer a variety of routes from green (beginners) through to red (experienced) and there are also black routes or sections at Glentress and Dalbeattie for the very fit and capable. From the Tweed Shore of the Helly Hansen V Trail at Glentress to the forest road Big Views loop at Mabie there really is something for everyone (see below for highlights*).

Given the variety of riding on offer, 7stanes are hopeful that you’ll be able to persuade your nearest and dearest along too. There’s bike hire at the Hub at Glentress (01721 721736) and also, for half the normal rate, at Rik’s Bike Shed, Mabie Forest (01387 270275). Bundle all that together some special winter weekend deals available on accommodation (call Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board on 01387 253862 or Scottish Borders Tourist Board on 0870 608 0404 for more details) and your excuses for not going are looking pretty thin on the ground. Just in case you’re still wavering, the organisers are cunningly offering home-made cakes to charity riders on a first-come, first-served basis. For more info see the 7stanes website.

It sounds like the perfect, painless way to contribute to the Children in Need effort. Of course, should you decide to ride the trails in drag then there’s absolutely nothing we can do to help you…

*For the project organisers, the Helly Hansen V Trail (black route) at Glentress is one of the highlights. It’s already gained fame for such features as Tweed Shore (cracking North Shore-style section), Rock Steps, Stone Chute and big berms. Another is the Hardrock Trail at Dalbeattie with its technical granite features like The Slab, Moby Dick and the Terrible Twins as well as some very tight, tricky singletrack. Last, but not least, there’s the newly opened Endura Phoenix Trail at Mabie Forest, which is a classic, natural trail offering a large variety of riding – from burning climbs to fast, swooping descents like Descender Bender, with loads of blinding berms, drop-offs, burn splashes and rooty sections in between.