Having read through the 7 stanes site, they all just look really good. I have done quite a lot around Fort William and I love the Laggan Wolftrax, but.....
I am in the process of planning a trip up to the 7 stanes in September.
A couple of questions...
1. Is it worth visiting ALL of them ?
2. I usually do the RED routes without any problems, I have a Stumpjumper HT, would this be suitable for the majority of them ?
Cheers
1) IMO Yes, they are all different. Glentress is by far the busiest though.
2)Yes, I use a Giant xtc HT.
Glentrool is a huge loop on forest tracks - a nice big day out but maybe something you wont want to do.
Ae is a bit of a marmite track, and suffers closures due to forestry work. I love it but others havent enjoyed it so much in the past.
I ride the black routes and tend to jump off the black obstacles. A lot of the black routes can be ridden by red route riders like myself, and are sometimes black due to length. Don't be put off.
Newcastleton I think may be a bit short, but check with others who have ridden it.
Glentress - you may want to avoid at the weekends as it is busy, but it's good fun.
And finally, there is another "centre" Drumlanrig, which isn't a Stane, but well worth a visit, about 15 miles north of Dumfries. Very rooty and old school.
1) yes - they are different and we are individuals.
1a) I'd try Innerleithen if you are near GT.
2) I'd have thought so. I'd try some blakcs too though, they're not all much more difficult and can be more interesting.
Kirroughtree is worth a look, it just feels like you are on endless singletrack teh whole way round, has a different feel to it than other trail centres.
The one with the Slab, (possibly Mabie) in my opinion isnt worth doing, all the tracks get your hopes up then dash them again as it spits you out immediately on singletrack, or they satrt going up hill.
bland - MemberKirroughtree is worth a look, it just feels like you are on endless singletrack teh whole way round
Why do folk keep saying this when it's untrue?
Try all if you can - Kirroughtree is one of the best. Mabie, Ae and Dalbeattie also really good (do the Black & Red as one loop - there there are no manadatory crazy bits). Never been to Newcastleton, but I believe it's on the short side.
A hardtail will be fine for all of them.
And yup, GT is generally the busiest, especially at weekends. Don't let that put you off though. If you are in the area have a try at Drumlanrig too. Not 7stanes, but just as good. Very twisty and rooty. Costs a bit to park there though.
The above advice about black routes is spot on. If there are any really dodgy obstacles they are generally obvious and well signposted.
Enjoy!
YES its defo worth visiting all of them and make sure you do the Red & Black at Kirroughtree.
For Newcastleton do the red and blue or pop to Kielder 30mins down the road, there's now two red routes 
There's a blue at Glentrool as well as the big ol' long one, it's quite fun if you take the descent as fast as possible
Ae is a bit of a marmite track, and suffers closures due to forestry work. I love it but others havent enjoyed it so much in the past.
All trails open again apart from one section according to the site
http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-69afrj#Ae
Cool - I should be doing a good few of these in June, assuming I can get the time off work. Will have to ride Glentrool too as I havent done that one. And it will be nice riding Drumlanrig in what hopefully will be dry weather.
Good news too about Ae - I do like riding it.
I enjoyed Kirroughtree black run until the big stone bit at the top of the Black. Lost lot of skin and blood. It's funny as you reach the top, you are very tired and now you are for a very difficult bit. I should have stop, take a long rest, and cross it. Now you and I know.
Kirroughtree red was excellent last weekend. It just flows so well. There are no long relentless fireroad slogs, just superb singletrack.
The one with the Slab, (possibly Mabie) in my opinion isnt worth doing, all the tracks get your hopes up then dash them again as it spits you out immediately on singletrack, or they satrt going up hill.
I think you mean Dalbeattie. I absolutely loved this one, really fun trail with good use of natural features like rock outcrops (including the aforementioned Slab). It's a bit flatter than the others but that doesn't spoil the enjoyment.
Gilles
Well good on you for having a go. I took my bike up to McMoab, took one look at what looks like a near vertical drop, and thought no way! But then I didnt do that first chute either. Hpoefully if I ride with someone next time I'll at least do the first chute on the singletrack.
Hey Mr Agreeable - are you going to be up in June at all this year? Would be great ride round with you and Celia
(sorry for all the hijacks)
Make sure you go to Kirroughtree - we went last week and it is fantastic. We did the blue in the morning as a warm up and the red/ black in the afternoon - quite tiring but well worth it. You may think the blue may be a bit easy, but it has some great flowing singletrack and finishes on the same trail as the red, so you get to ride the final descent twice.
We used Barnsoul farm as a base (very good facilities incl some cool wooden bothies/ huts) - just outside Dumfries -and we did whinlatter, dalbeattie, kirroughtree, mabie and drumlanrig castle in 4 days.
You won't struggle on a hardtail either, i did it on my new charge with 100mm forks. I'd recommend them all, although Whinlatter was a bit of a slog, but the descents are good
Cheers for the info, I will hopefully squeeze them all in...
Hopefully nearer the time (september) I will hopefully meet up with a few riders as I will be flying solo for the trip.... 
We used Barnsoul farm as a base (very good facilities incl some cool wooden bothies/ huts)
Just checked out the Barnsoul site, they look nice...did you use any of them or did you camp ?
We camped at Barnsoul in a wooden "wigwam" and it was really comfy. Spot on for bad weather.
Simon, not sure whether we'll be up in Scotland but we're around this summer for sure if you want to come riding in Bristol.
Antony
Hi - I'll be in South America for July and August but yeah, will deffo be up for a ride when I move to Devon : )
We camped at Barnsoul, but the bothies looked good. Twas a bit cold last week - may need a warmer sleeping bag for future spring trips!
Facilities incl toilets/ v.good showers, washroom + driers and a kitchen. Oh and a basic tv room too.
newcastleton is probably one of the best mctrails I have done recently (and god knows I've done a few)
if its too short for you - DO IT TWICE
is this rocket science?
Would give Glentrool a miss tbh.
Long and not very exciting in any way at all.
Kirroughtree is by far one of the best of the trail centres on both black and red.
I think they all have a different feel and think they're all worth a visit (haven't ridden Glentrool though).
The red routes at all are cracking (although Ae had some new bits and diversions when I was there), and Kirroughtree and Glentress have great blues too. Don't forget Innerleithen red either, that's fantastic.
Another vote for Drumlanrig too, some of the best trails I've ever ridden - really rooty, twisty stuff, they were excellent.
Steep Kirroughtree chute at McMoab here:
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