what's the best way to . . .

Satisfy a childhood dream to drive a steam locomotive? Book the Duchess of Hamilton. She is a 4-6-2 steam locomotive, the most powerful in the country, designed by Sir William Stanier for the testing LMS line. She normally resides at the National Railway Museum in York, but is spending January in Loughborough with the Great Central Railway (01509 230726). "Driver experience days" run until 2 February. The price of pounds 350 includes a short training course and, under supervision, a run to Leicester and back - the same journey covered by Thomas Cook's first tour in 1851. If all you want is a ride (under the control of a professional driver), then a round trip costs pounds 9.75.

Star in your own spaghetti western? Learn to ride at Norcenni Girasole Club in Tuscany as part of a Eurocamp holiday (01565 626262). You get two hours' tuition per day for five days. In May, a family of two adults and up to six children pay pounds 391 for the basic holiday - but a further pounds 172 per person for the riding instruction.

Find out about holidays in Britain for people with disabilities? Buy the 1996 Guide for Disabled People, published this month at pounds 5.95 by Holiday Care Service (01293 774535).

Sail from Hull to Zeebrugge for pounds 18? Find a senior citizen to travel with. North Sea Ferries (01482 377177) is offering a cabin for two for pounds 36 return if at least one person is over 60.

Travel to Denmark and back for under pounds 100? Book a three-day mini-cruise from Harwich to Esbjerg on Scandinavian Seaways (0990 333111). For pounds 99 each, you and a friend get a night at sea in each direction, with the middle one at dock in Denmark - breakfasts and sightseeing tour included.

Cross America for pounds 65? Buy a four-day Ameripass from Greyhound's UK office (01342 317317). You can only use it from Monday to Thursday, but it gives time enough to travel from New York to Los Angeles - even with a day's rest along the way.