UK DEPARTURES

Tree-tracking, off-road cycling and map-reading are three skills being taught this summer in the West Country. Which Way Now? is a guided walk on which rangers in Exmoor National Park help you brush up on map skills. It takes place on 31 July, starting at Exford car park at 1.30pm, price pounds 1; call 01398 323665 for more details. On 6 August, new owners of all-terrain bikes have a free seven-mile introduction to off-road cycling, starting at Lynton at 2pm (01598 752509). Tree-trackers should seek out Longtimber Woods near Ivybridge on 16 August for a trail through the trees (01803 861234); it starts at 11am and costs pounds 1.

The best-value rail ticket in Britain is available only for those flying between Prestwick and Belfast City airport. Gill Airways (0191 286 2222) offers a fare of pounds 5 return between Prestwick and any train station in Scotland - as far north as Thurso. The lowest fare for the flight is pounds 63 return.

The slimmest book to arrive at the travel desk so far this year is also the cheapest and the most entertainingly titled: Pub-Sites - a Guide to Camp Sites Within Staggering Distance of Good Pubs. It includes 31 campsites ranging from Hackney, east London, to Holy Loch in Scotland. The guide costs pounds 1.50 (including postage) from the Backpackers' Press, 2 Rockview Cottages, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire DE4 3PG.