For a different type of present; Tired of giving the usual socks and bottle of sherry? Why not give a Christmas gift that's a little different from the norm? Here are a few ideas.

Drive of your Life: Experience an Adrenaline drive at only 10mph. Deepdale Off Road is in Teesdale, two miles west of Barnard Castle. It gives you and a guest the opportunity of controlling two tons of Land Rover in the type of terrain these vehicles were designed to conquer. A Christmas gift voucher allows the holder and their guest to book in any time over the next year. The hills, hollows, water and mud at Deepdale Off Road are waiting to offer you a unique driving experience. For more information visit www.deepdaleoffroad.co.uk Get Physical: Looking to raise the barre on your Christmas gifts this year? Look no further than The Barre - Newcastle's hottest exercise studio, located under the railway arches of Central Station.

The clever team at The Barre have packaged up a gift that will make your loved ones look and feel great, last into the new year and help beat off those post-festive blues. The Barre has a range of Christmas gift packages available for a more unique Christmas present this year. A voucher for 10 classes together with a workout gear pack (including cotton tote bag, water bottle, 'Barre Addict' T-shirt and socks) is pounds 95 and presented in a glossy black gift bag. A pack of five Barre classes with the workout gear pack is pounds 60. Individual gift vouchers for Barre classes are also available, priced at pounds 20, pounds 50 and pounds 80 and presented in a festive gift envelope. The Barre is an exercise sensation, utilising the ballet bar to provide strength and resistance training. Designed by 30-year-old Natalie Catlah, a dancer, choreographer and pilates instructor who has recently returned to the North East from a 10-year residence in Los Angeles, the programme has quickly become a huge hit with women of all ages.

For further information contact The Barre team on [phone] or visit www.the-barre.com Come Fly with Me: A voucher for a flying lesson is one of those gifts that will never be forgotten.

It's usually cheaper to book direct with the flight school rather than booking via a gift experience website and there are several options in the North East.

St George Flight Training has been offering experience flights for over 14 years and has bases at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports.

They give you the opportunity to fly the aircraft yourself and see what it's really like to be at the controls.

Once you're airborne, the instructor will guide you through some basic manoeuvres and then you will have control of the aircraft - always under close, dual-controlled, supervision.

Thirty minutes in a two-seater aircraft costs pounds 75, while an hour is pounds 140. Flights can be taken seven days a week. Gift vouchers can be sent direct to the recipient. To book call [phone].