For those of you that suffer depression, how do you get yourself out of a depressive episode?

I felt myself slipping towards depression several years ago and threw myself into my hobbies. I love the outdoors and spent as much time as possible hiking, camping, practicing photography, fishing, cycling, anything to keep me out of pubs which would have done me no good at all.
It was a fleeting glimpse for me but those things were definitely a big help, better than any bottle or medication.