EDIT.................
Help when I leave the dalish camp I am taken to the world map, but I don't know where I am to go from here to get into the forest to retrieve the tree bark as the Dalish elve quest for the merchant. Where do I go please?
Can I enter the camp anytime without finishing a quest?
Check your map. You will see that you have chosen the "front" entrance to the camp, that will say "travel" on your map. The Brecilian forest exit is the one you need to go to, at the other end of the camp.
EDIT:
Oops, sorry, -I didn't see there was already a page 2. Apologies Toger..- yes, what Toger said...
Ok, I see you are still having trouble, Sherrayah. Yes, simply re-enter the camp, and follow the path right to the opposite side of the camp to the forest. Has Varathorn (the merchant) already given you that tree bark quest? That's all you need to go into the forest to do that quest. (I think Rowan was either talking about the main quest or a side quest there - or about Varathorn himself)
However, there is an elf (Athras) you should preferably talk to first before you go into the forest - a man worrying about his wife who is lost somewhere in the forest after she got bitten by a wherewolf.
Well, then once you are in the forest, you will have to explore a little to open up your map, and find the location of that dead tree that is marked on your map. I do warn you that you will find wolves and wherewolves on the road, but don't worry, I'm pretty sure you won't get "infected" if you fight them - it wouldn't fit in with the story, and anyway, I fought tons of them without getting infected.
There is also an elf (Cammen) who needs help with his girlfriend (Gheyna). I found the best way to help him, is to offer to bring pelts for him, since my persuasion skills were not high enough to persuade the girl to accept him. If you try to persuade her and it doesn't work, you cannot complete this quest, so better to play it safe and offer help with the pelts. Once you've helped him, you'll get a book from him. Keep this book which you will need later on in the forest, in order to trade someone for something you will need.