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Uncover a domain of new skills paired with incredible places. From scaling cliffs in the UK to mosaic-making in Türkiye, these experiences provide a superb blend of education and vacation.

Rock Climbing in the Peak District

Including complete beginners will quickly be ascending protected regional rock faces on this two-day session. Participants will learn tying in, belaying and a range of methods of ascent, plus abseiling down. Limited to a half-dozen students to a single guide, there is a lot of one-on-one guidance and tailored objectives. The training is appropriate for anyone aged 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with a bit of gym climbing background. This is a day-only option, but you can find a list of suggested, budget-friendly lodging nearby, featuring campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and pubs with rooms. The base is 10 minutes’ walk from the local train station, which is on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: 199 pounds for two days. Courses from 7 March to 8 November, plus weekday courses most months.

Modern Art in Spain

Moclín, a picturesque hillside village in southern Spain, approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the inspiring backdrop for this art retreat. Artists of all abilities – including novices – will learn how to conceive and execute modern art. A portion of the time will be spent outside, working on guided exercises out in nature. These initial sketches and watercolour studies will then be worked on in the workspace, with guests completing multiple abstract landscapes in acrylic paint to be exhibited in the village. The group has sole use of the hotel, which is set around an open courtyard and has a sun terrace with panoramic vistas over the hills. The price covers five days of art instruction; all meals; and an outing to the local castle and other points of interest.

Cost: From €1,950 for seven nights, May 19th to 26th.

Ottolenghi-Inspired Culinary in the Algarve

This sun-drenched culinary holiday, based at a villa by the river in the inland Algarve, is draws inspiration from the vegetarian dishes of renowned chefs. Participants will master the art of selection of small dishes, attend a falafel-making workshop, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are visits to the local market and a nearby winery to taste local vintages, plus leisure time for walks by the nearby river, to unwind on the terrace or take a dip in the infinity pool. The accommodation, a renovated rural property, has five bedrooms, as well as safari tents in the gardens.

Cost: Starting at €900 for a five-day retreat. Dates from March 20th, May 8th, 11 September and November 13th.

Hip Hop in Buckinghamshire

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an energizing, welcoming weekend adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The daily schedule throughout the camp is a party-style warm-up session, followed by several hour-and-a-half classes teaching various street dance styles, then an hour-long jam to demonstrate new moves. Participants are split into levels based on ability and experience, so it is suitable for those who are brand new to popping and locking, all the way to experienced performers or instructors. The camp doesn’t include lodging but there are several places to stay nearby, and it is under an hour by rail into central London.

Cost: £245 for three days; next course April 7th to 9th.

Sea Shanty Weekend in Cornwall

This coastal town is the excellent setting for a maritime music retreat. Guests will learn historic sailing songs from a folk singer and vocal coach, and try their hand at writing their own. There will be voice exercises, breath control techniques, stagecraft advice and a closing performance. The holiday is held in a country house with views of the bay. All meals are provided, including a traditional tea on the first day, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and evening meals. Grog, alas, is not provided. Everyone join in: “How to handle the drunken sailor …?”

Cost: Starting at 429 pounds. Dates January 31st to February 3rd and October 31st to November 3rd.

Creative Writing in Greece

Writer and tutor an experienced instructor leads the daily workshops on this authors' getaway. He explores everything from plot, characters, setting and tension, to sending manuscripts to agents. Greg’s wife, the bestselling author Kate Mosse, will co-host events at the start and finish of the retreat. The holiday is held at a village-style hotel in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – 10 private accommodations surround a central garden with a pool (non-writing partners are welcome to share). On the last night, budding authors mark the occasion with a concert in the courtyard and a farewell dinner.

Cost: Starting at £893 per person for one week (based on two sharing), August 11th to 18th.

Beginners' Apiculture in Mid Wales

A leading eco-centre near Machynlleth runs a wide range of courses on eco-living: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This two-day introduction will help attendees get to grips with the basics of beekeeping, explore the life cycle of honeybees and discover their ecological importance. It is designed to produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. The weekend is also a chance to de-stress in the organization's carefully maintained woodlands, which are home to polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and rare birds. Bed and breakfast the night before is 80 pounds, and all meals and lodging for the weekend is 97 pounds.

Cost: 248 pounds. Dates on May 30th-31st and 5-6 September.

Yachting for Beginners in the Blackwater Estuary

These recently launched weekend sailing courses are spent on dinghies and keelboats on the estuary in Essex. They are designed for novice sailors learning the ropes or those with some knowledge who want a refresher. Participants can hone their steering, strengthen their seamanship and aim for the Royal Yachting Association’s levels one to three in a fun, welcoming environment. There are non-residential and residential options, with accommodation in basic shared rooms in the waterside sailing school. The day option provides lunches, while the overnight option includes two nights' stay and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to evening barbecues.

Cost: Starting at £299. Weekends on 18-20 July and September 4th-6th.

Introduction to Sea Swimming in Cyprus

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