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Discover a realm of new skills paired with stunning locations. From rock climbing in Britain to creating mosaics in Turkey, these particular adventures deliver the perfect blend of education and holiday.

Cliff Scaling in the Peaks

Including absolute novices will rapidly be climbing sheltered Peak District crags on this weekend session. Participants will master securing the rope, safety techniques and a range of methods of ascent, plus abseiling down. Capped at six learners to a single guide, there is significant individual attention and tailored objectives. The course is open to all individuals over the age of 13 and over, from first-time climbers to those with limited indoor experience. This is a day-only option, but you can find a range of recommended, affordable places to stay in the vicinity, featuring campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and pubs with rooms. The base is a short stroll from the local train station, situated on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: £199 for two days. Weekends from March 7th to 8 November, and midweek sessions throughout the year.

Non-Representational Art in Spain

This historic hillside village, a historic white village in southern Spain, around a short drive from Granada, is the inspiring setting for this creative getaway. Artists of every skill level – including novices – will discover how to design and produce modern art. Some time will be spent outdoors, working on guided exercises out in nature. These sketches and paintings will then be expanded upon in the workspace, with attendees creating a number of interpretive scenes in acrylics to be displayed in the village. Participants 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 cost encompasses five days of painting tuition; full board; and an excursion to the nearby fortress and additional points of interest.

Cost: From 1,950 euros for seven nights, 19-26 May.

Plant-Based Culinary in Portugal

This Mediterranean cooking retreat, set on a riverside villa in the inland Portuguese region, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of celebrated cooks. Guests will learn to produce meze spreads, attend a falafel-making workshop, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains such as a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. The schedule includes trips to the village market and a local vineyard to taste local vintages, along with free time for walks by the nearby river, to unwind on the deck or swim in the infinity pool. The accommodation, a former farmhouse, has multiple rooms, plus glamping tents in the gardens.

Cost: From €900 for five days. Dates from March 20th, 8 May, September 11th and November 13th.

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

This energetic camp is an uplifting, welcoming weekend dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The format each day is a party-style warm-up session, followed by several hour-and-a-half workshops covering different 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 street dance, all the way to advanced dancers or teachers. The camp doesn’t include accommodation but there are several hostels and hotels within walking distance, and it is 23-35 minutes by train into London.

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

Sea Shanty Break in St Ives

St Ives is the perfect spot for a maritime music retreat. Participants will learn traditional shanties from a experienced musician, and try their hand at writing their own. The schedule includes vocal warmups, breath control techniques, performance tips and a final evening concert. The holiday is based at a rural hotel with views of the bay. Full board are provided, including a traditional tea on the first day, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and three-course dinners. Grog, alas, is not provided. Everyone join in: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and tutor an experienced instructor leads the regular sessions on this writing retreat. He covers topics including plot, characters, setting and suspense, to sending manuscripts to publishers. Greg’s wife, the bestselling author Kate Mosse, will co-host events at the beginning and end of the retreat. The retreat is based at a village-style hotel in Vamos at the base of the White mountains – ten one- and two-bedroom cottages surround a central garden with a pool (non-writing partners are welcome to come along). On the final evening, budding authors celebrate with a musical performance in the garden and a farewell dinner.

Cost: From 893 pounds per person for seven nights (for double occupancy), 11-18 August.

Introduction to Beekeeping in Mid Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a host of programs covering eco-living: from creating habitats to upcycling. This weekend introduction will help participants understand the fundamentals of apiary management, explore the life cycle of honeybees and discover their environmental benefits. It is designed to produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. This course is also a chance to de-stress in the organization's carefully maintained woodlands, which are habitat for polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and uncommon bird species. Accommodation the night before is £80, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is £97.

Cost: £248. Dates on 30-31 May and 5-6 September.

Sailing for Beginners in Essex

These recently launched summer sailing weekends are spent on Wayfarers and keelboats on the estuary in Essex. They are aimed at adult beginners learning the ropes or those with some knowledge who want a refresher. Participants can hone their helming, build their seamanship and aim for the recognized certification levels in a supportive atmosphere. There are day-only and residential options, with accommodation in basic shared rooms in the waterside training centre. The day option includes lunches, while the residential package covers two nights’ accommodation and all meals, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

Cost: From 299 pounds. Weekends on July 18th-20th and September 4th-6th.

Getting Started in Sea Swimming in Paphos

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