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Explore a world of fresh abilities combined with amazing locations. From rock climbing in Britain to creating mosaics in Türkiye, these experiences offer the perfect blend of learning and holiday.

Cliff Scaling in the National Park

Including total newcomers will quickly be climbing sheltered Peak District outcrops on this two-day session. Learners will become proficient in securing the rope, belaying and a range of methods of ascent, along with abseiling down. With a maximum of a half-dozen students to each tutor, there is a lot of individual attention and custom goals. The course is open to all individuals aged 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with limited gym climbing background. This is a non-residential option, but you can find a range of suggested, affordable accommodation nearby, featuring campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The training centre is a brief walk from Bamford railway station, which is on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: 199 pounds for the weekend. Courses from March 7th to 8 November, and midweek sessions throughout the year.

Modern Art in Andalucía

This historic hillside village, a picturesque white village in Andalucía, about 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the breathtaking setting for this painting holiday. Painters of all abilities – including beginners – will learn how to plan and create abstract artworks. A portion of the time will be spent outdoors, working on structured activities en plein air. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be expanded upon in the workspace, with attendees completing multiple interpretive scenes in acrylic paint to be exhibited in the local community. Participants has exclusive access of the venue, which is set around an central patio and has a roof terrace with panoramic vistas over the hills. The price encompasses five days’ painting tuition; all meals; and an outing to the nearby fortress and other points of interest.

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

Vegetarian Cooking in the Algarve

This sun-drenched foodie getaway, located at a riverside villa in the central Algarve, is draws inspiration from the plant-based cuisine of celebrated cooks. Attendees will master the art of meze spreads, attend a hands-on falafel session, perfect mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains like spicy mushroom ragu and moussaka. There are trips to the local market and a nearby winery to taste Portuguese wines, along with leisure time for walks by the nearby river, to relax on the deck or swim in the infinity pool. The villa, a renovated rural property, has five bedrooms, plus safari tents in the gardens.

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

Hip Hop in High Wycombe

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an uplifting, welcoming weekend dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The format throughout the camp is a party-style warm-up session, followed by three hour-and-a-half classes teaching different street dance styles, then an hour-long jam to show off those solos. Dancers are split into levels according to skill level, so it is perfect for those who are brand new to street dance, right up to experienced performers or teachers. The camp does not provide accommodation but there are several hostels and hotels nearby, and it is under an hour by rail into London.

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

Sea Shanty Break in Cornwall

St Ives is the excellent location for a maritime music retreat. Participants will be taught traditional shanties from a experienced musician, and try their hand at writing their own. There will be voice exercises, breath control techniques, performance tips and a final evening concert. The retreat is based at a rural hotel with views of the bay. All meals are provided, such as a Cornish cream tea on arrival, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and three-course dinners. Traditional rum, unfortunately, is not included. Everyone join in: “How to handle the drunken sailor …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and tutor Greg Mosse conducts the regular sessions on this authors' getaway. He covers everything from story structure, character development, locations and tension, to sending manuscripts to agents. A co-host, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in events at the start and finish of the week. The retreat is based at a traditional complex in Vamos at the base of the White mountains – ten one- and two-bedroom cottages are set around a garden and pool (non-writing partners are welcome to share). On the last night, aspiring writers celebrate with a concert in the garden and a final meal.

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

Beginners' Beekeeping in Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of courses on sustainability: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This two-day course will help attendees get to grips with the basics of beekeeping, study 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 centre's carefully maintained woodlands, which are habitat for polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and rare birds. Accommodation the night before is 80 pounds, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is £97.

Cost: £248. Sessions on May 30th-31st and September 5th-6th.

Sailing for Novices in the Blackwater Estuary

These new weekend sailing courses are spent on dinghies and keelboats on the estuary in Essex. They are designed for adult beginners learning the ropes or more experienced mariners who want a skills update. Sailors can improve their steering, build their nautical skills and aim for the recognized levels one to three in a supportive atmosphere. There are day-only and residential options, staying in basic shared rooms in the waterfront sailing school. The non-residential package provides packed lunches, while the overnight option covers two nights' stay and full board, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

Cost: From £299. Dates on 18-20 July and September 4th-6th.

Introduction to Sea Swimming in Cyprus

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