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Explore a realm of new skills alongside amazing places. From rock climbing in Britain to creating mosaics in Türkiye, these journeys provide an ideal mix of learning and holiday.

Bouldering in the National Park

Even total novices will rapidly be ascending protected regional outcrops on this weekend program. Participants will become proficient in tying in, safety techniques and a range of methods of ascent, plus descending. Limited to six learners to a single guide, there is significant individual attention and custom goals. The course is open to anyone aged 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with limited indoor experience. It is non-accommodation option, but you can find a list of suggested, budget-friendly places to stay close by, featuring campgrounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The venue is a brief walk from Bamford railway station, which is on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: 199 pounds for two days. Weekends from 7 March to 8 November, along with weekday courses throughout the year.

Modern Art in Spain

This historic hillside village, a picturesque town in southern Spain, around a short drive from Granada, is the stimulating location for this painting holiday. Participants of all abilities – even beginners – will be taught how to design and produce modern art. A portion of the time will be spent outdoors, working on structured activities in the open. These initial sketches and paintings will then be expanded upon in the studio, with attendees completing multiple interpretive scenes in acrylic paint to be exhibited in the village. Participants has sole use of the hotel, which is built around an open courtyard and has a roof terrace with panoramic vistas over the countryside. The fee covers five days’ painting tuition; full board; and an outing to the nearby fortress and additional local sights.

Cost: Starting at 1,950 euros for one week, May 19th to 26th.

Ottolenghi-Inspired Culinary in the Algarve

This sun-drenched foodie getaway, based at a riverside villa in the central Portuguese region, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of renowned chefs. Participants will master the art of meze spreads, attend a falafel-making workshop, perfect brunch dishes such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. The schedule includes trips to the local market and a nearby winery to sample Portuguese wines, plus leisure time for strolls by the nearby river, to relax on the deck or swim in the pool. The accommodation, a renovated rural property, has multiple rooms, plus safari tents in the gardens.

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

Street Dance 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 group warmup, then three hour-and-a-half workshops covering various street dance styles, then an 60-minute freestyle session to show off those solos. Participants are split into groups according to ability and experience, so it is suitable for those who are completely new to street dance, right up to experienced performers or instructors. This event does not provide accommodation but there are a number of hostels and hotels nearby, and it is under an hour by train into London.

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

Sea Shanty Break in St Ives

St Ives is the ideal setting for a sea shanty weekend. Guests will be taught historic sailing songs from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at composing original ones. The schedule includes vocal warmups, breath control techniques, stagecraft advice and a final evening concert. The retreat is held in a rural hotel with views of the bay. All meals are included, such as a traditional tea on arrival, cooked or continental breakfasts, packed lunches and three-course dinners. Traditional rum, alas, is not provided. All together now: “What will we do with the drunken sailor …?”

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

Creative Writing in Crete

Author and lecturer an experienced instructor runs the daily workshops on this writing retreat. He covers topics including plot, characters, setting and suspense, to submitting work to agents. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will co-host events at the start and finish of the retreat. The holiday is held at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the White mountains – 10 private accommodations are set around a garden and pool (non-writing partners are encouraged to come along). On the final evening, aspiring writers mark the occasion with a concert in the garden and a farewell dinner.

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

Introduction to Apiculture in Mid Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a host of courses on sustainability: from creating habitats to upcycling. This two-day course will help participants get to grips with the basics of beekeeping, explore the biology of bees and discover their environmental benefits. It is aimed at produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. The weekend is also a opportunity to relax in the centre's carefully maintained woodlands, which are habitat for polecats, otters, dormice, bats and uncommon bird species. Accommodation the night before is £80, and full-board accommodation during the course is 97 pounds.

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

Yachting for Beginners in Essex

These new summer sailing weekends are spent on Wayfarers and keelboats on the Blackwater estuary. They are designed for adult beginners starting out or those with some knowledge who want a skills update. Participants can hone their steering, strengthen their nautical skills and work towards the recognized certification levels in a fun, welcoming environment. There are non-residential and overnight options, with accommodation in basic shared rooms in the waterside sailing school. The non-residential package provides packed lunches, while the residential package includes two nights' stay and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to evening barbecues.

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

Introduction to Open-Water Swimming in Paphos

The location for this swimming holiday is a {be