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Explore a domain of fresh abilities paired with stunning destinations. Starting with rock climbing in the UK to mosaic-making in Turkey, these journeys provide the perfect blend of learning and holiday.

Bouldering in the Peaks

Even total novices will rapidly be ascending sheltered Peak District outcrops on this weekend session. Participants will learn securing the rope, safety techniques and several climbing techniques, plus descending. With a maximum of a half-dozen students to each tutor, there is plenty of individual attention and custom goals. The training is open to all individuals over the age of 13 and over, ranging from absolute beginners to those with a bit of gym climbing background. This is a non-residential course, but there is a list of suggested, affordable accommodation close by, featuring campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The base is 10 minutes’ walk from the local train station, situated on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

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

Modern Art in Andalucía

Moclín, a picturesque hillside village in Andalucía, about a short drive from Granada, is the inspiring backdrop for this painting holiday. Artists of all abilities – including novices – will discover how to plan and create abstract artworks. Some time will be spent outdoors, working on guided exercises en plein air. These charcoal drawings and paintings will then be expanded upon in the workspace, with participants creating a number of abstract landscapes in acrylic paint to be shown in the village. Participants has sole use of the venue, which is set around an open courtyard and has a roof terrace with panoramic vistas over the hills. The cost covers five days of painting tuition; full board; and an outing to the nearby fortress and other points of interest.

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

Vegetarian Cooking in Portugal

This Mediterranean cooking retreat, located at a riverside villa in the inland Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of renowned chefs. Participants will master the art of selection of small dishes, take part in a falafel-making workshop, refine brunch dishes such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains like spicy mushroom ragu and moussaka. There are trips to the village market and a local vineyard to taste Portuguese wines, plus leisure time for strolls by the Funcho River, to unwind on the deck or take a dip in the infinity pool. The accommodation, a former farmhouse, has multiple rooms, as well as safari tents in the gardens.

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

Hip Hop in Buckinghamshire

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an uplifting, inclusive three-day adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The daily schedule throughout the camp is a high-energy warm-up session, then several hour-and-a-half workshops teaching different street dance styles, then an 60-minute freestyle session to demonstrate those solos. Dancers are divided into levels according to ability and experience, so it is suitable for those who are completely new to popping and locking, right up to experienced performers or instructors. This event does not provide lodging but there are a number of hostels and hotels nearby, and it is 23-35 minutes by train into central London.

Cost: £245 for three days; upcoming session 7-9 April.

Maritime Singing Weekend in Cornwall

St Ives is the ideal spot for a maritime music retreat. Participants will learn traditional shanties from a experienced musician, and have a go at writing their own. The schedule includes vocal warmups, breath control techniques, performance tips and a closing performance. The holiday is based at a rural hotel with views of St Ives Bay. All meals are included, including a Cornish cream tea on the first day, breakfast options, packed lunches and evening meals. Traditional rum, unfortunately, is not provided. Everyone join in: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer Greg Mosse runs the regular sessions on this writing retreat. He covers topics including story structure, character development, setting and tension, to submitting work to publishers. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will co-host events at the beginning and end of the week. The retreat is held at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – ten private accommodations surround a garden and pool (companions are encouraged to share). On the final evening, budding authors mark the occasion with a concert in the garden and a farewell dinner.

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

Beginners' Beekeeping in Mid Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of programs covering eco-living: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This weekend introduction will help attendees get to grips with the fundamentals of apiary management, study the life cycle of bees and discover their ecological importance. It is designed to produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. The weekend is also a opportunity to relax in the centre's sustainably managed woodlands, which are habitat for polecats, otters, dormice, bats and uncommon bird species. Bed and breakfast the night before is 80 pounds, and all meals and lodging for the weekend is 97 pounds.

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

Yachting for Beginners in the Blackwater Estuary

These recently launched weekend sailing courses are spent on Wayfarers and keelboats on the estuary in Essex. They are aimed at adult beginners learning the ropes or more experienced mariners who want a skills update. Participants can hone their helming, strengthen their seamanship and work towards the recognized levels one to three in a fun, welcoming environment. There are non-residential and overnight packages, with accommodation in simple dorms in the waterfront sailing school. The day option provides lunches, while the residential package includes two nights’ accommodation and full board, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Introduction to Sea Swimming in Cyprus

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