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Discover a realm of new skills alongside incredible destinations. Starting with scaling cliffs in Britain to creating mosaics in Türkiye, these particular experiences deliver the perfect mix of learning and holiday.

Cliff Scaling in the Peaks

Including total novices will quickly be scaling sheltered Peak District rock faces on this two-day program. Participants will become proficient in tying in, safety techniques and several methods of ascent, along with rappelling. Capped at six learners to each tutor, there is a lot of personalized coaching and tailored objectives. This program is suitable for anyone over the age of 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with a bit of gym climbing background. This is a non-residential course, but there is a selection of suggested, budget-friendly accommodation close by, including campgrounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The base is 10 minutes’ walk from Bamford railway station, located on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: £199 for two days. Courses from March 7th to 8 November, plus weekday courses throughout the year.

Non-Representational Art in Andalucía

Moclín, a picturesque white village in Andalucía, approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the breathtaking setting for this creative getaway. Participants of every skill level – even beginners – will be taught how to design and produce modern art. Part of the schedule will be spent in the open air, working on structured activities in the open. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be worked on in the studio, with participants producing multiple interpretive scenes in acrylic paint to be shown in the village. The group has exclusive access of the hotel, which is built around an open courtyard and has a rooftop with panoramic vistas over the countryside. The price covers five days of painting tuition; full board; and an outing to the nearby fortress and other local sights.

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

Plant-Based Culinary in Portugal

This sun-drenched foodie getaway, located at a riverside villa in the inland Algarve, is draws inspiration from the vegetarian dishes of renowned chefs. Attendees will master the art of meze spreads, attend a hands-on falafel session, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains including a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. The schedule includes trips to the local market and a local vineyard to sample Portuguese wines, combined with free time for walks by the nearby river, to relax on the deck or swim in the pool. The villa, a former farmhouse, has multiple rooms, as well as safari tents in the gardens.

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

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an energizing, welcoming three-day dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The format throughout the camp is a party-style warm-up session, then three hour-and-a-half classes teaching various street dance styles, then an hour-long freestyle session to show off new moves. Dancers are split into groups according to skill level, so it is suitable for those who are brand new to street dance, all the way to advanced dancers or instructors. The camp does not provide lodging but there are several places to stay nearby, and it is 23-35 minutes by rail into London.

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

Sea Shanty Weekend in Cornwall

This coastal town is the perfect location for a maritime music retreat. Guests will be taught historic sailing songs from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at writing their own. There will be vocal warmups, breath control techniques, stagecraft advice and a final evening concert. The holiday is held in a country house with views of St Ives Bay. All meals are provided, including a Cornish cream tea on the first day, breakfast options, lunches to go and evening meals. Grog, unfortunately, is not provided. Everyone join in: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer Greg Mosse conducts the regular sessions on this authors' getaway. He covers topics including story structure, character development, setting and tension, to sending manuscripts to publishers. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in events at the start and finish of the retreat. The retreat is based at a village-style hotel in Vamos at the foot of the White mountains – ten one- and two-bedroom cottages surround a garden and pool (companions are encouraged to come along). On the final evening, budding authors celebrate with a musical performance in the courtyard and a final meal.

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

Beginners' Beekeeping in Wales

A leading eco-centre near Machynlleth runs a host of programs covering sustainability: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This two-day course will help participants get to grips with the fundamentals of beekeeping, explore the biology of honeybees and discover their environmental benefits. It is aimed at produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. The weekend is also a opportunity to de-stress in the centre's carefully maintained woodlands, which are home to wildlife, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and rare birds. Bed and breakfast the evening prior is 80 pounds, and all meals and lodging for the weekend is £97.

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

Sailing for Novices in Essex

These new weekend sailing courses are spent on dinghies and keelboats on the estuary in Essex. They are designed for novice sailors starting out or more experienced mariners who want a skills update. Participants can hone their steering, build their nautical skills and aim for the recognized levels one to three in a fun, welcoming environment. There are non-residential and residential packages, staying in basic shared rooms in the waterside sailing school. The day option includes lunches, while the residential package includes two nights' stay and all meals, from full English breakfasts to evening barbecues.

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

Getting Started in Sea Swimming in Cyprus

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