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Explore a realm of new skills combined with amazing destinations. From rock climbing in the UK to mosaic-making in Türkiye, these particular journeys offer a superb blend of learning and holiday.

Cliff Scaling in the Peaks

Including complete novices will soon be scaling sheltered Peak District crags on this weekend session. Learners will learn securing the rope, belaying and several climbing techniques, plus descending. With a maximum of six participants to a single guide, there is significant individual attention and custom goals. This program is appropriate for all individuals over the age of 13 and over, from first-time climbers to those with limited indoor experience. This is a non-accommodation option, but there is a list of recommended, affordable lodging in the vicinity, such as campsites, hostels, B&Bs and pubs with rooms. The training centre is a brief walk from the local train station, which is on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

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

Abstract Painting in Andalucía

This historic hillside village, a picturesque white village in Andalucía, approximately a short drive from Granada, is the breathtaking setting for this creative getaway. Participants of all abilities – even beginners – will be taught how to plan and create modern art. Some time will be spent outdoors, working on tutorials out in nature. These initial charcoal drawings and paintings will then be developed in the workspace, with guests creating a number of interpretive scenes in acrylic paint to be displayed in the village. The group has sole use of the hotel, which is built around an open courtyard and has a sun terrace with panoramic vistas over the hills. The fee includes five days of painting tuition; all meals; and an excursion to the nearby fortress and other local sights.

Cost: Starting at €1,950 for seven nights, May 19th to 26th.

Vegetarian Cooking in Portugal

This Mediterranean culinary holiday, set on a riverside villa in the central Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of celebrated cooks. Guests will learn to produce selection of small dishes, attend a falafel-making workshop, perfect brunch dishes such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are visits to the village market and a local vineyard to sample local vintages, plus leisure time for walks by the nearby river, to relax on the terrace or swim in the pool. The accommodation, a renovated rural property, has five bedrooms, as well as safari 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

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an uplifting, welcoming weekend dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The daily schedule each day is a high-energy warm-up session, then several 90-minute workshops teaching different street dance styles, then an hour-long freestyle session to demonstrate those solos. Participants are divided into groups according to skill level, so it is suitable for those who are brand new to popping and locking, right up to advanced dancers or instructors. This event does not provide lodging but there are a number of hostels and hotels within walking distance, and it is under an hour by train into central London.

Cost: £245 for the weekend; upcoming session 7-9 April.

Maritime Singing Break in St Ives

St Ives is the excellent location for a maritime music retreat. Participants will learn historic sailing songs 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 holiday is based at a country house with views of the bay. Full board are included, such as a traditional tea on the first day, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and three-course dinners. Traditional rum, unfortunately, is not included. All together now: “How to handle the drunken sailor …?”

Cost: Starting at £429. Available 31 January-3 February and 31 October-3 November.

Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer an experienced instructor conducts the regular sessions on this writing retreat. He covers topics including story structure, characters, locations and suspense, to submitting work to publishers. A co-host, the bestselling author Kate Mosse, will participate in events at the beginning and end of the retreat. The holiday is held at a traditional complex in Vamos at the base of the White mountains – 10 one- and two-bedroom cottages are set around a central garden with a pool (non-writing partners are encouraged to come along). On the last night, budding authors mark the occasion with a musical performance in the garden and a final meal.

Cost: Starting at 893 pounds 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 programs covering sustainability: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This two-day introduction will help participants learn the basics of beekeeping, explore the biology of bees and discover their ecological importance. It is designed to produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. This course is also a chance to de-stress in the organization's sustainably managed woodlands, which are home to polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and uncommon bird species. Accommodation the night before is 80 pounds, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is 97 pounds.

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

Sailing for Beginners in the Blackwater Estuary

These recently launched summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and Dufours on the Blackwater estuary. They are designed for novice sailors learning the ropes or those with some knowledge who want a skills update. Sailors can improve their helming, strengthen their nautical skills and work towards the Royal Yachting Association’s certification levels in a supportive atmosphere. There are non-residential and residential packages, staying in basic shared rooms in the waterside training centre. The non-residential package provides packed lunches, while the residential package includes two nights’ accommodation and all meals, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Getting Started in Sea Swimming in Paphos

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