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Uncover a domain of new skills combined with stunning places. From rock climbing in the UK to mosaic-making in Türkiye, these particular journeys provide the perfect blend of learning and vacation.

Bouldering in the Peaks

Even total novices will quickly be ascending sheltered Peak District crags on this weekend course. Attendees will master tying in, belaying and multiple methods of ascent, along with rappelling. With a maximum of six participants to a single guide, there is plenty of personalized coaching and personalised targets. The training is open to anyone over the age of 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with limited gym climbing background. This is a non-accommodation course, but there is a selection of recommended, affordable places to stay in the vicinity, featuring campgrounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The venue is a short stroll from Bamford railway station, which is on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: £199 for two days. Courses from March 7th to November 8th, along with midweek sessions most months.

Non-Representational Art in Spain

Moclín, a historic town in Andalucía, around a short drive from Granada, is the stimulating setting for this art retreat. Painters of all abilities – even novices – will discover how to conceive and execute modern art. A portion of the time will be spent in the open air, working on guided exercises en plein air. These initial charcoal drawings and paintings will then be worked on in the workspace, with guests completing a number of interpretive scenes in acrylics to be displayed in the village. The group has sole use of the hotel, which is centered on an central patio and has a roof terrace with panoramic vistas over the countryside. The fee encompasses five days of art instruction; all meals; and an outing to the local castle and other local sights.

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

Vegetarian Cooking in Portugal

This sun-drenched cooking retreat, set on a riverside villa in the central Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of celebrated cooks. Participants will learn to produce selection of small dishes, attend a falafel-making workshop, refine brunch dishes such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses including a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are visits to the local market and a nearby winery to sample local vintages, combined with leisure time for strolls by the Funcho River, to unwind on the deck or swim in the pool. The villa, a former farmhouse, has five bedrooms, as well as glamping tents in the grounds.

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

Hip Hop in Buckinghamshire

This energetic camp is an uplifting, welcoming weekend adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The daily schedule throughout the camp is a high-energy group warmup, then several 90-minute workshops covering different street dance styles, then an 60-minute jam to demonstrate new moves. Dancers are split into levels based on skill level, so it is perfect 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 several hostels and hotels nearby, and it is 23-35 minutes by train into central London.

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

Maritime Singing Break in St Ives

This coastal town is the perfect location for a sea shanty weekend. Guests will learn historic sailing songs from a folk singer and vocal coach, and try their hand at writing their own. There will be vocal warmups, breath control techniques, stagecraft advice and a final evening concert. The holiday is based at a country house overlooking St Ives Bay. All meals are included, including a traditional tea on arrival, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and evening meals. Grog, alas, is not included. All together now: “What will we do with the drunken sailor …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer an experienced instructor runs the daily workshops on this writing retreat. He covers everything from plot, character development, setting and tension, to submitting work to agents. A co-host, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will co-host special sessions at the start and finish of the week. The retreat is held at a village-style hotel in Vamos at the foot of the White mountains – 10 one- and two-bedroom cottages are set around a garden and pool (non-writing partners are encouraged to share). On the final evening, budding authors celebrate with a musical performance in the garden and a farewell dinner.

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

Beginners' Apiculture in Wales

A leading eco-centre near Machynlleth runs a host of courses covering sustainability: from wildlife gardening to upcycling. This weekend course will help participants get to grips with the basics of apiary management, explore the biology of honeybees and discover their environmental benefits. It is designed to produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. The weekend is also a chance to de-stress in the organization's sustainably managed forests, which are home to wildlife, otters, dormice, bats and rare birds. Accommodation the evening prior is £80, and all meals and lodging for the weekend is 97 pounds.

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

Yachting for Beginners in the Blackwater Estuary

These new weekend sailing courses are spent on Wayfarers and Dufours on the estuary in Essex. They are designed for novice sailors learning the ropes or more experienced mariners who want a skills update. Participants can hone their steering, build their nautical skills and work towards the recognized levels one to three in a fun, welcoming environment. There are day-only and residential options, staying in basic shared rooms in the waterside sailing school. The day option includes lunches, while the residential package includes two nights’ accommodation and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Getting Started in Open-Water Swimming in Paphos

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