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Discover a world of new skills alongside amazing locations. Starting with rock climbing in Britain to creating mosaics in Turkey, these experiences provide the perfect blend of education and holiday.

Rock Climbing in the Peaks

Including total novices will soon be scaling protected Peak District rock faces on this two-day program. Attendees will learn securing the rope, belaying and a range of methods of ascent, along with descending. Limited to a half-dozen students to a single guide, there is a lot of personalized coaching and custom goals. The course is appropriate for anyone over the age of 13 and over, from absolute beginners to those with a bit of gym climbing background. It is day-only course, but you can find a list of suggested, budget-friendly accommodation in the vicinity, featuring campsites, hostels, B&Bs and pubs with rooms. The training centre is a short stroll from Bamford railway station, which is on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: £199 for the weekend. Courses from 7 March to November 8th, plus midweek sessions most months.

Non-Representational Art in Andalucía

This historic hillside village, a historic hillside village in southern Spain, about a short drive from Granada, is the inspiring location for this painting holiday. Artists of all abilities – including beginners – will learn how to plan and create abstract artworks. Part of the schedule will be spent in the open air, working on guided exercises out in nature. These initial sketches and paintings will then be developed in the studio, with participants creating multiple abstract landscapes in acrylics to be displayed in the village. The group has sole use of the hotel, which is set around an open courtyard and has a rooftop with views over the countryside. The fee encompasses five days’ painting tuition; full board; and an outing to the local castle and other points of interest.

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

Vegetarian Cooking in Portugal

This sun-drenched cooking retreat, located at a riverside villa in the inland Portuguese region, is draws inspiration from the vegetarian dishes of celebrated cooks. Participants will master the art of selection of small dishes, take part in a falafel-making workshop, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains such as spicy mushroom ragu and moussaka. The schedule includes trips to the village market and a nearby winery to sample Portuguese wines, along with leisure time for walks by the nearby river, to relax on the deck or swim in the infinity pool. The villa, a former farmhouse, has five bedrooms, as well as safari tents in the grounds.

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

Hip Hop in High Wycombe

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an energizing, inclusive three-day adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The daily schedule each day is a party-style warm-up session, then several 90-minute classes covering different street dance styles, then an hour-long freestyle session to demonstrate new moves. Participants are split into levels according to skill level, so it is suitable for those who are completely new to street dance, right up to experienced performers or teachers. The camp doesn’t include accommodation but there are a number of places to stay nearby, and it is under an hour by train into London.

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

Maritime Singing Weekend in Cornwall

This coastal town is the ideal setting for a sea shanty weekend. Participants will be taught traditional shanties from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at composing original ones. There will be vocal warmups, breathing exercises, stagecraft advice and a final evening concert. The holiday is based at a country house overlooking the bay. All meals are provided, such as a traditional tea on arrival, breakfast options, packed lunches and three-course dinners. Traditional rum, unfortunately, is not provided. Everyone join in: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer an experienced instructor conducts the regular sessions on this writing retreat. He explores everything from plot, character development, setting and tension, to sending manuscripts to agents. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in events at the beginning and end of the retreat. The retreat is held at a village-style hotel in Vamos at the base of the White mountains – ten one- and two-bedroom cottages surround a garden and pool (companions are welcome to come along). On the final evening, aspiring writers mark the occasion 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' Apiculture in Mid Wales

A leading eco-centre near Machynlleth runs a wide range of programs on eco-living: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This weekend introduction will help attendees understand the fundamentals of beekeeping, study the biology of bees and learn about their ecological importance. It is aimed at produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. This course is also a chance to relax in the centre's carefully maintained forests, which are home to polecats, otters, dormice, bats and uncommon bird species. Bed and breakfast the night before is £80, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is £97.

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

Yachting for Novices in Essex

These recently launched summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and Dufours on the estuary in Essex. They are aimed at novice sailors starting out or those with some knowledge who want a refresher. Participants can hone their steering, strengthen their seamanship and aim for the Royal Yachting Association’s certification levels in a supportive atmosphere. There are day-only and residential options, with accommodation in simple dorms in the waterfront training centre. The day option provides packed lunches, while the residential package includes two nights' stay and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Introduction to Open-Water Swimming in Paphos

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