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Uncover a domain of new skills paired with amazing locations. Starting with rock climbing in Britain to mosaic-making in Turkey, these particular journeys deliver the perfect blend of learning and vacation.

Cliff Scaling in the National Park

Including absolute novices will quickly be scaling protected Peak District rock faces on this weekend session. Participants will become proficient in tying in, belaying and multiple methods of ascent, plus descending. With a maximum of six participants to one instructor, there is significant one-on-one guidance and tailored objectives. The training is open to anyone over the age of 13 and over, from absolute beginners to those with limited indoor experience. It is non-accommodation option, but you can find a range of recommended, reasonably-priced lodging close by, such as campgrounds, hostels, B&Bs and pubs with rooms. The base is 10 minutes’ walk from the local train station, situated on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

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

Non-Representational Art in Andalucía

Moclín, a picturesque hillside village in southern Spain, about 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the stimulating backdrop for this creative getaway. Artists of every skill level – including novices – will learn how to design and produce modern art. A portion of the time will be spent outside, working on tutorials out in nature. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be expanded upon in the studio, with participants completing a number of abstract landscapes in acrylics to be exhibited in the village. The group has exclusive access of the hotel, which is centered on an central patio and has a roof terrace with views over the hills. The cost covers five days’ art instruction; all meals; and an outing to the local castle and other points of interest.

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

Plant-Based Cooking in Portugal

This sun-drenched foodie getaway, based at a riverside villa in the inland Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of renowned chefs. Attendees will learn to produce selection of small dishes, attend a falafel-making workshop, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains such as spicy mushroom ragu and moussaka. There are visits to the local market and a nearby winery to taste local vintages, along with leisure time for strolls by the nearby river, to unwind on the deck or swim in the pool. The accommodation, a former farmhouse, has multiple rooms, plus glamping tents in the grounds.

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

Hip Hop in High Wycombe

This energetic camp is an energizing, welcoming three-day dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The daily schedule each day is a party-style group warmup, then several hour-and-a-half classes covering various urban dance forms, then an hour-long freestyle session to demonstrate those solos. Participants are divided into groups according to ability and experience, so it is perfect for those who are completely new to street dance, right up to experienced performers or teachers. This event doesn’t include lodging but there are a number of hostels and hotels within walking distance, and it is under an hour by rail into central London.

Cost: 245 pounds for the weekend; next course April 7th to 9th.

Maritime Singing Break in St Ives

St Ives is the excellent location for a maritime music retreat. Participants will be taught traditional shanties from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at writing their own. There will be voice exercises, breathing exercises, stagecraft advice and a closing performance. The retreat is held in a rural hotel with views of the bay. All meals are included, including a Cornish cream tea on the first day, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and evening meals. Traditional rum, alas, is not provided. Everyone join in: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and tutor an experienced instructor conducts the daily workshops on this authors' getaway. He explores topics including plot, character development, locations and tension, to submitting work to publishers. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will co-host special sessions at the beginning and end of the retreat. The retreat is held 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 (non-writing partners are encouraged to come along). On the final evening, aspiring writers mark the occasion with a concert in the courtyard and a final meal.

Cost: Starting at 893 pounds per person for seven nights (based on two sharing), 11-18 August.

Introduction to Apiculture in Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of programs covering sustainability: from wildlife gardening to upcycling. This weekend course will help attendees understand the basics of apiary management, study the life cycle of bees and learn about their environmental benefits. It is designed to produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. This course is also a opportunity to de-stress in the organization's sustainably managed forests, which are home to polecats, otters, dormice, bats and rare birds. Bed and breakfast the evening prior is £80, and full-board accommodation during the course is 97 pounds.

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

Yachting for Novices in the Blackwater Estuary

These recently launched summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and keelboats on the Blackwater estuary. They are aimed at adult beginners starting out or more experienced mariners who want a refresher. Participants can hone their steering, strengthen their seamanship and aim for the recognized levels one to three in a supportive atmosphere. There are non-residential and residential options, staying in basic shared rooms in the waterside training centre. The day option includes lunches, while the overnight option includes two nights’ accommodation and all meals, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Introduction to Open-Water Swimming in Cyprus

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