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Discover a domain of new skills paired with stunning destinations. Starting with scaling cliffs in Britain to mosaic-making in Türkiye, these particular journeys deliver an ideal combination of education and holiday.

Cliff Scaling in the National Park

Even absolute beginners will quickly be climbing protected Peak District crags on this short session. Learners will master securing the rope, safety techniques and multiple methods of ascent, as well as descending. Capped at a half-dozen students to each tutor, there is plenty of one-on-one guidance and custom goals. The course is suitable for all individuals over the age of 13 and over, from absolute beginners to those with limited gym climbing background. This is a day-only course, but you can find a list of recommended, budget-friendly places to stay nearby, featuring campgrounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The venue is a short stroll from Bamford railway station, located on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: 199 pounds for the weekend. Weekends from 7 March to November 8th, along with midweek sessions throughout the year.

Modern Art in Spain

Moclín, a picturesque hillside village in Andalucía, approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the breathtaking location for this creative getaway. Painters of all abilities – including novices – will be taught how to plan and create non-representational pieces. Some time will be spent outdoors, working on guided exercises en plein air. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be developed in the studio, with participants completing a number of interpretive scenes in acrylics to be exhibited in the village. The group has exclusive access of the hotel, which is set around an open courtyard and has a rooftop with panoramic vistas over the hills. The price encompasses five days’ art instruction; all meals; and an outing to the local castle and other points of interest.

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

Plant-Based Culinary in Portugal

This Mediterranean foodie getaway, based at a riverside villa in the central Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of renowned chefs. Guests will master the art of meze spreads, take part in a falafel-making workshop, refine brunch dishes such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are visits to the local market and a local vineyard to taste local vintages, along with free time for strolls by the nearby river, to relax on the deck or take a dip in the pool. The accommodation, a renovated rural property, has five bedrooms, as well as glamping tents in the grounds.

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

Hip Hop in High Wycombe

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an energizing, inclusive weekend dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The daily schedule throughout the camp is a party-style group warmup, then several 90-minute classes covering different urban dance forms, then an 60-minute jam to show off those solos. Participants are divided into groups based on ability and experience, so it is suitable for those who are brand new to street dance, right up to advanced dancers or teachers. This event does not provide lodging but there are a number of places to stay within walking distance, and it is 23-35 minutes by rail into central London.

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

Maritime Singing Weekend in Cornwall

St Ives is the ideal spot for a sea shanty weekend. Participants will be taught traditional shanties from a experienced musician, and try their hand at writing their own. The schedule includes vocal warmups, breathing exercises, performance tips and a closing performance. The holiday is based at a rural hotel overlooking St Ives Bay. All meals are included, such as a traditional tea on arrival, breakfast options, packed lunches and evening meals. Traditional rum, alas, is not provided. All together now: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

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

Creative Writing in Greece

Author and tutor an experienced instructor conducts the daily workshops on this authors' getaway. He explores everything from plot, characters, locations and tension, to submitting work to agents. A co-host, the bestselling author Kate Mosse, will co-host events at the start and finish of the retreat. The retreat is held at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – 10 one- and two-bedroom cottages are set around a garden and pool (companions are welcome to come along). On the last night, aspiring writers mark the occasion with a musical performance in the garden and a final meal.

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

Beginners' Beekeeping in Mid Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of courses on eco-living: from wildlife gardening to upcycling. This weekend introduction will help participants get to grips with the basics of beekeeping, explore the life cycle of bees and discover their ecological importance. It is designed to produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. The weekend is also a chance to de-stress in the organization's sustainably managed forests, which are habitat for wildlife, otters, dormice, bats and rare birds. Bed and breakfast the night before is 80 pounds, and all meals and lodging during the course is 97 pounds.

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

Yachting for Novices in the Blackwater Estuary

These recently launched weekend sailing courses are spent on dinghies and Dufours on the estuary in Essex. They are aimed at novice sailors learning the ropes or those with some knowledge who want a refresher. Sailors can hone their steering, strengthen their seamanship and work towards the recognized certification levels in a supportive atmosphere. There are non-residential and overnight packages, staying in simple dorms in the waterside training centre. The day option provides lunches, while the residential package covers two nights' stay and all meals, from full English breakfasts to evening barbecues.

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

Introduction to Sea Swimming in Cyprus

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