🔗 Share this article

Discover a realm of novel talents combined with amazing locations. Starting with rock climbing in Britain to mosaic-making in Türkiye, these adventures provide an ideal blend of education and vacation.

Cliff Scaling in the Peak District

Even complete novices will soon be ascending sheltered Peak District rock faces on this two-day program. Participants will master tying in, safety techniques and a range of methods of ascent, as well as descending. Capped at six learners to a single guide, there is plenty of individual attention and tailored objectives. This program is appropriate for anyone over the age of 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with a bit of indoor experience. This is a non-accommodation option, but there is a list of recommended, affordable accommodation close by, including campgrounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and pubs with rooms. The training centre is a brief walk from the local train station, located on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

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

Non-Representational Art in Spain

Moclín, a ancient town in southern Spain, approximately a short drive from Granada, is the stimulating location for this art retreat. Participants of every skill level – even novices – will learn how to design and produce non-representational pieces. Part of the schedule will be spent outdoors, working on structured activities in the open. These initial sketches and watercolour studies will then be expanded upon in the workspace, with guests completing a number of abstract landscapes in acrylic paint to be displayed in the village. Participants has exclusive access of the venue, which is centered on an open courtyard and has a sun terrace with panoramic vistas over the countryside. The cost encompasses five days of painting tuition; full board; and an excursion to the nearby fortress and other local sights.

Cost: Starting at 1,950 euros for seven nights, 19-26 May.

Ottolenghi-Inspired Cooking in Portugal

This sun-drenched foodie getaway, located at a villa by the river in the inland Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of celebrated cooks. Attendees will learn to produce selection of small dishes, attend a falafel-making workshop, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses like spicy mushroom ragu and moussaka. There are trips to the village market and a nearby winery to taste Portuguese wines, combined with leisure time for walks by the Funcho River, to relax on the terrace or take a dip in the pool. The villa, a renovated rural property, has five bedrooms, as well as safari tents in the gardens.

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

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an uplifting, inclusive weekend adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The daily schedule throughout the camp is a high-energy group warmup, followed by several 90-minute classes teaching various urban dance forms, then an 60-minute jam to demonstrate those solos. Dancers are split into groups based on skill level, so it is perfect for those who are brand new to popping and locking, right up to advanced dancers or teachers. The camp doesn’t include accommodation but there are a number of places to stay within walking distance, and it is under an hour by train into central London.

Cost: £245 for the weekend; next course 7-9 April.

Sea Shanty Weekend in Cornwall

St Ives is the ideal spot for a maritime music retreat. Guests will be taught historic sailing songs from a experienced musician, and try their hand at composing original ones. The schedule includes voice exercises, breathing exercises, stagecraft advice and a final evening concert. The retreat is held in a rural hotel overlooking the bay. Full board are included, including a traditional tea on arrival, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and evening meals. Grog, unfortunately, is not included. Everyone join in: “What will we do with the drunken sailor …?”

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

Writing in Crete

Writer and lecturer an experienced instructor conducts the regular sessions on this authors' getaway. He covers everything from plot, characters, setting and tension, to submitting work to agents. A co-host, the bestselling author Kate Mosse, will participate in special sessions at the start and finish of the week. The retreat is based at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – ten private accommodations are set around a garden and pool (non-writing partners are encouraged to share). 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 one week (based on two sharing), August 11th to 18th.

Beginners' Apiculture in Mid Wales

A leading eco-centre near Machynlleth runs a host of courses on sustainability: from wildlife gardening to upcycling. This two-day course will help attendees learn the fundamentals of beekeeping, explore the life cycle of honeybees and learn about their environmental benefits. It is aimed at produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. This course is also a chance to de-stress in the organization's carefully maintained forests, which are habitat for polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and uncommon bird species. Accommodation the evening prior is 80 pounds, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is £97.

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

Yachting for Novices in the Blackwater Estuary

These new summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and keelboats on the Blackwater estuary. They are aimed at novice sailors starting out or those with some knowledge who want a refresher. Sailors can improve their steering, build their seamanship and work towards the recognized certification levels in a supportive atmosphere. There are day-only and residential options, with accommodation in simple dorms in the waterfront sailing school. The day option provides packed lunches, while the residential package covers two nights’ accommodation and all meals, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Introduction to Sea Swimming in Cyprus

The location for this swimming holiday is a {be