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Explore a realm of new skills combined with stunning locations. From rock climbing in the UK to mosaic-making in Turkey, these particular experiences offer the perfect combination of education and vacation.

Bouldering in the Peaks

Including total newcomers will quickly be climbing protected Peak District outcrops on this two-day session. Attendees will learn securing the rope, safety techniques and multiple methods of ascent, as well as descending. Capped at six participants to each tutor, there is plenty of personalized coaching and tailored objectives. This program is open to all individuals over the age of 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with a bit of indoor experience. This is a non-residential course, but you can find a range of suggested, reasonably-priced accommodation close by, including campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and pubs with rooms. The training centre is 10 minutes’ walk from the local train station, located on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: £199 for the weekend. Weekends from March 7th to 8 November, along with weekday courses throughout the year.

Modern Art in Spain

Moclín, a ancient white village in Andalucía, approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the breathtaking backdrop for this painting holiday. Participants of all abilities – even beginners – will discover how to plan and create abstract artworks. Some time will be spent outdoors, working on tutorials en plein air. These sketches and watercolour studies will then be worked on in the studio, with participants completing multiple interpretive scenes in acrylic paint to be displayed in the local community. Participants has exclusive access of the venue, which is built around an central patio and has a rooftop with panoramic vistas over the hills. The fee covers five days’ painting tuition; full board; and an outing to the local castle and additional local sights.

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

Vegetarian Cooking in Portugal

This sun-drenched cooking retreat, based at a villa by the river in the inland Portuguese region, is inspired by the vegetarian dishes of celebrated cooks. Guests will master the art of selection of small dishes, attend a falafel-making workshop, perfect mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are visits to the village market and a nearby winery to taste local vintages, combined with leisure time for strolls by the nearby river, to relax on the deck or swim in the pool. The villa, a renovated rural property, has five bedrooms, plus glamping tents in the gardens.

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

Street Dance in High Wycombe

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an energizing, inclusive three-day dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The format each day is a party-style warm-up session, then three 90-minute classes teaching different urban dance forms, then an 60-minute jam to show off those solos. Dancers are split into groups according to ability and experience, so it is perfect for those who are brand new to street dance, right up to advanced dancers or teachers. This event doesn’t include lodging but there are several places to stay within walking distance, and it is 23-35 minutes by rail into central London.

Cost: 245 pounds for three days; upcoming session April 7th to 9th.

Maritime Singing Break in Cornwall

This coastal town is the excellent setting for a maritime music retreat. Guests will learn traditional shanties from a experienced musician, and have a go at composing original ones. There will be vocal warmups, breath control techniques, stagecraft advice and a final evening concert. The retreat is held in a rural hotel with views of St Ives Bay. Full board are provided, including a Cornish cream tea on the first day, breakfast options, packed lunches and evening meals. Traditional rum, alas, is not provided. Everyone join in: “How to handle the drunken sailor …?”

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

Creative Writing in Crete

Writer and tutor Greg Mosse leads the regular sessions on this authors' getaway. He explores topics including plot, character development, setting and suspense, to sending manuscripts to publishers. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in events at the start and finish of the retreat. The retreat is based at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – 10 one- and two-bedroom cottages are set around a central garden with a pool (companions are welcome to share). On the last night, aspiring writers celebrate with a concert in the garden and a farewell dinner.

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

Introduction to Beekeeping in Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of courses covering sustainability: from creating habitats to making pallet furniture. This weekend course will help attendees understand the fundamentals of apiary management, explore the biology of honeybees and learn about their environmental benefits. It is aimed at produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. The weekend is also a opportunity to de-stress in the centre's carefully maintained woodlands, which are home to polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and rare birds. Accommodation the evening prior is £80, and all meals and lodging during the course is £97.

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

Sailing for Novices in Essex

These new summer sailing weekends are spent on Wayfarers and Dufours on the estuary in Essex. They are designed for adult beginners starting out or those with some knowledge who want a refresher. Participants can improve their helming, strengthen their nautical skills and aim for the Royal Yachting Association’s certification levels in a supportive atmosphere. There are non-residential and residential options, staying in simple dorms in the waterside training centre. The non-residential package provides packed lunches, while the residential package includes two nights' stay and all meals, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Introduction to Sea Swimming in Paphos

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