🔗 Share this article

Uncover a domain of new skills alongside amazing places. From scaling cliffs in the UK to creating mosaics in Türkiye, these journeys deliver the perfect combination of learning and holiday.

Bouldering in the National Park

Even absolute newcomers will soon be climbing protected regional outcrops on this short course. Learners will learn tying in, belaying and several climbing techniques, plus descending. With a maximum of a half-dozen students to each tutor, there is a lot of individual attention and custom goals. The course is suitable for all individuals aged 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with a bit of indoor experience. This is a non-residential option, but there is a list of recommended, affordable lodging in the vicinity, including campsites, hostels, B&Bs and inns. The training centre is a short stroll from the local train station, situated on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: 199 pounds for two days. Weekends from 7 March to November 8th, plus weekday courses most months.

Modern Art in Spain

Moclín, a picturesque white village in southern Spain, approximately a short drive from Granada, is the breathtaking backdrop for this art retreat. Painters of every skill level – even beginners – will discover how to design and produce non-representational pieces. Some time will be spent outside, working on guided exercises en plein air. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be expanded upon in the workspace, with attendees producing a number of abstract landscapes in acrylics to be shown in the local community. Participants has sole use of the hotel, which is built around an central patio and has a roof terrace with views over the countryside. The price encompasses five days of art instruction; all meals; and an trip to the nearby fortress and other local sights.

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

Ottolenghi-Inspired Cooking in Portugal

This sun-drenched foodie getaway, located at a riverside villa in the central Algarve, is inspired by the vegetarian dishes of celebrated cooks. Attendees will learn to produce selection of small dishes, attend a falafel-making workshop, refine brunch dishes such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses such as a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are trips to the local market and a nearby winery to taste Portuguese wines, combined with free time for strolls by the Funcho River, to unwind on the terrace or swim in the infinity pool. The farmhouse, a former farmhouse, has five bedrooms, plus safari tents in the gardens.

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

Street Dance in High Wycombe

This energetic camp is an uplifting, inclusive three-day dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The format each day is a high-energy warm-up session, then three hour-and-a-half workshops covering different street dance styles, then an hour-long jam to demonstrate new moves. Participants are divided into groups based on ability and experience, so it is perfect for those who are completely new to street dance, all the way to experienced performers or teachers. This event doesn’t include accommodation but there are a number of places to stay nearby, and it is 23-35 minutes by train into central London.

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

Sea Shanty Weekend in Cornwall

St Ives is the perfect spot for a sea shanty weekend. Participants will learn historic sailing songs from a experienced musician, and try their hand at composing original ones. The schedule includes voice exercises, breathing exercises, performance tips and a final evening concert. The holiday is held in a rural hotel with views of the bay. Full board are included, such as a traditional tea on arrival, breakfast options, lunches to go and three-course dinners. Grog, alas, is not included. All together now: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

Cost: From £429. Available 31 January-3 February and 31 October-3 November.

Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer Greg Mosse leads the daily workshops on this writing retreat. He covers everything from plot, characters, locations and suspense, to sending manuscripts to agents. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in events at the start and finish of the week. The holiday is based at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the White mountains – ten private accommodations surround a garden and pool (non-writing partners are encouraged to come along). On the last night, budding authors mark the occasion with a concert in the courtyard and a final meal.

Cost: From £893 per person for one week (based on two sharing), 11-18 August.

Beginners' Apiculture in Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of courses covering eco-living: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This weekend course will help participants learn the fundamentals of beekeeping, study the biology of honeybees and discover 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 habitat for wildlife, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and uncommon bird species. Accommodation the night before is 80 pounds, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is £97.

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

Yachting for Beginners in the Blackwater Estuary

These new weekend sailing courses are spent on Wayfarers and keelboats on the estuary in Essex. They are aimed at novice sailors starting out or more experienced mariners who want a refresher. Sailors can hone their helming, build their seamanship and work towards the Royal Yachting Association’s certification levels in a supportive atmosphere. There are day-only and residential packages, with accommodation in basic shared rooms in the waterside training centre. The non-residential package provides lunches, while the overnight option includes two nights' stay and full board, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Introduction to Open-Water Swimming in Cyprus

The setting for this swimming holiday is a {be