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Explore a world of novel talents alongside amazing locations. Starting with scaling cliffs in the UK to creating mosaics in Turkey, these experiences deliver the perfect combination of education and holiday.

Bouldering in the Peaks

Including total novices will rapidly be climbing protected regional rock faces on this short course. Attendees will learn securing the rope, belaying and a range of methods of ascent, along with rappelling. Capped at a half-dozen students to a single guide, there is a lot of one-on-one guidance and personalised targets. The training is suitable for anyone over the age of 13 and over, from first-time climbers to those with a bit of indoor experience. It is day-only course, but there is a list of suggested, affordable accommodation nearby, including campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The venue is 10 minutes’ walk from the local train station, located on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

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

Modern Art in Spain

Moclín, a ancient hillside village in Andalucía, around 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the breathtaking setting for this art retreat. Artists of every skill level – even novices – will be taught how to conceive and execute non-representational pieces. Part of the schedule will be spent outside, working on guided exercises out in nature. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be expanded upon in the workspace, with participants completing multiple interpretive scenes in acrylics to be exhibited in the village. Participants has sole use of the venue, which is built around an central patio and has a sun terrace with views over the hills. The price covers five days’ painting tuition; full board; and an excursion to the nearby fortress and additional points of interest.

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

Vegetarian Cooking in Portugal

This sun-drenched culinary holiday, based at a riverside villa in the inland Algarve, is inspired by the vegetarian dishes of renowned chefs. Attendees will master the art of meze spreads, attend a hands-on falafel session, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains such as a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are visits to the village market and a nearby winery to sample local vintages, plus leisure time for strolls by the Funcho River, to unwind on the deck or swim in the pool. The villa, a former farmhouse, has multiple rooms, as well as safari tents in the grounds.

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

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an energizing, welcoming weekend adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The format each day is a high-energy warm-up session, then three 90-minute classes teaching various street dance styles, then an 60-minute freestyle session to demonstrate new moves. Dancers are divided into levels according to skill level, so it is perfect for those who are completely new to popping and locking, right up to advanced dancers or instructors. The camp does not provide lodging but there are several hostels and hotels nearby, and it is under an hour by rail into London.

Cost: £245 for three days; next course April 7th to 9th.

Sea Shanty Weekend in Cornwall

This coastal town is the excellent setting for a maritime music retreat. Participants will learn traditional shanties from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at writing their own. The schedule includes vocal warmups, breath control techniques, stagecraft advice and a closing performance. The holiday is held in a rural hotel with views of St Ives Bay. Full board are included, such as a traditional tea on arrival, cooked or continental breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals. Grog, unfortunately, is not provided. Everyone join in: “What will we do with the drunken sailor …?”

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

Creative Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer an experienced instructor conducts the regular sessions on this authors' getaway. He explores topics including story structure, characters, setting and suspense, to sending manuscripts to publishers. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will co-host events at the beginning and end of the retreat. The retreat is held at a village-style hotel in Vamos at the base of the White mountains – ten private accommodations surround a central garden with a pool (non-writing partners are welcome to come along). On the last night, budding authors celebrate with a musical performance in the courtyard and a farewell dinner.

Cost: From £893 per person for seven nights (based on two sharing), August 11th to 18th.

Beginners' Apiculture in Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a host of programs covering eco-living: from creating habitats to upcycling. This two-day course will help attendees learn the basics of beekeeping, explore the life cycle of bees and discover their environmental benefits. It is designed to produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. This course is also a chance to relax in the centre's carefully maintained woodlands, which are home to wildlife, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and rare birds. Accommodation the night before is £80, and all meals and lodging for the weekend is £97.

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

Sailing for Novices in the Blackwater Estuary

These new summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and Dufours on the Blackwater estuary. They are aimed at novice sailors learning the ropes or those with some knowledge who want a skills update. Participants can hone their helming, strengthen their nautical skills and work towards the recognized certification levels in a fun, welcoming environment. There are day-only and overnight options, with accommodation in basic shared rooms in the waterfront sailing school. The non-residential package provides packed lunches, while the overnight option includes two nights' stay and full board, from hearty breakfasts to evening barbecues.

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

Introduction to Sea Swimming in Paphos

The setting for this swimming holiday is a {be