🔗 Share this article

Explore a realm of fresh abilities alongside incredible destinations. Starting with rock climbing in Britain to creating mosaics in Turkey, these adventures provide the perfect combination of education and vacation.

Cliff Scaling in the Peaks

Even complete newcomers will rapidly be scaling sheltered Peak District outcrops on this two-day course. Attendees will become proficient in securing the rope, safety techniques and a range of methods of ascent, plus descending. Capped at six learners to a single guide, there is plenty of personalized coaching and tailored objectives. The course is open to all individuals over the age of 13 and over, from first-time climbers to those with a bit of indoor experience. This is a day-only option, but there is a list of recommended, affordable places to stay nearby, such as campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The training centre is 10 minutes’ walk from the local train station, which is on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: £199 for two days. Courses from March 7th to 8 November, plus midweek sessions throughout the year.

Modern Art in Spain

This historic hillside village, a historic hillside village in southern Spain, around 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the breathtaking location for this painting holiday. Participants of every skill level – even novices – will learn how to plan and create modern art. A portion of the time will be spent outdoors, working on structured activities out in nature. These charcoal drawings and paintings will then be worked on in the workspace, with attendees creating a number of interpretive scenes in acrylics to be shown in the local community. The group has sole use of the venue, which is set around an central patio and has a sun terrace with panoramic vistas over the hills. The fee encompasses five days’ art instruction; all meals; and an excursion to the nearby fortress and other points of interest.

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

Plant-Based Culinary in Portugal

This sun-drenched cooking retreat, located at a villa by the river in the inland Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of renowned chefs. Attendees will learn to produce meze spreads, attend a hands-on falafel session, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. The schedule includes trips to the village market and a local vineyard to taste Portuguese wines, plus leisure time for strolls by the nearby river, to unwind on the deck or swim in the infinity pool. The farmhouse, a former farmhouse, has five bedrooms, plus glamping tents in the gardens.

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

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

This energetic camp is an uplifting, inclusive weekend dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The format throughout the camp is a high-energy warm-up session, then several 90-minute classes teaching different urban dance forms, then an hour-long freestyle session to show off new moves. Dancers are divided into groups according to ability and experience, so it is perfect for those who are brand new to popping and locking, all the way to advanced dancers or instructors. This event doesn’t include lodging but there are a number of places to stay within walking distance, and it is 23-35 minutes by train into central London.

Cost: £245 for three days; upcoming session 7-9 April.

Maritime Singing Weekend in St Ives

St Ives is the ideal location for a maritime music retreat. Guests will learn historic sailing songs from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at composing original ones. The schedule includes voice exercises, breathing exercises, performance tips and a closing performance. The holiday is held in a country house with views of the bay. All meals are included, including a traditional tea on the first day, cooked or continental breakfasts, lunches to go and three-course dinners. Traditional rum, alas, is not included. Everyone join in: “How to handle the drunken sailor …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and lecturer Greg Mosse runs the daily workshops on this writing retreat. He explores everything from story structure, character development, setting and tension, to submitting work to publishers. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in special sessions at the start and finish of the retreat. The holiday is based at a traditional complex in Vamos at the base of the White mountains – ten private accommodations 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 one week (based on two sharing), August 11th to 18th.

Beginners' Beekeeping in Mid Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of courses covering eco-living: from creating habitats to upcycling. This two-day course will help attendees learn the basics of apiary management, explore the biology of bees and discover their environmental benefits. It is designed to produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. The weekend is also a opportunity to de-stress in the centre's sustainably managed woodlands, which are habitat for polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and rare birds. Bed and breakfast the evening prior is 80 pounds, and all meals and lodging during the course is £97.

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

Yachting for Beginners in the Blackwater Estuary

These recently launched summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and Dufours on the Blackwater estuary. They are designed for adult beginners starting out or more experienced mariners who want a skills update. Participants can improve their steering, build their nautical skills and aim for the Royal Yachting Association’s certification levels in a fun, welcoming environment. There are non-residential and residential options, with accommodation in basic shared rooms in the waterside sailing school. The day option includes lunches, while the residential package covers two nights' stay and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Getting Started in Sea Swimming in Cyprus

The location for this swimming holiday is a {be