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Discover a world of new skills alongside amazing places. Starting with scaling cliffs in Britain to creating mosaics in Turkey, these experiences provide an ideal combination of education and holiday.

Bouldering in the Peaks

Including absolute newcomers will soon be ascending protected Peak District outcrops on this weekend course. Learners will become proficient in securing the rope, safety techniques and several climbing techniques, plus abseiling down. With a maximum of a half-dozen students to a single guide, there is plenty of personalized coaching and personalised targets. The training is open to anyone aged 13 and over, from first-time climbers to those with some gym climbing background. It is non-residential option, but there is a range of recommended, affordable accommodation nearby, including campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and pubs with rooms. The base is a short stroll from Bamford railway station, which is on the rail route from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: 199 pounds for the weekend. Courses from March 7th to 8 November, along with midweek sessions most months.

Abstract Painting in Spain

Moclín, a picturesque hillside village in southern Spain, about 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the breathtaking backdrop for this painting holiday. Artists of every skill level – even beginners – will be taught how to conceive and execute non-representational pieces. A portion of the time will be spent outside, working on tutorials en plein air. These charcoal drawings and paintings will then be developed in the studio, with participants creating several interpretive scenes in acrylics to be exhibited in the village. The group has sole use of the hotel, which is set around an open courtyard and has a roof terrace with panoramic vistas over the countryside. The cost includes five days’ painting tuition; full board; and an trip to the local castle and additional points of interest.

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

Vegetarian Culinary in the Algarve

This sun-drenched foodie getaway, based at a riverside villa in the inland Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of celebrated cooks. Participants will learn to produce meze spreads, attend a falafel-making workshop, perfect brunch dishes such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. The schedule includes trips to the village market and a nearby winery to taste Portuguese wines, plus free time for walks by the nearby river, to relax on the terrace or swim 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 five days. Dates from March 20th, 8 May, 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 group warmup, followed by several 90-minute classes covering various urban dance forms, then an hour-long freestyle session to demonstrate those solos. Participants are divided into groups according to skill level, so it is suitable for those who are brand new to street dance, all the way to experienced performers or teachers. The camp doesn’t include lodging but there are a number of hostels and hotels within walking distance, and it is under an hour by train into central London.

Cost: 245 pounds for the weekend; upcoming session April 7th to 9th.

Sea Shanty Break in Cornwall

St Ives is the ideal spot for a maritime music retreat. Participants will learn traditional shanties from a folk singer and vocal coach, and try their hand at writing their own. The schedule includes vocal warmups, breathing exercises, stagecraft advice and a closing performance. The holiday is based at a rural hotel with views of St Ives Bay. Full board are included, such as a traditional tea on arrival, breakfast options, packed lunches and three-course dinners. Grog, unfortunately, is not provided. Everyone join in: “What will we do with the tipsy mariner …?”

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

Creative Writing in Greece

Author and lecturer an experienced instructor conducts the daily workshops on this authors' getaway. He covers topics including plot, character development, setting and tension, to sending manuscripts to agents. A co-host, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will co-host events at the beginning and end of the week. The holiday is held at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – ten one- and two-bedroom cottages surround 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 final meal.

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

Introduction to Beekeeping in Mid Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a wide range of programs on sustainability: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This weekend introduction will help attendees understand the fundamentals of apiary management, study the life cycle of bees and learn about their environmental benefits. It is aimed at produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. The weekend is also a chance to relax in the organization's sustainably managed woodlands, which are home to polecats, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and rare birds. Bed and breakfast the night before is £80, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is £97.

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

Yachting for Beginners in Essex

These new weekend sailing courses are spent on Wayfarers and keelboats on the Blackwater estuary. They are designed for adult beginners starting out or more experienced mariners who want a refresher. Sailors can improve their steering, strengthen their seamanship and work towards the Royal Yachting Association’s levels one to three in a supportive atmosphere. There are non-residential and residential options, with accommodation in simple dorms in the waterside training centre. The non-residential package provides lunches, while the residential package includes two nights’ accommodation and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to evening barbecues.

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

Introduction to Open-Water Swimming in Paphos

The setting for this swimming holiday is a {be