🔗 Share this article

Discover a realm of new skills combined with stunning destinations. From scaling cliffs in the UK to creating mosaics in Turkey, these adventures deliver a superb blend of education and vacation.

Cliff Scaling in the National Park

Including absolute beginners will quickly be ascending sheltered regional crags on this weekend course. Learners will learn tying in, belaying and several methods of ascent, along with rappelling. Capped at six participants to a single guide, there is plenty of individual attention and personalised targets. The course is appropriate for all individuals aged 13 and over, ranging from absolute beginners to those with a bit of indoor experience. This is a day-only course, but there is a list of recommended, reasonably-priced places to stay in the vicinity, including campgrounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and pubs with rooms. The training centre is a brief walk from Bamford railway station, located on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

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

Modern Art in Spain

This historic hillside village, a historic town in southern Spain, about 45 minutes’ drive from Granada, is the inspiring backdrop for this painting holiday. Artists of all abilities – even beginners – will discover how to design and produce modern art. A portion of the time will be spent in the open air, working on tutorials in the open. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be developed in the workspace, with guests completing a number of interpretive scenes in acrylic paint to be exhibited in the village. Participants has sole use of the hotel, which is centered on an central patio and has a roof terrace with panoramic vistas over the hills. The price includes five days’ art instruction; all meals; and an outing to the local castle and other local sights.

Cost: From €1,950 for one week, 19-26 May.

Ottolenghi-Inspired Cooking in the Algarve

This Mediterranean culinary holiday, based at a villa by the river in the inland Portuguese region, is inspired by the vegetarian dishes of celebrated cooks. Guests will learn to produce meze spreads, take part in a hands-on falafel session, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make substantial main courses like a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. There are visits to the local market and a local vineyard to sample Portuguese wines, plus leisure time for walks by the Funcho River, to unwind on the terrace or swim in the infinity pool. The accommodation, a renovated rural property, has multiple rooms, plus glamping tents in the gardens.

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

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

This energetic camp is an energizing, welcoming three-day adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The format each day is a high-energy group warmup, then several hour-and-a-half workshops covering various street dance styles, then an 60-minute jam to show off new moves. Dancers are split into groups based on ability and experience, so it is suitable for those who are completely new to popping and locking, all the way to experienced performers or teachers. The camp does not provide lodging but there are several places to stay within walking distance, and it is 23-35 minutes by train into central London.

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

Maritime Singing Break in Cornwall

This coastal town is the perfect setting for a sea shanty weekend. Participants will be taught historic sailing songs from a experienced musician, and try their hand at writing their own. There will be voice exercises, breath control techniques, performance tips and a final evening concert. The holiday is held in a country house overlooking the bay. All meals are included, such as a Cornish cream tea on the first day, cooked or continental breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals. Grog, alas, is not provided. All together now: “How to handle the drunken sailor …?”

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

Writing in Greece

Writer and tutor Greg Mosse runs the regular sessions on this authors' getaway. He covers topics including plot, character development, locations and tension, to submitting work to agents. Greg’s wife, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in special sessions at the beginning and end of the week. The holiday is based at a village-style hotel in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – ten one- and two-bedroom cottages surround a central garden with a pool (non-writing partners are encouraged to come along). On the last night, aspiring writers celebrate with a musical performance in the courtyard and a farewell dinner.

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

Beginners' Beekeeping in Wales

A leading eco-centre near Machynlleth runs a host of courses on eco-living: from wildlife gardening to making pallet furniture. This weekend introduction will help participants learn the fundamentals of apiary management, 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 relax in the centre's carefully maintained forests, which are home to polecats, otters, dormice, bats and uncommon bird species. Bed and breakfast the evening prior is 80 pounds, and all meals and lodging during the course is 97 pounds.

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

Sailing for Novices in Essex

These recently launched summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and Dufours on the estuary in Essex. They are aimed at adult beginners learning the ropes or those with some knowledge who want a refresher. Participants can hone their steering, build their nautical skills and work towards the recognized levels one to three in a fun, welcoming environment. There are day-only and overnight options, staying in basic shared rooms in the waterfront sailing school. The day option includes packed lunches, while the overnight option covers two nights' stay and all meals, from full English breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Getting Started in Open-Water Swimming in Cyprus

The setting for this swim camp is a {be