🔗 Share this article

Discover a world of new skills paired with stunning places. Starting with rock climbing in Britain to creating mosaics in Turkey, these experiences provide the perfect mix of education and vacation.

Cliff Scaling in the National Park

Including complete beginners will quickly be climbing sheltered regional rock faces on this weekend session. Attendees will become proficient in tying in, safety techniques and a range of climbing techniques, plus descending. With a maximum of six participants to a single guide, there is a lot of individual attention and tailored objectives. The course is appropriate for all individuals over the age of 13 and over, ranging from first-time climbers to those with some gym climbing background. It is day-only course, but there is a range of suggested, reasonably-priced places to stay nearby, featuring campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The base is 10 minutes’ walk from the local train station, situated on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

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

Non-Representational Art in Andalucía

Moclín, a historic white village in Andalucía, around a short drive from Granada, is the breathtaking backdrop for this art retreat. Artists of every skill level – even novices – will discover how to plan and create non-representational pieces. Part of the schedule will be spent outside, working on structured activities en plein air. These initial charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be developed in the studio, with participants completing several interpretive scenes in acrylic paint to be shown in the village. The group has sole use of the hotel, which is centered on an open courtyard and has a rooftop with views over the hills. The fee includes five days’ art instruction; full board; and an outing to the nearby fortress and other points of interest.

Cost: From 1,950 euros for one week, May 19th to 26th.

Ottolenghi-Inspired Cooking in the Algarve

This Mediterranean culinary holiday, located at a riverside villa in the inland Algarve, is inspired by the plant-based cuisine of renowned chefs. Attendees will master the art of meze spreads, 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 visits to the village market and a nearby winery to taste local vintages, along with leisure time for walks by the Funcho River, to unwind on the deck or swim in the infinity pool. The villa, a renovated rural property, has five bedrooms, plus safari tents in the grounds.

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

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an uplifting, inclusive three-day adults’ street dance camp in High Wycombe. The daily schedule throughout the camp is a high-energy warm-up session, then three 90-minute workshops teaching different urban dance forms, then an 60-minute freestyle session to demonstrate new moves. Participants are split into levels based on skill level, so it is suitable for those who are brand new to popping and locking, right up to advanced dancers or instructors. The camp doesn’t include accommodation but there are a number of hostels and hotels nearby, and it is under an hour by rail into central London.

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

Maritime Singing Weekend in St Ives

This coastal town is the perfect location for a sea shanty weekend. Participants will be taught historic sailing songs from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at writing their own. There will be vocal warmups, breathing exercises, performance tips and a final evening concert. The retreat 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 evening meals. Grog, unfortunately, is not included. Everyone join in: “How to handle the drunken sailor …?”

Cost: Starting at 429 pounds. Dates 31 January-3 February and 31 October-3 November.

Writing in Greece

Writer and tutor Greg Mosse runs the daily workshops on this writing retreat. He covers topics including plot, character development, setting and suspense, to sending manuscripts to publishers. A co-host, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in special sessions at the beginning and end of the week. The retreat is based at a traditional complex in Vamos at the base of the Lefka Ori – 10 private accommodations are set around a central garden with a pool (non-writing partners are welcome to share). On the final evening, aspiring writers celebrate with a concert in the garden and a final meal.

Cost: From 893 pounds per person for one week (for double occupancy), 11-18 August.

Introduction to Apiculture in Mid Wales

The Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth runs a host of programs on eco-living: from creating habitats to making pallet furniture. This two-day introduction will help attendees get to grips with the basics of beekeeping, study the biology of bees and discover their environmental benefits. It is designed to produce “ecologically mindful beekeepers”. The weekend is also a chance to de-stress in the centre's sustainably managed woodlands, which are home to wildlife, otters, dormice, lesser horseshoe bats and uncommon bird species. Accommodation the evening prior is 80 pounds, and all meals and lodging for the weekend is £97.

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

Sailing for Novices in the Blackwater Estuary

These new summer sailing weekends are spent on Wayfarers and keelboats on the estuary in Essex. They are designed for novice sailors starting out or more experienced mariners who want a skills update. Sailors can hone their steering, strengthen their seamanship and work towards the Royal Yachting Association’s levels one to three in a supportive atmosphere. There are day-only and overnight options, with accommodation in simple dorms in the waterfront training centre. The non-residential package provides lunches, while the overnight option includes two nights' stay and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

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

Getting Started in Open-Water Swimming in Paphos

The setting for this swim camp is a {be