A beautifully decorated bothy amid ancient pinewoods in the Caledonian Forest is the setting for a relaxing creative break

Whether it’s gypsy jazz, the blues, folk or flamenco, these retreats cater for musicians of all levels looking to up their game – and have fun

Embrace your inner Scandi, wrap up and make the most of the winter months

Experiences led by knowledgable locals are often the ones that stick in both young and old minds. The authors of a new guide to slow travel family breaks pick their favourites

‘Creativity is a precious thing’ – our writers discover the fun in going back to the classroom to learn new skills including bushcraft and map-reading

The convergence of sea and river habitats offers rich pickings, even with a motorway overhead. Our writer joins an expert forager

Whether your friends and family want to sharpen their climbing skills or hone their prose style, these short courses make ideal gifts

A course in Dartington educates the tastebuds, and with grape treading and blindfold tests on offer, is also fun and messily therapeutic

From pottery throwing to furniture upcycling, these arty breaks are all about learning new skills – or improving old ones – in lovely surroundings

Can a virtual four-day art class come anywhere close to visiting the famous archipelago? Maybe not, but for our writer it turns out to offer something far more valuable

You don’t have to be good at art to enjoy the mood-enhancing benefits of nature sketching, as our writer finds out on an artist-guided session in London’s Epping Forest

With most pools still closed, wild swimming is booming this summer, but what about those too nervous to dive in? Expert guidance on a peaceful Surrey river does the trick for our writer