Good escapes
Bring home a different kind of souvenir by learning something on a creative break. From painting in Scotland to basket weaving in Lincolnshire and salsa dancing in Cuba, deputy editor Emma Justice finds the best places to try your hand at a new activity
Paint a picture
Whether you want to try watercolour painting en plein air, sketch a still life or dabble in oils, there’s a growing demand for art breaks to suit all abilities – from beginners who have never painted before to budding Picassos who want to improve their brush strokes.
According to Responsible Travel (responsibletravel.com), bookings for painting getaways have more than quadrupled over the past three years. ‘Post-pandemic, more of us than ever are seeking a better balance in life, and that’s being reflected in our travel habits,’ says company founder Justin Francis. ‘Holidays are now seen as a chance to invest in yourself and learning breaks are a great way to do that.’
Responsible Travel’s painting holidays in Andalucía start from £950pp, excluding flights, and include expert tuition in a small group, seven nights’ hotel accommodation, food and drink. You can also learn to sketch in Morocco, from £980pp for eight days, or try botanical illustrations in Greece, from £962pp for seven days.
Closer to home, Good Housekeeping Holidays offers a five-night watercolour painting retreat in the Scottish Trossachs from £879pp (goodhousekeeping.com/ uk/watercolour). Based at 18th-century Gartmore House, which offers a range of arts and crafts courses, it includes expert tutorials from professional artist Steve Bretel and the chance to paint the beautiful landscape of Loch Lomond.
The Cornish town of St Ives has long been renowned as an artists’ mecca and is home to Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Local artists Zoe Eaton and Peter Giles run Barnoon Workshop St Ives (barnoonworkshop.co.uk) just above the Tate where you can take outdoor watercolour and drawing classes (from £10pp). Stay nearby at St Ives Harbour Hotel & Spa (harbourhotels.co.uk/st-ives, B&B from £198 a night in October) above the award-winning Porthminster Beach and a two-minute walk from the train station if you want a greener way to get there.
Closer to nature
Holidays that provide a better understanding of the natural world are becoming increasingly popular, and there are plenty of breaks offering everything from beekeeping to salmon fishing.
The 21-bedroom Glenapp Castle (glenappcastle.com), a Relais & Chateaux hotel on the Ayrshire coast, offers 65 different activities, from stargazing to foraging, fishing to falconry. The beekeeping course (from £290pp a night, April to August 2023) includes a chance to don a
