Whether you want to pick up a new skill, hit reset on your health or finally write that novel, these opportunities will help to make 2026 your best year yet…
1. Best for an Introduction to Watersports
Sea Kayaking in Scotland
Join Wilderness Scotland on its Introduction to Sea Kayaking course, for an empowering grounding in sea kayaking in a spectacular destination. The sessions are led by expert guides and aim to equip participants with essential kayaking skills – the location in Upper Loch Torridon in the North West Highlands enjoys sheltered stretches of water that are ideal for building confidence and readying students for longer kayak journeys. As part of Wilderness Scotland’s Women in Adventure initiative, some trips are designated women-only departures, to encourage more women to explore and enjoy the great outdoors. The four-night Introduction to Sea Kayaking course costs from £1,195 per person, including accommodation in a cosy private bunkhouse along with breakfasts, lunches and two dinners (wildernessscotland.com).
2. Best for Helping Wildlife
RSPB Volunteer Placement, Kent
Nothing is as good for the soul as getting hands-on to help out – and a volunteer placement is both a great chance to learn and a fulfilling experience in its own right. The RSPB has a selection of volunteer opportunities available year-round, including several residential roles on its reserves that can last for anything from 12 days to a year. The charity’s Dungeness reserve in Kent is a striking setting and successful applicants could end up helping out with anything from welcoming visitors to practical conservation tasks, monitoring and surveying wildlife and more. Accommodation, including bills, on or near the reserve is provided, along with equipment, training and uniform (volunteer.rspb.org.uk).
3. Best for a Sailing Taster
Private Yacht Charter Voyage, South Devon
If you’ve been hankering to spend more time out on the ocean, learning to sail is the best way to make this dream a reality – and a two-night taster adventure on the Emma Claire is an enjoyable, accessible place to start. This private charter sets out from Salcombe and the sheltered south Devon coastline is ideal for getting to grips with sailing basics. Experienced skipper Chris will be on hand to help guests learn sail theory, hone chart- reading skills and pick up sailing know-how – all with a backdrop of this beautiful stretch of our shores. Prices for this two-night, full-board adventure start from £400 per person, with 2026 trips running from May to September (venturesailholidays.com).
4. Best for Gaining Practical Skills
Boat Building Academy, Dorset
From taster days or two-day workshops up to a comprehensive 40-week boat building course, there’s something to suit all timescales and skill levels at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis. The wide range of courses available means that whether you’re seeking a total career change or simply want to learn a new practical skill, this is a perfect place to begin your journey. Courses run throughout the year at the academy’s base next to the beach and teach both heritage and modern craft skills. A five-day Traditional Wooden Boat Building course costs £750; on-site accommodation, on a first-come-first-served basis, costs £40 per night for those on short courses (boatbuildingacademy.com).
5. Best for Language Immersion
Nant Gwrtheyrn Welsh Language Courses, North Wales
Set on the breathtaking Llyˆn Peninsula, Nant Gwrtheyrn doesn’t just offer accommodation. This picturesque haven by the sea is deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of Wales and runs a wide selection of Welsh language courses, including some fantastic residential opportunities for all levels of ability. On a five-day course, you can expect the chance to practise speaking, reading, listening and writing. There’s a particular emphasis on developing the confidence to speak, so students are encouraged to practise Welsh at every opportunity during their stay. Alongside classes come chances to enjoy the wider area, including an organised trip with the group. A five-day entry-level residential course on a full-board basis costs £615 per person (nantgwrtheyrn.org).
6. Best for Nourishing Your Creativity
Painting Courses at Newlyn School of Art, Cornwall
Put those new year resolutions to be more creative into action with one of the options available at the famous Newlyn School of Art in Cornwall. There are more than 20 short courses to choose from, taught by some of the area’s finest artists. Enjoy the dramatic coastline to the full with a Seascapes and Landscapes course – a magical three days spent learning watercolour techniques in some of the county’s most beautiful locations. Materials and local minibus transport are provided and you’ll be guided by artist Paul Lewin, who tailors his tutelage to suit each student’s level of experience. The Seascapes and Landscapes watercolour course costs £525 per person (newlynartschool.co.uk). Stay at the nearby Chapel House in Penzance, with rooms from £200 per night (chapelhousepz.co.uk).
7. Best for Getting that Novel Written
Writing Retreats in Pembrokeshire
It’s difficult to imagine a more perfect setting for working on creative projects than a romantic 18th-century rectory overlooking the Pembrokeshire coast. As such, this secluded haven provides a wonderful base for Holly Rigby’s writing retreats, which offer the chance to immerse yourself in five days of workshops, one-to-one tutorials and creative exercises. You’ll also get to work on writing projects without the usual distractions and interruptions of everyday life. Nourishing meals are provided, as are morning meditations and invigorating cold sea swims, followed by hot tub dips, as well as cosy evenings relaxing by the fire with fellow participants. Retreats cost from £695 for five nights’ full board (hollyrigby.co.uk).
8. Best for Mastering a Traditional Craft
Smithing Courses at Old Pound Smithy, North Devon
For a perfect blend of luxury living and exciting creative experiences, Old Pound Smithy offers various blacksmithing courses alongside an array of glamping options (choose Whittler’s Yurt, complete with hot tub, for the full luxe experience). The Smithy has been set up in the old Pole Barn at the heart of the site; it’s billed as ‘off-grid, back to basics, traditional smithing’ and courses range from taster sessions to learn the essentials, to immersive two-day courses. The 2026 season will also include craft retreats that combine yoga, sound healing, blacksmithing and more. Accommodation starts from £105 per night and courses cost from around £60 per person for a two-hour blacksmithing taster session (oldpoundsmithy.co.uk).
9. Best for an Organic Experience
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an educational and cultural exchange that links visitors with organic farmers around the globe, offering the chance to help out, learn practical skills and share in daily life on the hosts’ farms. There is a wealth of opportunity out there – how about spending time on the UK and Ireland’s first kelp farm, located within a friendly community on Northern Ireland’s beautiful Rathlin Island? It’s a unique chance to learn more about organic agriculture and aquaculture, and to get hands-on with the processes involved in seaweed production, including helping with the kelp harvest. Accommodation and three meals per day are provided by the host, with various placement durations available (wwoof.org.uk).
10. Best for a Feel-Good Reboot
The Big Retreat Festival, Pembrokeshire
From 22-25 May 2026, Lawrenny in south Wales comes alive with festival fun as The Big Retreat kicks off its annual celebration of wellness and adventure. More than 300 experiences are included in the ticket price, with a firm focus on helping guests to reset and refresh. Indulge in everything from sunrise yoga to breathwork, sauna sessions and wild swims, as well as creative workshops, cooking demos, hot tubs and more. Live entertainment, wholesome food and refreshing drinks complete the line-up, and the entire event is designed to enable you to fully relax, recharge and go home feeling tip-top. Four-day tickets cost from £269, with day tickets from £99 (thebigretreatfestival.com).
