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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Something to occupy the mind!

11 replies

andwhy · 11/02/2025 09:04

Hi, I'm after some ideas / inspiration. A friend and I have agreed to go away for 2/3 nights. She's recently divorced, although been separated a while, but her last daughter is currently doing a ski season before starting university. She's a lovely friend but due to current circumstances when we meet up we can tend to get a bit immersed in her loneliness. So I'm thinking maybe we should go away and 'do' something. Maybe like a cookery course, or woodworking or something.... but I seem to have spent hours trawling the internet and come up with absolutely nothing! So has anyone done anything like this or know of anything they can recommend? Thank you

OP posts:
heldinadream · 11/02/2025 09:15

Go do a weekend workshop (or longer!) at St Ives School of Painting. Doesn't have to be painting they do drawing and printing and all sorts. St Ives is fabulous and the courses are mostly suitable for beginners and they provide all the materials. You need to book your own accommodation but they recommend a couple of places. And of course there are loads of self-catering holiday flats, we had one almost right on the beach. Gorgeous.
I did a drawing course a couple of years ago and it was brilliant. There were people who'd never done any art before who had a great time and people who were serious artists who got something out of it and plenty in between.
And while you're in St Ives go to Tate St Ives and to the Barbara Hepworth garden. One of the best holidays I've ever had (I am an artist mind you but I can't imagine, if you have any liking of art and creativity at all, not having a wonderful and full time doing all this).
Edited to add the link!
https://www.schoolofpainting.co.uk/

LaundryPond · 11/02/2025 09:18

heldinadream · 11/02/2025 09:15

Go do a weekend workshop (or longer!) at St Ives School of Painting. Doesn't have to be painting they do drawing and printing and all sorts. St Ives is fabulous and the courses are mostly suitable for beginners and they provide all the materials. You need to book your own accommodation but they recommend a couple of places. And of course there are loads of self-catering holiday flats, we had one almost right on the beach. Gorgeous.
I did a drawing course a couple of years ago and it was brilliant. There were people who'd never done any art before who had a great time and people who were serious artists who got something out of it and plenty in between.
And while you're in St Ives go to Tate St Ives and to the Barbara Hepworth garden. One of the best holidays I've ever had (I am an artist mind you but I can't imagine, if you have any liking of art and creativity at all, not having a wonderful and full time doing all this).
Edited to add the link!
https://www.schoolofpainting.co.uk/

Edited

And the Leach pottery, and walk the coastal path to Zennor!

Thats a lovely suggestion. We used to go to St Ives every summer when DS was little.

Original poster
andwhy · 11/02/2025 09:38

Thank you, I'm going to have a look. Neither of us are artists, but we are willing to have a go at anything!

OP posts:
Bjorkdidit · 11/02/2025 09:44

I was also going to suggest an art trip. I'm also not an artist, but I went to a morning workshop to make something for a hobby group and I liked the mindfulness about it where you tend to just concentrate on painting and forget about everything else going on in you're life while you're doing it.

There seems to be a lot in Norfolk too (I just googled residential art course and Norfolk came up in the autofill).

Chewbecca · 11/02/2025 09:49

Are you exercisers? I have been looking at a retreat in Portugal, seems to be about 30 women for the weekend with walks, classes, healthy food, all looks fabulous. I don't think I am fit / mobile enough though and would be embarrassed but I know that's silly. Prices seem a bit hidden annoyingly but I saw them once I think it was about £300 plus flights.

The other one I really covet is a cooking weekend in an Italian villa but they all seem to be a lot of ££, over £1000 ph. Going to a market, then cooking what you bought.

I know mum friends who have gone on a Mark Warner to Greece, family friendly but actually worked for mum friends too and not too ££.

Original poster
andwhy · 11/02/2025 10:07

The art seems all booked up unfortunately but I have dropped them an email.

OP posts:
Original poster
andwhy · 11/02/2025 10:08

The cooking we'd absolutely love to do, but yes £1000 each is too much. But do you know a company or website that I can look at - please

OP posts:
Original poster
andwhy · 11/02/2025 10:09

And, what's the place in Portugal? Thank you! (I think Greece is probably to far for 2/3 nights)

OP posts:
heldinadream · 11/02/2025 10:35

@andwhy there's another very well renowned art school in Cornwall that you might look at, I've not been to this one but it's reputation is very good.
https://www.newlynartschool.co.uk/

Newlyn School of Art

Newlyn School of Art is a not-for-profit educational organisation based in West Cornwall offering short art courses and mentoring by way of professional development for artists.

https://www.newlynartschool.co.uk

Original poster
andwhy · 11/02/2025 13:06

Thank you

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