A surfer traverses a large wave. Find holiday cottages for active holidays in the open air.

Book Self-Catering Holiday Cottages For Active Holidays

Scroll down to find a choice of self-catering cottages suitable for those seeking an active holiday involving sporting or outdoor pursuits. Whether walking in England, climbing mountains in Scotland, riding rapids or zip wires in Wales, the holiday cottages listed here will be near an attractive choice of activities to enjoy in the great outdoors. Many activity cottages will offer on-site facilities such as fishing, swimming pools and tennis courts or will be surrounded by long, bracing walks in the country or along the miles of scenic coastal footpaths. 

Click on the preview description of any cottage to view its main page.

Tiny Islands on the calm Moray Firth are silhouetted against a golden sunset.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

The Old Customs House in Banff is a beautiful seafront holiday cottage that boasts a hot tub adjoining the Banff Marina. With its four spacious bedrooms, this luxurious cottage on the Moray Firth provides an unforgettable holiday experience for families and groups of friends.

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A large rectory and coach house overlooks a lawn with a table laid for lunch.
Sleeps
20
Bedrooms
10

The Old Rectory and Coach House are large luxury rural properties in the North Norfolk countryside, sitting in lush, mature gardens near Dereham. The 16th-century, pet-friendly cottages possess authentic country charm, seclusion and modern comforts, a tennis court, open fires and a games room.

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Sleeps
9
Bedrooms
4

Holly Bank is a large detached East Yorkshire holiday home in Bevrley with a spacious garden and off-road parking. This well-equipped and pet-friendly property sleeps nine guests in four bedrooms.

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A white-rendered cottage with a small porch overlooks a village street.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This lovely, pet-friendly holiday home in Cark-in-Cartmel sleeps four people in two bedrooms. It lies within easy reach of the Lake District and beaches on the Cumbrian Coast.

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A double-fronted house is set back from  the road behind a garden hedge.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

4 Old Mill Court is a delightful mews cottage in the heart of Brixham on the Devon coast. The pet-friendly coastal cottage sleeps four and offers proximity to beautiful beaches, a cute furnished courtyard for drinks, and a spacious interior with coastal chic, natural light and open-plan design.

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A large chalet bungalow with a conservatory overlooks a very large garden.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
4

Redway Lodge is a large and sophisticated Exmoor coastal cottage just moments from beaches in Porlock Weir. The modern cottage boasts beautiful views across the Porlock vale to the sea and offers spacious and elegant rooms and bedrooms with en-suite. Stroll to the beach and explore the independent shops and galleries in the centre of Porlock.

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Atwin-gabled contemporary house with a large drive and secure fenced garden.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

The Retreat near the village of Lympsham, Somerset, sits on the edge of the Mendip Hills, a peaceful countryside cottage on a rural 300-year-old property featuring an open plan kitchen and dining area with quartz worktops and integrated appliances, four cosy bedrooms, and a wood-burning stove.

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A spacious,brick-built 3-storey holiday cottage in the Lincolnshire countryside near Kings Lynn. A large drive and lawned gardens surround the house.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Keepers Cottage in the civil parish of Middleton, Norfolk, is a traditional Victorian cottage set on an arable farm, a light and airy property lovingly converted into a dog-friendly holiday home featuring three king-size bedrooms (two with en-suites), spacious sitting room, and a stone courtyard.

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A 'honey-stone' thatched Cotswold holiday cottage in Oxfordshire.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

Suncroft is a quaint Grade II pet-friendly Cotswold cottage in Warwickshire near the village of Shotteswell. It features cosy interiors in muted tones, traditional furnishings, an inglenook fireplace & a country-style kitchen. This large 17th-century rural holiday home near Shottiswell sleeps up to eight guests.

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Activity holidays don't need to involve knuckle experiences. For families with young children or those preferring a 'healthy holiday' without the risk of injury, consider hiring bicycles to explore a Sustrans Cycle route or a cycle path such as the Tarka Trail in North Devon or The Bonsal Trail in Derbyshire. To ensure that a holiday cottage has precisely what you are looking for, e.g. an outdoor shower for washing the salt of wetsuits and surfboards, use the Visit Website button to go to a cottage's website for further information. Alternatively, e-mail or phone the owners direct to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.