A surfer traverses a large wave.

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.

A large house with two bay wings overlooks a shrub-liined lawn.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Nairn is a luxurious holiday cottage with a hot tub in Braunton on the North Devon coast. Boasting impressive grounds and outdoor entertaining areas, the pet-friendly cottage promises a memorable holiday. It also offers indoor and outdoor play areas and has a log fire.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A large countryside Braunton holiday cottage with a large terrace and mature gardens.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Charlesworth is a very impressive detached chalet bungalow perched above the village of Braunton in North Devon. The pet-friendly cottage enjoys estuary views from its lovely garden and boasts a sophisticated design, light-filled spaces, a table tennis table, a garden hammock and a summerhouse.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
2

Sleep among the canopy is The Treehouse, a luxurious rural cottage in Halse, Somerset, which boasts beautiful views, a swimming pool and a hot tub. The wooden-clad cottage includes a fireplace and promises 5-star eco-friendly comfort, access to the countryside, and miles of sandy beaches.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a stone-built Highland holiday cottage with a hot-tub on its deck.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The rural holiday cottage near Muir of Ord in Ross-Shire sits at the foot of the Scottish Highlands and offers whisky Masterclasses. The large and pet-friendly holiday home also boasts beautiful grounds, authentic décor, a hot tub and an open fire, plus accessibility for people with disabilities.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A tall, sdtone-built barn conversion with a spacious courtyard.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Exposed beams and original features abound in Malham, a rural holiday cottage near Settle set within 150 acres of countryside in the Yorkshire Dales. Malham welcomes families and pets to enjoy modern comforts, an on-site restaurant, a games room and a heated swimming pool.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
North Yorkshire barn conversion surrounded by a lawn, trees and mature shrubs
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Hayloft successfully combines old-world charm with vibrant colours in a charming stone-built detached barn conversion in the village of Lastingham. The 18th-century romantic holiday cottage in North Yorkshire boasts a stylish open-plan living area with character and an open fire. The Cottage is nicely situated for walking holidays on the North York Moors.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a 3-storey Victorian seaside town house with bay windows. n
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

This large, family-friendly seaside holiday home in Scarborough sleeps 12 in 5 bedrooms. Mayville House offers spacious, pet-friendly self-catering holidays on the North Yorkshire Coast for large families or groups of friends just a mile from the beach.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A brick-built barn conversion overlooks a block-paved courtyard in Shropshire.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

Traditional charm and modern comforts combine perfectly in Trooper’s Barn, a large rural holiday cottage with a hot tub in Shropshire’s scenic Hope Valley. The cottage welcomes families and pets. It sleeps 11 in five bedrooms, a shared games room, luscious gardens and spacious sitting rooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
An outdoor swimming pool and terrace with a sun-lounger swing are overlooked by a garden and cottage.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

Llys Offa is a spacious, family-friendly rural holiday cottage near Ruabon in North Wale. It offers tranquillity, multiple spaces for relaxation, a games room, a sauna, and an outdoor heated swimming pool, all of which sit beside a running stream and are within easy reach of the attractions of North Wales.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages

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 directly to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.