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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.

2-storey barn conversion with a patio for dining and large lawn.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Rampisham Hill Farm Barn sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on a working sheep farm near Hooke in Dorset, & the rural cottage promises beautiful views, spacious outdoor areas, an open fire, fresh farm eggs, contemporary comfort, open-plan design, serenity & access to the Jurassic Coast.

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A partially thatched Dorset cottage overlooks a large and secure lawned garden
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the hamlet of Benville, Dorset, just as Thomas Hardy described it a century ago, with a stay at Benville Cottage, a historic child-friendly cottage with three bedrooms, a large garden with three terraced lawn areas, an Inglenook fireplace, and 17th-century stone wall carving.

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A 2-storey Cornish Barn conversion overlooks well-kept lawns and gardens.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Tregadjack Barn is a small and private, secluded cottage with two beautiful gardens near the town of Helston, Cornwall, offering beautiful long views along the rolling tree-covered countryside to the sea at Mounts Bay; the two-bedroom, pet-friendly oasis welcomes guests with a homemade fish pie!

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A 2-storey, Cotswold honeystone cottage backed by tall trees.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

Oat House is steeped in tradition. The honey-coloured, stone-built rural holiday cottage in The Cotswolds boasts many original features and lies in the quaint village of Snowshill in Gloucestershire. Replete with exposed beams and a stone fireplace, the cottage offers a lovely garden within the Cotswold National Park.

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A n ewly thatched Devon cottage overlooking a spacious lawn.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

The Manger is an authentic rural cottage holiday cottage near Axminster, nestled among woodland and fields in East Devon. The lovely pet-friendly cottage of stone and thatch possesses a generous garden with a pond and orchard, a table tennis table, an interior with lime-washed walls, exposed beams, and gentle rustic charm.

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Exterior of a cross-timbered cottage overlooking a large shingle parking area.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Bearwood House is a delightful half-timbered rural holiday cottage in Pembridge. The pet-friendly cottage in Herefordshire sits on ample grounds that invite relaxation. The cottage boasts character, an open fire, access to a tennis court, a games room, a hot tub, garden games, and peaceful seclusion.

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A semi-detached, stone-built village cottage surrounded by a privet-hedged garden.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Rose Cottage is a delightful Grade II-listed detached cottage in the charming village of Powerstock in Dorset. The stone-built rural cottage boasts mature gardens with sitting-out areas, an interior with exposed beams, tiled floors, an inglenook fireplace, a wood burner and modern comforts.

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A semi-detached Cotswold honeystone cottage with wisteria-clad walls
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Stripped pine doors and flagstone floors add character to Corner Cottage, a traditional Cotswold stone holiday cottage in Lower Oddington, a quaint Gloucestershire village. The rural cottage exudes charm and boasts modern sophistication, a woodburner in an inglenook fireplace, and a lovely garden.

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A lighthouse complex in a clifftop location with the sea in the background.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Perched on the clifftop at Start Bay, Beacon Cottage boasts unparalleled ocean views and a wonderful sitting-out area. The coastal cottage adjoins the lighthouse near Kingsbridge in Devon and offers a unique holiday escape with contemporary elegance, modern comforts and access to sandy beaches.

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