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 flower-filled, paved formal garden courtyard surrounded by large and small barn conversions
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
4

Set on the grounds of a decades-old family farm amidst botanical gardens and medieval architecture, The Cobnut near the village of South Newington, Oxfordshire, is a child-friendly Cotswolds holiday cottage featuring a brick fireplace, exposed beams, and two comfy upstairs bedrooms.

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A chalet bungalow and twin garage overlook a sloping front lawn and tarmac driveway
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Perched atop a hill in Mawgan Porth, Pepperpots enjoys ocean views. The sophisticated holiday cottage in North Cornwall welcomes pets and offers contemporary comforts close to sandy surfing beaches along the Cornish coastline. Beautiful gardens capture the views and provide space for sunbathing on hot summer days.

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Twin photos of a stone cottage exterior and a swirling hot tub.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The Stables in the quaint Cotswold village of Little Tew, Oxfordshire, offers modern comforts amidst a peaceful setting for the ideal holiday home with a hot tub for couples and small families. It is a pet-friendly barn conversion with an enclosed garden, hot tub, breakfast bar, wood burner, and two bedrooms with TVs.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Nestled in the picturesque countryside outside Caernarfon and nearby Snowdonia, Bluebell Cottage is a lovingly restored, two-bedroom barn conversion with the boundless hills of Welsh mountain countryside and coast on your doorstep - perfect for a relaxing family break in North Wales.

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Exterior of a long, stone built Derbyshire holiday cottage overlooking a garden with mature tree.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

Abbey Cottage is a spacious Grade II listed 13th-century cottage whose grounds host the rustic ruins of Denbigh Friary. Set in Denbigh in North Wales, the pet-friendly cottage offers access to Snowdonia, an acre of grounds, an open fire and a successful blend of modern style and tradition.

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Front exterior of a modern house with stone steps to the 1st floor overlooking a lawn
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Wootton Gray enjoys enviable ocean views from many vantage points and sits just moments from the beaches and attractions in West Cornwall. The sophisticated Mousehole holiday home offers light and airy spaces, a furnished lawned garden, contemporary design features and a wood-burning stove.

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A wisteria clad, semi-detached Cotswold country cottage overlooks a shingled courtyard
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Surrounded by fields and woodland in Chalford, Gloucestershire, October Cottage promises tranquillity. The charming stone-built rural cottage in the Cotswold Hills possesses beautiful gardens and fresh air, a wood-burning stove, flagstone floors, contemporary comforts, space for pets and a blend of old and new.

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Exterior of a single-storey, stone barn conversion with a contemporary wood and glass extension.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Based on the Isle of Anglesey, Bwthyn Gwyn is a meticulously restored stone-built barn conversion, reappointed as a vibrant and welcoming holiday home in the countryside. The two-bedroom property is perfect for small families and combines contemporary comforts with rustic style for a relaxing breakaway.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
1

Holly Bush is a charming romantic cottage on a working farm in the hamlet of Luntley near Leominster in Herefordshire. Replete with exposed beams, trusses and original features, the rural cottage boasts undeniable charm, contemporary comforts, generous outdoor spaces and blissful tranquillity.

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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.