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.

Interior of a spacious pine-floored lounge with pine beams, rugs and large sofas.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This rural holiday cottage in Derbyshire is a beautiful, semi-detached barn conversion on a working sheep farm in a peaceful location that sleeps up to four people.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior and front garden of a 2-storey stone-built Northumberland holidy cottage.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Townfoot Cottage offers families and pets a marriage of old-world charm and modern luxury in a Grade II-listed Northumberland holiday cottage in a quiet village near Otterburn. Originally a cow byre, this renovated rural cottage retains its open fire and other original wooden and stone features.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Behind a table set for cocktails on a balcony is a view of Brixham Harbour.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Blue Horizon is a luxurious coastal cottage boasting superb views of Brixham Harbour, Devon. The sophisticated former fisherman’s cottage sleeps four and blends chic with tradition. It features exposed beams, stone walls & antique furnishing, and a furnished balcony for basking in the sunshine.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of an L-shaped apartment building with iron-railings protecting walkwabys and spaced for parking beneath.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

3 Dolphin Court epitomises coastal convenience. The seaside apartment lies just minutes from the harbour and Brixham's attractions. Its location allows families to explore South Devon with ease. This Brixham holiday cottage's sophisticated, light-filled interior carries a nautical aesthetic and catches the sea breeze and the sun.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
An exterior of s Victorian holiday villa in Torquay with ample car parking space in front.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Holcombe House is a large and luxuriously presented Torbay holiday cottage in Torquay. This detached period property can sleep twelve people in six bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A semi-detached with a large 1st floor balcony overooks a front garden with off-road parking.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

7 The Retreat is a sophisticated coastal cottage in Torbay, just a short walk from the beach in Paignton. Sleeping six, the pet-friendly Devon cottage is beautifully furnished. It boasts a lovely enclosed garden with a summer house, plus a light-filled interior with wooden floors, pastels & Juliet balconies.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
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.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Single-storey brick-built barn conversion forming a holiday cottage with a long deck and lawned garden with a light sprinkling of winter snow. overlooking a
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Set in the small rural village of Milton, you’ll find The Byre, a farm cottage in Cumbria perfect for families looking to escape the rigours of their daily lives. This countryside cottage between three North West national parks offers the ideal holiday getaway on a working livestock farm.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Small Cottages
A sprawling Dartmoor Manor house ovrlooks a sweeping, tree-lined lawn.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
8

This extraordinary manor house is nestled in the idyllic countryside, a mere mile from the village of Bridestowe, situated on the periphery of the Dartmoor National Park. A living testament to history, dating back to the 13th century, it stands as a truly exceptional Grade II* listed haven, ideally suited for families and large groups of friends seeking resplendent gathering spaces.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays

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.