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 rural holiday cottage with a terracotta roof sits behind a lawn with a shingled footpath.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Avonside Cottage is a unique riverside holiday cottage set beside the Avon River in the historic village of Pill in Somerset. The property sleeps four and boasts a sunny patio with river views, a lawned space, an interior with vaulted ceilings and wooden panelling, and open-plan design and true style.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

For a quirky getaway to the popular North York Moors, The Old Blacksmith’s Workshop offers a truly unique experience. Sitting on the edge of the historic fishing port of Whitby, this single-storey property has been tastefully converted into a charming two-bedroom coastal cottage.

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A modern cottage with floor-to-ceiling windows and a Juliet balcony.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Explore the picturesque Isle of Wight and The Solent from the perfect holiday home base of Sail Loft, a family-sized seaside 2-bedroom apartment just west of the historic harbour town of Yarmouth.

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A contemporary 2-storey Ludlow holiday cottage with a courtyard and lawn.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

Glebe Barn is an impressive 19th-century detached barn conversion in the delightful village of Caynham in Shropshire. The attractive rural cottage blends modernity with exposed oak beams, trusses and doors, rewarding guests with an open fire, a lovely sun-trap garden, tranquillity & pleasant views.

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Exterior of a 5-storey brick built block of seaside holiday apartments in North Devon.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

37 Ocean Park boasts impressive, far-reaching coastal views over Westward Ho! The sophisticated holiday apartment in North Devon sleeps four and offers light-filled spaces with an open-plan design, large windows, a sunny balcony and clean sea breezes.

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Double-fronted exterior of a stone-built holiday cottage in Buxton
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Exchange Cottage lies outside of Winster, amid the beauty of the Peak District and Derbyshire Dales. The family-friendly holiday cottage is also within easy reach of Bakewell, Matlock, Ashbourne, and Alton Towers.

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A single storey stone cottage sits behind a low stone wall.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Rowan Cottage is a superb and large rural holiday cottage near Newby Bridge, sleeping eight on the Bigland Hall Estate in the Lake District. It has fantastic rural views, a private hot tub and a large wrap-around patio courtyard garden on two levels with a lawn.

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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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Exterior of a large tone-built barn conversion overlooking a driveway and lawn in Ipstones
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

The delightful Meadow Place is a Grade II listed stone-built property outside Ipstones in the Peak District. The beautiful views of the Derbyshire countryside dictate the upside-down design of the pet-friendly property, which boasts cathedral ceilings, exposed stone and timber and an open fire.

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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.