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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.

A tree-lined drive way curves toward a large rendered holiday home in Perthshire.
Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
8

The Duke of Atholl built this large Perthshire holiday cottage as a shooting lodge and offers beautiful rural views from its hillside location near Dunkeld. Riechip now offers pet-friendly self-catering accommodation in 8 bedrooms for up to 16 guests. Perfect for walking or golfing holidays.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Lilliput is tucked away in the quiet Dorset coastal village of Shipton Gorge, a mile or two from Bridport and the Jurassic Coast at Burton Bradstock. This well-maintained holiday cottage will particularly appeal to those seeking lovely walks close to hand and also welcomes pets. nicely

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Stone built exterior of a Yorkshire Dales cottage with large zinc plant pots lining the front.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Middle Cottage lies in the sleepy Wensleydale village of Middleham. This 3-bedroom pet-friendly Dales holiday cottage is perfect for family holidays exploring the Dales or North York Moors. The Cottage is a short stroll to historic Middleham Castle, the childhood home of Richard III.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
5

The honeypot location of Grassington lies but a pleasant stroll from the grounds of 1 Bridge End, a delightfully restored large holiday cottage in the Yorkshire Dales boasting wooden floors, five bedrooms, riverside views from the pet-friendly garden and guaranteed comfort beside the open fire.

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Exterior of a Peak District holiday cottage overlooking a large lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The authentic stone exterior of this Cumbrian holiday cottage encases a luxury cottage with vaulted ceilings and timber beams. It is immaculately decorated with refined finishes, state-of-the-art appliances, and sumptuous views of The Lake District. Pets welcome.

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A Cornish wooden barn conversion overlooks a shrub-lined courtyard
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
5

Where better to enjoy uninterrupted views of the picturesque 14th Century Cornish fishing village of Mevagissey than from the balconies at The Pink House, a large holiday cottage perched above the village offering breath-taking harbour and sea views.

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A woo-clad eco-cottage with a balcony overlooks a shrub-lined courtyard
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Swallow Cottage is rich in rustic charm. Exposed beams and period details feature heavily in the 18th-century Grade II listed barn conversion, which sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Bucknell in Shropshire and enjoys multiple outdoor spaces, beautiful views and modern comforts.

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Floor to ceiling French windows in a brick and coblestone cottage overlook a formal garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Bridge Cottage is a cute cottage converted from a former mill worker home in Aylsham, Norfolk. The delightful garden leads into the characterful interior, which retains exposed beams and tiled floors and offers open-plan design, thoughtful presentation and décor, and easy access to many attractions.

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Sleeps
15
Bedrooms
7

It may look Victorian, but Hartcliffe View is a large, sumptuously furnished, modern house in a rural location, standing in moorland on the edge of the Peak District near Penistone in South Yorkshire. This dog-friendly holiday cottage sleeps 15. It has a games room and football pitch in the garden.

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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.