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.

Exterior of a barn conversion overlooking a terrace with a hot tub.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Stables Cottage is a comfortable and stylish countryside cottage in the Northern Yorkshire Dales near Barnard Castle. Accommodation is all on the ground floor and sleeps two to four people in two bedrooms.

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Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

Abbotts Wood is a large, pet-friendly holiday home in Hampshire, sleeping 12 in 5 bedrooms (3 ensuites). Facilities in this luxury house include an indoor heated swimming pool, a (free) fishing lake complete with ducks for feeding and 3 acres of grounds to explore.

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Exterior of a sandstone cottage with a courtyard lined by flowering shrubs.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
3

Gaze upon gorgeous coastal views or stunning moorlands during your stay at Honey Bee Cottage, a child-friendly holiday cottage in Staintondale. Converted from a former farm building, this charming rural holiday home near Scarborough with exposed timbers sleeps 4. Pets welcome.

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Two-storey brick exterior of a holiday home in Beverley
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The Old Dairy opens up the North York Moors and Coast for exploration and provides for a comfortable stay in Beverley. The converted barn welcomes pets and sleeps 4 guests and offers an enclosed, lawned garden with a summerhouse, as well as an open-plan design, arched windows and contemporary style.

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Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A charming, modern Lake District holiday apartment for two set in an idyllic rural location, this beautifully decorated property in Bowness-on-Windermere sleeps two and is a perfect base from which to explore the Lake and surrounding countryside.

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Exterior of a converted Devon coach house with a double garage
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

This large holiday cottage in Braunton, within easy reach of fabulous sandy beaches at Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe, can sleep twelve people in six bedrooms.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Riddings Barn is a delightful stone-built rural holiday cottage in Howgill, a charming hamlet near Sedbergh. The stone-built barn conversion blends tradition with contemporary style and boasts wonderful views over Cumbria and The Lake District, as well as an open-plan design and an abundance of natural light.

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2-storey Victorian town house with bay windows and small front garden
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
3

A charming and cosy family- and pet-friendly getaway in Marske-by-the-Sea, Victoria Cottage is a delightful balance of historic touches and modern convenience with room for four. This cottage makes the most of its excellent seaside location, offering a family holiday in a warm, comfortable environment.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Heather Croft is a delightfully restored three-bedroom seaside cottage with an open, airy ambience and a balcony with sweeping ocean views. The red-brick cottage overlooks Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Yorkshire Coast and sleeps seven people with family-friendly amenities.

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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.