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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.

Exterior of a 3-storey holiday cottage on Osea Island overlooking a large lawn with sun lounders beneath a shade of tree
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Rosetti House is a spacious holiday cottage located on Osea Island, near Maldon. The cottage is situated on the ground floor and features a large private garden. It is equipped with a communal pool, tennis court, and cinema room for easy access. The living area has three comfortable sofas and the kitchen-diner seats up to 14 people, making them ideal spaces for gathering.

Osea Island is located in the Blackwater Estuary and offers a memorable escape with its private beach, saltwater lido, heated outdoor pool, gym, and event spaces. The cottage features six bedrooms and multiple bathrooms, ensuring comfort and relaxation. It is perfect for special celebrations or family getaways.

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A contemporary wood and glass bungalow with a wrap-around deck overlooks a shrub-filled garden.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Unique four-bedroom coastal property near Dartmouth in South Devon, sleeping up to eight guests. Suitable for large groups or extended families, including an outside hot tub and covered sauna.

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A thatched Cotswold Cottage with a bay window overlooks an empty village street.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Inglenook Cottage is an archetypal chocolate-box cottage boasting Cotswold stone walls and a thatched roof. The 300-year-old romantic cottage in Broad Campden, Gloucestershire, is Grade II listed and promises an inglenook fireplace, exposed beams, wooden floorboards & space for pets in its lovely garden.

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A wood and slate Cotswold holiday cottage overlooks a terrace with a dining table and lawn.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Couples seeking a relaxing getaway will enjoy a stay at The Sycamore, a delightful romantic Cotswold holiday cottage for couples near the historic village of Arlington in Gloucestershire. It's the perfect weekend retreat featuring plenty of natural light streaming from double-height windows, beamed ceilings, and wood floors.

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Exterior of a large holiaday home in Penrith overlooking a spacious lawn surrounded by a wooden fence.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

Chimney Gill is a modern rural retreat near Sebergham in Cumbria and The Lake District. The large and beautiful holiday cottage on a working farm blends contemporary style with a country character, including exposed beams and a farmhouse kitchen. Guests enjoy complimentary access to a leisure club.

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A large brick-built country house and gardens in Herefordshire.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Set amongst extensive gardens in the picturesque  Midland village of Eardisley, Green Gables is a spacious 1930s period holiday home in Herefordshire, perfect for quiet holiday retreats. This large and child-friendly cottage features woodburning stoves, a table tennis table, and a sitting room with a view over the garden.

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A classic country house with a pillared front entrance and surrounded by lawns and mature flower beds
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Moortown House Farm is an elegant Georgian-listed manor on the edge of an AONB in Moortown. The large rural holiday cottage in Lincolnshire was built in 1816 and was designed by Sit Joseph Paxton. Rolling parkland and woodland surround the elegant property, which has luxurious furnishings, a tennis court, and country charm.

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Large, stone-built, 3-storey, waterside Peak District holiday cottage.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Glen Bank won the Visit England's 5* Gold Award in 2019. Fields and woodland surround this Cumbrian property in Appleby-in-Westmoreland. The pet-friendly cottage boasts outdoor entertaining areas with sweeping views and offers a light-filled orangery, two wood burners, exposed beams, and a dog shower.

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An arched brick gatehouse converted to holiday cottages.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Treasury is an elegant romantic cottage within the grounds of the private Wolterton Park Estate in Norfolk. The pet-friendly luxury cottage for two boasts exposed brick walls and great character, as well as fine furnishings and an open fire. Couples can also enjoy the private estate and its 150 acres of grounds.

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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.