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 large 2-storey Woolacombe holiday let with bay windows and Juliette balconies.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

 Seacroft is a splendid North Devon holiday home in Woolacombe with stunning sea views. This spacious seafront property features five ensuite bedrooms and sleeps 10. Enjoy two lounges, a stylish kitchen, and a sunny garden with deck seating. The property includes a wet room for surfers and swimmers. Private parking for three cars is available. The house near Woolacombe Beach offers easy access to shops, cafes, and restaurants. View the full property description to learn more about this large holiday home.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
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  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
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A modern cross-timbered gable overlooking a drive, lawn and a spacious parking area.
Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
6

Celebrate a momentous occasion at Arden Hill Farm House, a refined country house near Stratford-upon-Avon with stunning views, an elegant interior, spacious gardens and a hot tub. The rural cottage offers a traditional exterior, access to many walking and cycling paths, and tranquillity.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a flower-decked Cotswold Manor and adjoining barn facing a shingle drive and lawn.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Stourton Manor is a masterfully restored, large rural holiday home in Stourton, blending its Cotswold stone exterior with traditional interior charm and sophistication. The pet-friendly Warwickshire cottage offers two log fires and sits on lovely grounds. Amenities include a yoga studio, gym, tennis court, and cricket net.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Cycling Holidays
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  • Large Holiday Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
1

Annie's Cottage is a Grade 2 listed, one-bedroom rural holiday cottage for couples on the Kent coast near Ramsgate and Broadstairs. It can sleep 2 - 5 guests. Charming and characterful, it has exposed brick, flint walls, and original beams. It has a 4-Star Quality in Tourism rating.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
13
Bedrooms
5

A fun-filled self-catering holiday in the Yorkshire Dales awaits at Laurel Bank, a large, five-bedroom, pet-friendly holiday home near the rural village of Embsay. Laurel Bank Cottage sits among mature gardens. This charming and modern cottage is finished with dashes of bold colour and country style.

  • Accessible By Train
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A large, brightly lit house overlooks a swimming pool at dusk.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4
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  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A single-storey, stone-built barn conversion in Cumbria with parking spaces and lawns.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Take in all the majesty of the North Cumbria countryside with a stay at The Stable, a romantic farm cottage for couples in the rural hamlet of Milton near Brampton. Explore Hadrian’s Wall and The Lake District. Pets welcome.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Ground floor, brick exterior of a barn conversion overlooking a shrub-filled garden
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Endless activities greet visitors to Oliver’s Mill, a large converted barn amid the rolling hills of Alkington. The 18th-century rural holiday cottage in Shropshire boasts style and traditional character and offers woodland, an indoor swimming pool, a multi-sports court & a children’s play area, plus a log fire.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Large Cottage Discounts
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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Old Church House is a Grade II listed 16th-century rural cottage nestled beside the churchyard at High Bray. Situated between the country and the coast in Brayford, Devon, the gorgeous pet-friendly cottage boasts multi-pane windows, oak beams, stone fireplaces, and a wood-burning stove.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly 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.