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 terraced stone-built holiday cottage in Dunster.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Pebble Cottage is a delightful renovation of a traditional cottage for holidays exploring the West Somerset coast and Exmoor. The pet-friendly holiday cottage in Dunster sleeps four and offers a vibrant mature, south-facing, furnished garden, a stylish interior with an open-plan design and a wood-burning stove.

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A row of Victorian town houses leading to the sae in Tenby.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

This elegant Grade II listed, large holiday cottage in Tenby is in a quiet cobbled street within this beautiful seaside town in Pembrokeshire. Walk 80 yards one way to a stunning beach or the other way to the town centre with its medieval walls, harbour and fishing boats.

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A drive flanked by lawns to an Exmoor barn conversion overlooked by beech trees.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

A charming conversion above the stables turned into a small Exmoor holiday cottage nestling in the beautiful Doone Valley amidst pretty moorland countryside. The Hayloft in the small Somerset village of Oare features a stylish sitting room, a country-style kitchen with granite countertops, and two en-suite bedrooms.

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Aerial view of a holiday cottage surrounded by fields beneath a hilltop wood.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Orchard Cottage is a gorgeous stone-built romantic holiday cottage in the Wye Valley in a designated National Landscape in Penterry, Monmouthshire. The pet-friendly cottage offers contemporary comforts, a log fire, traditional charm, seclusion, an outdoor fire pit, and lovely rural views across Monmouthshire.

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Exterior of a semi-detached, stone-built Alnwick barn conversion
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The upside-down design of Jenny’s Cottage in Alnmouth affords couples magnificent views of the Northumberland region from its first-floor living area. Views of the working farm and the ocean ensure romance and relaxation at this cosy rural retreat replete with touches of luxury and elegance.

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Exterior of a stone-built Cotswold country house surrounded by trees and parkland.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Deery Me is a luxurious rural holiday cottage in Oxfordshire set amid Blenheim Palace Park in Woodstock. Within easy reach of Oxford and the Cotswolds, the gorgeous 3-bedroom, pet-friendly cottage rests on the banks of the River Glyme within beautiful grounds and offers lovely outdoor areas, a fireplace and style.

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Paved path to a front door through a shrub-filled garden and a lawn.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Granary is a charming holiday cottage for couples on a quiet Suffolk farm in Thorndon. It features oak beam ceilings throughout, a cosy wood fire, and a large bedroom with a super-king bed and an ensuite bathroom. Its beautiful decor and tranquil rural setting make it ideal for a perfect romantic break.

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Exeterior of a 3 storey stone-built farm house with glass-walled conservatory.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Lower Farmhouse is a charming Cotswold stone farmhouse situated on a working farm located outside Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire. The rural cottage features many traditional elements, including an inglenook fireplace and exposed beams, and offers sun-drenched gardens that provide seclusion and relaxation.

 

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Gable end of a wooden eco-lodge in an orchard setting.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Orchard Cottage is a beautiful timber-clad holiday cottage in Ledbury, Herefordshire, surrounded by lush green countryside. The pet-friendly cottage enjoys wonderful views and offers a sun-drenched deck, generous grounds, light and airy open-plan spaces, an outdoor games area and the chance to truly relax.

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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.