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.

Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Sunset Beach is a large, modern four-bedroom holiday home in Croyde, North Devon's most desirable seaside village. The coastal cottage accommodates up to eight, within easy walking distance of the beach and village centre. The house has an enclosed garden and gorgeous countryside and ocean views.

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A barn conversion overlooks a calm lake.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This North Devon holiday cottage with on-site fishing and a children's play area is at Lower Aylescott. Smithy Cottage accommodates up to four guests in two bedrooms. It is situated in West Down, a pretty village outside Ilfracombe in the glorious North Devon countryside, just a handful of miles from the beach at Woolacombe.

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A hot tub with views across open countryside.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This beautiful two-bedroom barn conversion with a hot tub in North Devon is set in an idyllic rural location. It is only a short drive from the stunning North Devon coast and its outstanding beaches. Guests can relax and admire stunning coastal views from the large enclosed garden.

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A view from sun loungers on a balcony to surf breaking on a beach in the distance.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Sunnycliffe House is a stunning 3-bedroom North Devon holiday cottage in Woolacombe with panoramic sea views across the Bay. This beautiful coastal cottage overlooks Combesgate Beach, Baggy Point and Lundy Island. The house is mainly open-plan, with a sunny terrace off the lounge, a picnic table, and sun loungers.

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A row of barn conversions are reflected in the surface of a lake.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Braefoot is a North Devon countryside cottage in West Down close to beaches at Woolacombe and Ilfracombe. This child-friendly rural retreat at Lower Aylescott Farm is ideally located for family holidays exploring the North Devon coast.

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Barn conversions are reflected in the waters of a lake.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Duror is a pretty, three-bedroom holiday cottage at Lower Aylescott near Woolacombe in North Devon. The child-friendly cottage is within easy reach of award-winning beaches and the Exmoor National Park. Sleeping 2-6, guests can access onsite fishing and a children's play area.

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A stone barn conversion overlooks a lawn and flower-filled garden
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
6

Dolly's barn is a large 17th-Century barn near Ilfracombe, which has been lovingly converted into a charming 6-bedroom luxury holiday cottage sleeping 11 with disabled access in a beautiful spot on the North Devon Coast.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Stag Lodge is a large, dog-friendly, remote Highland cottage set on the 12,000-acre Glencarron Estate near Strathcarron in the Western Highlands, within easy reach of the West Coast beaches. It offers accommodation for eight people in four bedrooms, one double and three twins.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Sleeping up to four in two bedrooms, pretty Royd  Cottage, a Holiday Cottage in West Down, just a few miles from the stunning North Devon coastline and Woolacombe Beach. This family-friendly country cottage has onsite fishing and a children's play area.

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  • 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.