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.

Large Windermere holiday cottage on a terrace overlooking a spacious lawn.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Cleabarrow Cottage is an impressive rural holiday cottage offering large groups seclusion, luxury and a hot tub. Generous lawned grounds surround the property in Windermere, Cumbria, and offer beautiful countryside views, while the interior and exterior promise elegant spaces in which to relax and entertain.

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Exterior of a single storey barn conversion with a pair of floor-to-ceiling French doors overlooking a shingled courtyard with flower troughs.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The Old Stables is a luxurious country cottage on an acre of grounds in Gastard, Wiltshire. It is detached and can accommodate eight people. It offers seclusion, fresh country air, and beautiful views of the surroundings from the fully furnished gardens. The interior features a log fire and is designed with an open-plan layout and contemporary style.

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A cottage lounge with a pine-beamed ceiling and comfortable leather sofas.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Located close to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast near Bridport, The Cider Barn is a newly refurbished family-friendly barn conversion in secluded rural surroundings at Hembury Mil in Askerwell. The Cider Barn sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms, appealing to those planning beach or walking holidays on the Dorset coast.

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Aerial photo of Flushing in Cornwall.
Sleeps
9
Bedrooms
5

Pendeen is a large coastal holiday rental in Cornwall, sleeping up to 9. It is located in the sought-after Flushing village and offers spectacular river views across the estuary towards Falmouth. This luxury holiday home offers memorable holidays for groups of friends and families. Pets are Welcome.

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Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

Bryndol is a charming holiday cottage in Aberdaron. It is family—and pet-friendly and is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It offers comfort and refinement with superb coast and country views. Located just moments from Aberdaron, this rural holiday cottage is a ten-minute walk to the beach.

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The exterior of a double-fronted Exmoor holiday cottage overlooks a front garden and is surrounded by trees.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

Pipits is a large period Exmoor holiday home on the outskirts of the Somerset village of Exford. This pet-friendly cottage boasts a large inglenook fireplace, oak beams, two wood-burner stoves, a terraced garden with a summerhouse, and four bedrooms comfortably sleeping up to eight guests.

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Exterior of The Old Stables - a cottage overlooking a large garden with clumps of daffodils
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The Old Stables is a large Exmoor holiday cottage in the picturesque moorland village of Exford. The pet-friendly cottage sits on extensive lawned grounds with countryside views and boasts an open fire, exposed beams and stone walls, plus modern style and direct access to walking trails.

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Aerial view of an Exmoor river valley overlooked by village cottages.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Withymead Cottage is an Exmoor holiday cottage in Withypool in the heart of the National Park. The single-storey cottage overlooks and leads down to the River Barle through mature landscaped gardens offering fabulous moorland views, often with the world-famous Exmoor ponies and deer grazing.

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A large, stone-built contemporary cottage with a stone wall, surrounded by countryside.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Pastures Barn is a beautiful stone-built conversion on lush grounds in Leek, Staffordshire. The pet-friendly cottage offers an escape, a hot tub, a wood burner, a sauna, spacious gardens, a games room, contemporary comforts and proximity to the Peak District and Derbyshire Dales.

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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.