A surfer traverses a large wave. Find holiday cottages for active holidays in the open air.

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.

A row of three stone-built cottages with walled gardens.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Bill's Place is a beautifully appointed two-bedroom Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage in the village of Bainbridge near Hawes. This 2-bedroom country cottage is filled with original features and can sleep up to three guests.

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Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

A modern and attractive pet-friendly lodge with room for three, The Callow Lodge offers access to a private hot tub as well as Beaconsfield Holiday Park’s terrific facilities. Many other attractions are also available in nearby Iron Bridge, Church Stretton, or Ludlow.

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Exterior of a Peak District holiday cottage overlooking a large lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The authentic stone exterior of this Cumbrian holiday cottage encases a luxury cottage with vaulted ceilings and timber beams. It is immaculately decorated with refined finishes, state-of-the-art appliances, and sumptuous views of The Lake District. Pets welcome.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Moorparks Barn is a North Devon holiday home in Beaford, a village near Great Torrington. Reverse-level accommodation offers two bedrooms on the ground floor, one king-size and one twin. Ground floor bathroom. Stairs leading to the lounge/diner, kitchen and cloakroom. The Barn is suitable for children over six years of age.

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An Anglesey bungalow surrounded by lawns and a woodland backdrop.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Spectacular views of Blue Flag Llanddona Beach are available from almost every window of this pet-friendly cottage for four in Anglesey. With everything arranged on a single floor, Hen Felin Isaf is convenient, welcoming, and relaxing, truly a seaside holiday destination of your dreams.

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Exterior of a 2-storey contemporary home with twin floor-to-ceiling French windows opening onto the garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Bucket & Spade is a beautiful coastal cottage in East Devon, just a stone's throw away from the pristine white sands of Seaton. The pet-friendly holiday home boasts a spacious garden with an outdoor relaxation area, a cosy log fire, and an open-plan design with a chic coastal feel.

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A twin-gabled brick house with large windows site behind a shingled drive.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Welcome to Highcroft Cottage. Situated just two miles away from the enchanting medieval town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Highcroft Cottage is a haven of tranquillity set within 2.5 acres of shared grounds. This idyllic rural retreat in Warwickshire boasts a wildlife garden and a tennis court, providing a delightful backdrop to your stay.

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A chalet bungalow overlooks a front lawn and large parking area.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

Amidst the beauty of the Lake District is the lovely holiday cottage Hazel, part of the Woodland Cottages resort on the eastern shores of Lake Windermere near the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, a child-friendly cottage featuring a hot tub, wood-burning stove and five bedrooms.

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Quayside holiday apartment in Rye overlooks small craft moored to the waterfront at high tide
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Complete with a breakfast bar and Juliet balcony overlooking the quay of the River Rother, 16 The Boathouse is a romantic waterfront holiday apartment in Rye, affording couples on holiday along the East Sussex coastline the perfect home base to explore this historic port town.

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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 direct to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.