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.

The rooftops of a large holiday cottage surrounded by a sloping lawn and trees with a river estuary in the distance.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Dower House is a large 18th-century Devon holiday farmhouse that sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms. It is located in the village of Dittisham, between Dartmouth and Totnes, and offers panoramic views across the Dart Estuary. It is ideal for holidays with families or small groups of friends.

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Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Battens is a delightful stone-built cottage on a working farm in a beautiful rural corner of East Devon within easy reach of the coast. The pet-friendly holiday cottage near Colyton sleeps six. It offers ample enclosed grounds, lovely views, a patio and a games room, plus sunny open-plan spaces with sophisticated design, exposed beams and peace & fresh air.

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A timbered eco-lodge sits in front of mature woods overlooking open fields.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Escape to the countryside and experience an enchanting holiday at Woodbell Lodge. This luxurious cottage is one of five detached properties located on the beautiful Wakes Hall Estate, near the village of Wakes Colne in Essex. The property is pet-friendly and features a veranda, hot tub, two en-suite bedrooms, and modern eco-technology.

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Exterior of a contemporary house with  a built-iin garage, smal front garden and a palm treein Weymouth
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Sea Pebbles is a beautifully presented house only a few steps away from the front door to breathtaking sea views and the coastal path in Weymouth. Whatever you decide to do on your Dorset holiday, Sea Pebbles offers the perfect base from which to explore the Jurassic coast.

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A Northumberland farmhouse in open countryside overlooks a row of traditional barns
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
6

Homestone Farmhouse is a large, traditional, stone-built farmhouse on a 250-acre working farm in an idyllic, secluded rural location 5 miles from Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula. View this child-friendly farmhouse in Scotland sleeps 11 in 5 bedrooms. Pets welcome.

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A contemporary barn conversion surrounded by open countryside.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Exposed beams and stone walls add character to Big Sky Barn, a luxurious brick and flint cottage set between the Norfolk countryside and coast. The pet-friendly cottage in Ridlington is surrounded by farmland, just moments from the beach, and offers open-plan design and generous furnished gardens.

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Eterior of a double-fronted terraced cottage overlooking an empty village street.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
2

With views over the village green, Chapel Cottage is an ideal family cottage. The pet-friendly cottage in Exford provides comfort and style and is set inside Exmoor National Park and its endless natural wonders. Set over three levels, the cottage boasts a wood burner plus generous outdoor areas for relaxation.

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An isolated Pennine farm house is surrounded by empty moorland.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

Get away from the bustle of everyday life with a stay at The Retreat, a remote countryside cottage at the head of an unspoilt valley high above the Pennine market town of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, boasting biomass-fired underfloor heating, three wood-burners, hot tub, and five bedrooms.

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Exterior of Taunton Castle with a large arch converted to luxury holiday apartments
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

Castle House sits on the grounds of the Museum of Somerset in the county town of Taunton, Somerset, part of a 12th-century castle and offers a distinctive holiday experience, a large child-friendly cottage with four bedrooms over two stories, a modern kitchen, & signature Tudor Room sitting area.

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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.