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 timber house on stilts beneath lime trees overlooks a large fenced garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

The Apple Tree House is a 5-star gold-rated rural cottage near Halse in Somerset. It is pet-friendly and sits below two mature lime trees, giving it the appearance of a mystical tree house. The Somerset holiday cottage combines country charm and modern amenities such as a swimming pool and a log burner. Guests can enjoy seclusion and a holiday amidst the idyllic foothills of The Quantocks.

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Exterior of a double-fronted cottage with a covered porch on a sunny day.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Introducing Pen-y-Bont, a charming pet-friendly holiday cottage located in Aberdaron, on the North Wales coast. The cottage features three bedrooms, modern amenities, and a cosy wood burner to provide warmth and comfort. Guests can also enjoy a private patio, games room, bike and kayak storage, and off-road parking. The cottage's central location in Aberdaron puts it just a few steps away from the beach, shops, and pubs, making it an ideal getaway for families, friends or couples looking for a relaxing coastal retreat.

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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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A long, stone-built cottage with 3 floor-to-ceiling ground-floor windows overlooking a spacious lawn.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy the benefits of a coastal cottage situated on a working farm with a stay at Dorothy’s Cottage, located just outside the village of Alnmouth. This child-friendly holiday cottage in Northumberland offers modern, comfortable, spacious accommodation and access to a shared garden and lawn area.

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Exterior of a 2-storey, Cotswold 'honey stone' cottage with mullioned windows.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Escape to the picturesque village of Broad Campden in Gloucestershire and experience the charm of Ingleside Cottage. This beautiful mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage is the perfect holiday retreat, offering a unique blend of traditional and modern features. With exposed beams, flagstone floors, leaded windows, and a cosy log fire, the cottage exudes warmth and comfort. Its antique furnishings and modern amenities make for a comfortable stay, while the ample space for pets to play ensures they can join in on the fun. Book Ingleside Cottage now and experience the magic of the Cotswolds.

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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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A paved path leads to the side entrance of a brick built, Isle-of-Wight holiday cottage
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A romantic holiday retreat for two awaits visitors to the Isle of Wight at The Sail Loft Annexe. Just west of the historic harbour town of Yarmouth, guests can easily access a private beach from this delightful ground-floor beach apartment.

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Sleeps
59
Bedrooms
16

This is a Welsh beauty! A large 16-bedroom pet-friendly holiday cottage in Penmaenmawr with off-road parking sleeping up to 59 guests on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Located on the North Wales coast near Conwy, Mountain View is just a 10-minute walk from the beach.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Nestled in the picturesque countryside outside Caernarfon and nearby Snowdonia, Bluebell Cottage is a lovingly restored, two-bedroom barn conversion with the boundless hills of Welsh mountain countryside and coast on your doorstep - perfect for a relaxing family break in North Wales.

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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.