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.

Exterior  of a brick-built, village holiday cottage and front garden at dusk.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Pear Tree House is a stylish, well-equipped, dog-friendly 3-bedroom village holiday home close to York.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A weatherboard barn conversion with a patio having a small table and chairs.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Larch Barn sits amidst a large meadow on the edge of the South Somerset village of North Perrott, a pretty child-friendly cottage offering comfortable accommodation for couples and young families, boasting two bedrooms and a light, airy open plan living area with exposed beams.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A large house with floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded by a large garden in the countryside.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Converted from a Victorian chapel, Chapel House in Anglesey is a large, purpose-built luxury holiday cottage in a pleasant rural location. It lies about a country mile outside the village of Llanddeusant in the hamlet of Elim on the Island’s west coast. The pet-friendly cottage sleeps 12.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A large 3-storey farmhouse and gardens is surrounded by mature trees on a hillside.
Sleeps
13
Bedrooms
5

Discover Lee House Farm, a luxurious rural holiday home with a hot tub in The Pennines. This elegant country house offers breathtaking views of Shibden Valley and boasts themed bedrooms. It's ideal for family celebrations or peaceful getaways with spacious living areas, a well-equipped kitchen, and ample outdoor space. The secluded garden, firepit, and undercover bar area are perfect for relaxing and enjoying the fresh air. You can also explore nearby attractions like the Piece Hall in Halifax or the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Experience the tranquillity of remote cottage holidays at Lee House Farm.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a Cotswold honeystone cottage overlooking a lawn with daffodils in bloom.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

1 Lower Mill Cottages is a charming Cotswold Holiday Cottage nestling in a quiet corner of the Worcestershire village of Broadway with private parking. This two-bedroom,dog-friendly countryside cottage has lovely stream-bordered gardens and lies within an easy walk of superb pubs and restaurants.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Visitors to Northumberland can holiday in comfort and style at Bridge Cottage, a pet-friendly country cottage on the outskirts of Haltwhistle, a short walk from Hadrian’s Wall. The cottage features a cosy sitting room, a king-size double and twin bedrooms, and a walled patio area.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior of a semi-detached thatched cottage overlooking a lawned garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Blueberry Cottage in Old Cleeve makes the perfect holiday home for exploring the Exmoor coast. This 16th-century Somerset coastal cottage near the national park and Minehead Beach has two bedrooms upstairs, a thatched roof, low doorways, beamed ceilings, and a pretty cottage garden.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
2-storey exterior of. stone-built barn conversion overlooking a paved terrace and a lawn
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Harvest Cottage welcomes couples to a pretty stone and pantiled farm cottage near Pickering in the heart of picturesque Levisham. The pet-friendly, one-bedroom barn conversion offers ample gardens and peace and quiet. It is an ideal base for exploring the North York Moors and coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
A 2-storey holiday cottage has generous off-road parking outside the front door and a garden behind.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Nestled in the heart of the Medieval surroundings of Ludlow, Manor Cottage offers modern and convenient accommodation to explore the town and Shropshire countryside. With three bedrooms and space for a pet, it is an ideal retreat for small families in the centre of this historic town.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • 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 direct to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.