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.

A footpath flanked by privet hedges leads to a stone-built holiday cottage with a covered porch.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Greenwich Cottage is a stylish, home-from-home character cottage in the West Dorset village of Chideock on the Jurassic Coast. It sleeps up to 3 and is perfect for a romantic or small family getaway within walking distance to 3 excellent pubs and the beach at Seatown.

  • Active Holidays
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A sprawling Dartmoor Manor house ovrlooks a sweeping, tree-lined lawn.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
8

This extraordinary manor house is nestled in the idyllic countryside, a mere mile from the village of Bridestowe, situated on the periphery of the Dartmoor National Park. A living testament to history, dating back to the 13th century, it stands as a truly exceptional Grade II* listed haven, ideally suited for families and large groups of friends seeking resplendent gathering spaces.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Short Breaks
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A 2-storey barn conversion with  terracotta tiles nestles against a cluster of small trees overlooking a large garden and fields in East Sussex.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

In an East Sussex valley north of the South Downs, Cherrystone Barn is a rural retreat near Lewes. A perfect holiday getaway for couples, this romantic countryside cottage with a hot tub has an enclosed garden offering expansive views, an open-plan living area, and a separate bedroom with an en-suite rolltop bath.

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A stone-built Wye Valley holiday cottage overlooks a paved patio with dining furniture.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Rustic elegance defines Valley View, a stone-built romantic Herefordshire holiday cottage in Howle Hill. The semi-detached property overlooks the Wye Valley and boasts a wood burner, contemporary fixtures and fittings, flagstone floors, exposed stone walls, a sun-drenched patio and countryside views.

  • Active Holidays
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Exterior view of a stonebuilt, L-shaped barn conversion in the Shropshire Countryside.
Sleeps
24
Bedrooms
9

Castell Courtyard is a large holiday cottage with a hot tub on a working sheep farm in the beautiful Shropshire Countryside. It sleeps up to 24 guests in 11 bedrooms near Oswestry and is perfect for walking holidays in the Tanet Valley and Berwyn Mountains.

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A secluded country cottage with an ivy clad exterior on a quiet country lane.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Crooked Lake is a charming rural holiday cottage in North Devon between Bideford and Clovelly. This charming 17th-century secluded cottage is ideal for a quiet and relaxing getaway amidst beautiful countryside just a short distance from the coast.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A single-storey, stone-built, luxury Exmoor barn conversion surrounded by trees and hedgerows.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Enjoy self-catering cottage holidays on Exmoor with a stay at Higher Bumsley Barn, a charming barn conversion near the rural settlement of Parracombe, Devon. It stands on 50 acres of an Environmental/Conservation Farm and is a countryside cottage with a vaulted ceiling, two comfy bedrooms, and a Woodburner.

  • Active Holidays
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A terrace of thatched cottages overlooks a road and beachfront at low tide.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Captain’s Cottage in Minehead, Somerset, offers beachfront charm with sea views. This thatched seaside cottage sleeps four in two bedrooms. Period features include an inglenook fireplace, a modern kitchen, and a rear terrace for sea gazing. The dog-friendly cottage has no garden. It is close to the harbour and the South West Coastal Path. Limited mobility is cautioned. It is an Ideal Exmoor coast retreat.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior of a stone-built Highland holiday cottage with a hot-tub on its deck.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The rural holiday cottage near Muir of Ord in Ross-Shire sits at the foot of the Scottish Highlands and offers whisky Masterclasses. The large and pet-friendly holiday home also boasts beautiful grounds, authentic décor, a hot tub and an open fire, plus accessibility for people with disabilities.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large 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 directly to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.