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.

Exterior of a large mock Tudor house with 1st floor balcony.
Sleeps
24
Bedrooms
9

Fairlea Grange is a superb, large, and comfortable Victorian townhouse in Abergavenny, sleeping up to 24 guests. It is in a perfect location for exploring the Brecon Beacons and the Welsh Marches. Facilities in this dog-friendly holiday home include a huge Home TV Lounge, Games Room, Hot Tub and Mini-gym.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Cottage Discounts
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A cottage window and French doors are semi-hidden by a flowering mass of climbing roses.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Ensconced in a flowering garden, Faerie World promises couples a true escape. The gorgeous romantic cottage for two in Bath enjoys views of a babbling stream from its terrace and boasts an interior decorated with contemporary elegance uing Farrow & Ball colours. Cuddle up in front of the cosy wood burner.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
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  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
19
Bedrooms
10

Mel House Cottages are a group of four pet-friendly properties that sleep from 3 to 19 Guests in the centre of attractive Newton-on-Rawcliffe in the North York Moors. Three of the four properties are rated at various levels of accessibility for disabled use. Facilities include an indoor Pool, Hot Tub, and Sauna.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
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  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a long, many-windowed barn conversion to form a single-storey holiday cottage in Pickering.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Mallard Cottage is a lovely holiday property in the charming village of Newton-on-Rawcliffe in the North York Moors. The property is pet-friendly and offers four different accommodation options. It features three bedrooms spread over two floors. The cottage's first floor, which includes a sitting room, kitchen/dining room, twin bedroom, and wet room, is perfect for wheelchair users. It is designed to comfortably accommodate full-time wheelchair users.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
A heated indoor swimming pool with a hot tub.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Granary is a pet-friendly countryside apartment located on the first floor with access to an indoor heated pool, hot tub and sauna in Newton-on-Rawcliffe, Pickering. This cosy apartment has an open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner, providing stunning views of the Vale of Pickering and beyond. It has been attractively designed to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A spacious, oak-beamed lounge area with sofas, TV, wood burner and dining table.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Swift Cottage is a charming 3-bedroom ground-floor cottage that sleeps 5 and has an outdoor heated pool. The Cottage has an easy-access wet room with rails and a mobility chair, so it is accessible for guests with disabilities. Swift is in the North York Moors National Park. Pets are welcome.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a luxury Sidmouth holiday cottage surrounded by beautiful flower-filled gardens.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Take a closer look at Hemphaye, a charming 17th-century house and now a luxury self-catering coastal cottage in East Devon with Wi-Fi. It sleeps up to 6 people in 3 bedrooms (2 bathrooms) and is an easy walk from the beach and the town centre of Sidmouth.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Coastal Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a flower-decked Cotswold Manor and adjoining barn facing a shingle drive and lawn.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Stourton Manor is a masterfully restored, large rural holiday home in Stourton, blending its Cotswold stone exterior with traditional interior charm and sophistication. The pet-friendly Warwickshire cottage offers two log fires and sits on lovely grounds. Amenities include a yoga studio, gym, tennis court, and cricket net.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
L-shaped exterior of a barn conversion with a gable end of wood-framed glass windows overlooking a large lawn.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

Westbrook Barn is a Somerset holiday home situated on the outskirts of the charming village of Evercreech. It is a charming countryside cottage with four well-presented bedrooms spread on either side, a mezzanine area, exposed ceiling beams, a cosy sitting room with a feature fireplace, and an outdoor gazebo.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • 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 directly to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.