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.

Stone-built terraced cottage with a flower-filled window basket.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Coquet Cottage blends sleek modern touches with dark, rich antique décor in a traditional mid-terrace holiday cottage in Amble-by-the-Sea. The stone-walled, pet-free, seaside cottage features a regal master bedroom with heavy wooden furniture and an ultra-modern single room on the Northumberland coast.

  • Active Holidays
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A tall, sdtone-built barn conversion with a spacious courtyard.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Exposed beams and original features abound in Malham, a rural holiday cottage near Settle set within 150 acres of countryside in the Yorkshire Dales. Located in open countryside near Wigglesworth, Malham welcomes families and pets to enjoy modern comforts, an on-site restaurant, a games room and a heated swimming pool.

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A 2-storey, stone-built holiday cottage in Cumbria overlooking a sunny courtyard
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Old Cottage lies in the quaint rural village of Nateby near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria between The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. The two bedrooms sit downstairs, while the kitchen and sitting room enjoy rural views from the first floor of this dog-friendly cottage.

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Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
7

Fern House is a large holiday cottage in the Yorkshire Dales village of Kettlewell. This pet-friendly property in a picturesque Wharfedale village with award-winning pubs, superb views, and walks from the doorstep sleeps 12 in 7 bedrooms, making it perfect for family and group accommodation.

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Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
8

Deerclose is a large Yorkshire Dales Farmhouse offering self-catering accommodation for large families and groups of friends in the tiny village of Horsehouse near Leyburn in Coverdale. High up on the fells, this characterful farmhouse offers stunning rural views of the Dales countryside.

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Exterior of a luxury Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Loft Cottage is one of three pretty holiday cottages in the peaceful village of Crakehall, North Yorkshire. It is a dog-friendly cottage with views of Bedale Beck amidst the splendour of the lower Yorkshire Dales, featuring a hot tub, exposed beams, stone frontage, and three first-floor bedrooms.

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A terrace of 3-stone-built Bedale holiday cottages facing a lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Edmund’s Cottage in the quaint village of Crakehall is one of three holiday homes in North Yorkshire that combine original features with contemporary comforts. It is a dog-friendly cottage with a garden hot tub, exposed beams, Smart TVs in the lounge and first-floor master, and riverside views of Bedale Beck.

  • Active Holidays
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A honey-stone, thatched country cottage with a walled front garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Escape to the idyllic Duck Street Cottage, a charming hideaway in Dorset's heart. Perfect for couples or friends, this cosy cottage boasts a traditional inglenook fireplace, providing the ideal setting to unwind after an exciting day of exploration. Nestled in Symondsbury Village, you'll be perfectly placed to explore the village's delightful artisan shops, café and pub, all within a short walk from your doorstep. Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience Duck Street Cottage's quintessential British countryside charm of Duck Street Cottage.

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A mature garden slopes up to a large house backed by trees.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Gaze across the coastline of Porlock Bay from Elthorne, a large Exmoor coastal cottage just moments from the centre of Porlock, a desirable little seaside town in Somerset. Play with your pets in the beautiful private gardens and relax in the 1930s cottage with a wood burner and spacious light-filled rooms.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Coastal Cottages
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  • 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.