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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 farmhouse in Cumbriaamidst mature trees and a large lawn.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

A warm and welcoming detached Lake District Farmhouse, large enough to sleep 10, Home Farmhouse sits amidst rural surroundings close to Lake Windermere on a 5000-acre country estate. Pets are welcome here. Guests have shared use of an indoor heated swimming pool, gym and sauna.

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Terraced, 4-storey, Victorian Seaside Townhouse with bay windows.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
5

Castle View is a large Victorian townhouse in Scarborough, restored to delight the most discerning guests booking a self-catering holiday in this premier North Yorkshire seaside resort. Castle View sleeps 14 in an elegant crescent in the heart of the town, a 10-minute walk to the beach.

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Exterior of Taunton Castle with a large arch converted to luxury holiday apartments
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

Castle House sits on the grounds of the Museum of Somerset in the county town of Taunton, Somerset, part of a 12th-century castle and offers a distinctive holiday experience, a large child-friendly cottage with four bedrooms over two stories, a modern kitchen, & signature Tudor Room sitting area.

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A stone barn conversion backed by mountains overlooks a field with small trees.
Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
8

Capel Dinorwig is a magnificent, converted, pet-friendly Welsh Chapel in Gwynedd, creating a large, luxury, eco holiday home near Llanberis in the Snowdonia National Park. It sleeps 16 in 8 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms and a sauna. The remote, rural views from the chapel are absolutely stunning.

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A stone-built Lake District Cottage sits in a woodland clearing surrounded by mature trees.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Carrholme is a large Grade II listed Yorkshire Dales Holiday Cottage, brimming with rural charm and modern conveniences as well as generous gardens and views over Settle and the Yorkshire Dales. The charming cottage that once housed Prince Charles promises regal comfort for groups and welcomes pets.

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A 2-storey, end-of-terrace stone-built holiday cottage in Settle with a walled side garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

French doors open onto a private patio and lawn with stunning rural views of the surrounding countryside at this Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage for couples. Located in the peaceful village of Long Preston, near Skipton, Carn Cottage sleeps two and is a short walk from a CAMRA award-winning pub.

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A hot tub beneath a glass roof sits on a wooden deck next to two sun loungers.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
4

Cariad Cottage is a large, pet-friendly Ceredigion Holiday Cottage with a hot tub. Located near Aberaeron in a quiet countryside location, this welcoming rural cottage sleeps 11 in 4 bedrooms, one being wheelchair accessible with a wet room. Cariad has two fun-fishing lakes.

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A semii-detached Dorset cottage overlooks a paved front courtyard for parking.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Dating back to the 1600s, Candy Cottage boasts rustic charm and tranquillity. The pet-friendly cottage in Thornford promises touches of yesteryear, space for pets, and a wood-burning stove in a traditional fireplace. A roll-top bath offers relaxation & the cottage is well situated in Dorset.

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A 2-storey Lynton apartment building overlooks a shrub-filled front garden
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

C S Lewis Balcony is a stylish, two-storey Lynton holiday apartment overlooking the sea. The impressive property sleeps four and enjoys beautiful views from its furnished balcony. It offers an interior with dual-aspect windows, sophisticated décor, sunlit spaces, and luxurious details.

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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 directly to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.