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 vine-covered Somerset farmhouse.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Find a relaxing escape from the bustle of everyday life with a stay at Church Farmhouse, a large holiday cottage in the South Somerset village of Winsham. This child-friendly barn conversion retains the original beams and gorgeous inglenook fireplace and features four upstairs double bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Short Breaks
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Peak District stone barn conversion with a wisteria-clad pergola over the front door is surrounded by large lawns either side of a garden path.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Perfectly located for exploring the Peak District, Church Barn is a beautifully presented countryside cottage with beamed ceilings, flagged floors, an open fire and a mature garden. This cosy holiday cottage for couples lies in the pretty village of Fenny Bentley, surrounded by glorious countryside.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Cycling Holidays
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Exterior of a large holiaday home in Penrith overlooking a spacious lawn surrounded by a wooden fence.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

Chimney Gill is a modern rural retreat near Sebergham in Cumbria and The Lake District. The large and beautiful holiday cottage on a working farm blends contemporary style with a country character, including exposed beams and a farmhouse kitchen. Guests enjoy complimentary access to a leisure club.

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Exterior of a contemporary house with sliding windows onto a patio
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Welcome to Your Coastal Retreat in Coldingham

Discover the epitome of comfort and convenience at this splendid Coldingham holiday cottage, your ultimate coastal holiday home in Northumberland. Situated in the picturesque village of Coldingham, just north of Eyemouth, this large, spacious and meticulously maintained detached cottage offers an ideal escape for families and groups of friends yearning for a pet-friendly seaside getaway on the North East coast.

  • Active Holidays
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A Welsh stone-built barn conversion surrounded by a low stone wall in a large courtyard.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Cefn-Yr-Efail is a coastal cottage outside Porthmadog, near sandy beaches, mountains and lakes, in Gwynedd, North Wales. This large Snowdonia holiday cottage near Porthmadog sleeps 8, with amazing views of the surrounding countryside, slate floors, a jacuzzi bath and a private garden

  • Active Holidays
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Sleeps
44
Bedrooms
20

In the open countryside on the edge of Pickering and the York Moors, a picturesque group of stone cottages with beamed ceilings and stone fireplaces furnished with an emphasis on comfort and relaxation. Extensive gardens with a garden house, play area and barbecue. See our website for a Virtual Tour.

  • Accessible Cottages
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  • Walking Holidays
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.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Large Holiday Cottages
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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.

  • Active Holidays
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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.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly 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

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.