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 stone-built, end of terrace cottage overlooking an empty street.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

This traditional, stone-built Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage sleeps five on the outskirts of the charming village of Ingleton. Nicely located for exploring the Dales’ spectacular Three Peaks area, Bytheway Cottage has a snug sitting room with patio doors and is a short hop and a skip away from an excellent pub.

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Exterior of a rural holiday cottage in Abersoch surrounded by green fields
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Bwythyn-y-Wennol Cottage keeps the tradition of the family seaside holiday alive. This Welsh coastal cottage on the idyllic Llyn Peninsula in Abersoch sleeps 2-5 guests. The stunning Llyn Coastal Path Snowdonia offers an enticing choice of scenic walks and many other activities in this beautiful corner of North Wales.

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Exterior of a large 3-Victorian Inn  on a street corner, now converted into a big holiday cottage.
Sleeps
34
Bedrooms
12

The Ship Inn, once a pub in Colwyn Bay, has been comfortably and stylishly converted to create a large, dog-friendly holiday cottage in North Wales sleeping 34 guests in 12 spacious bedrooms, with a 5-minute walk of the beach.

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The 3-storey gable end seen through trees of a Cumbrian stone-barn conversion.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

Ideally situated in the South Lakeland District to explore this gorgeous region, 5 The Granary on the outskirts of Kendal, Cumbria, is a beautiful child-friendly cottage converted from a grain store to a gorgeous three-storey holiday home with an enclosed courtyard, garden and three cosy bedrooms.

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Exterior of a contemporary country cottage with a full-width balcony and floor-to-ceiling bi-fold glass doors.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

The Shearing Shed is a sleek rural holiday cottage with beautiful rural views over the Peak District. The pet-friendly cottage sits on an alpaca farm near Flash, the highest village in Britain. It boasts a log burner, an open-plan design, a spacious patio, various farm animals and lots of fresh country air.

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A large Coniston holiday home at the head of a hedge-lined tarmac drive with a mature woodland background.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Brownside is a pet-friendly Lake District holiday cottage with stunning fell views down to Coniston Water. It welcomes large families or groups of friends. Sleeping 14, this large, warm, cosy house is a walker's paradise and includes a hot tub for relaxing after a day in the fells.

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Exterior of a thatched village cottage in Dorset.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Church Cottage is a delightful thatched holiday cottage nestled beside the church in Cattistock, Dorset. The pet-friendly cottage boasts a lovely, landscaped garden, a luxurious interior with elegant design features, and a prime location in this quaint village.

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Sun loungers on a lawn in front of a stone-built holiday cottage
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Luxury cottage located in Tayside, near Aberfeldy and right on the banks of the River Tay. It features two king-size sleigh beds, a log stove, and open fires. The cottage also comes with complimentary Wi-Fi and logs for the fireplace. There's a pool table, iPod docking station, books, and games available for entertainment. The kitchen is fully equipped with all utensils for your convenience. Additionally, the cottage has an 11-acre garden and fishing rights. Pets are also welcome.

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A detached, double fronted, stone-built cottage with a front garden behind a low stone wall.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

The Farmhouse is a spacious 4-star Grade II-Listed holiday cottage that welcomes pets. It is situated in a picturesque rural location on the west coast of Wales in Ceredigion, near Aberaeron. The property is located on a 130-acre organic farm that has its own fishing lakes and is just three miles away from stunning sandy beaches.

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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.