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 3-storey Somerset longhouse overlooks a steep-banked country lane.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

The Crows Nest is a spacious holiday cottage located in Porlock Weir along the Exmoor coast. It boasts stone floors, exposed beams, a large inglenook fireplace with a woodburner, and three roomy bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Cherry Tree Farmhouse is a Grade II listed rural cottage dating back to the 1600s. The large 5-star gold-rated holiday cottage near Halse in Somerset spoils guests with a log burner, hot tub, swimming pool, games room, vast outdoor play and entertaining areas, and lovely views, plus access to sandy beaches.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a weather-boarded East Sussex Cottage and lawned garden.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Cherry Cottage is a spacious, modern rural holiday cottage in East Sussex boasting seclusion and tradition. The pet-friendly cottage lies in Ripe, near Lewes and boasts stunning rural views, exposed beams and outdoor entertaining areas. Beautiful walks lead from its doorstep, and the wonders of Sussex await.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
holiday lodge deck with a hot-tub, table and chairs
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Escape to the Somerset countryside near Cheddar at the beautiful Combe Hay eco-lodge, complete with luxury furnishings and a private Jacuzzi hot tub, perfect for a romantic getaway for two.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a contemporary eco-lodge with large floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows and doors opening onto a wooden deck with a hot tub.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

A luxurious eco-lodge set within Strawberryfield Park in Cheddar. With a wraparound furnished deck and sumptuous hot tub, this beautifully designed and furnished home delivers style and comfort in equal measure. Perfectly suited to families or groups of friends, it makes for a superb stay in Somerset.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A House with large conservatory is surrounded by a garden with lawns and mature shrubs.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

Chapel Knap is a luxurious Exmoor holiday cottage on the Somerset coast dating back to the 12th century. The pet-friendly cottage in Porlock Weir, Somerset, boasts an impressive sunroom and a subtropical garden with stunning ocean views. It also features period furnishings, a log fire, seclusion, and access to the delights of Exmoor.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Interior and exterior photos of Chapel Cottage, a double-fronted Exmoor holiday cottage in Exford.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
2

With views over the village green, Chapel Cottage is an ideal family cottage. The pet-friendly cottage in Exford provides comfort and style and is set inside Exmoor National Park and its endless natural wonders. Set over three levels, the cottage boasts a wood burner plus generous outdoor areas for relaxation.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Herefordshire Shepherds Hut is shaded by trees in a garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Cedar Tree is a gorgeously cute romantic shepherd's hut for two set among green gardens and open countryside in the Hampshire hamlet of Cole Henley. The delightful former shepherd’s hut is decorated and furnished to a high standard. It is set on Peak House Farm, offering beautiful views of the North Wessex Downs and a heated swimming pool.

  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a large timber lodge with a spacious deck overlooking an equally spacious, secure lawn.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

This is a fantastic, recently-built holiday home near Carbis Bay that is detached and has a reverse-level layout. It boasts five bedrooms and has been finished to an exceptional standard, with stylish and spacious accommodation. The property is situated in a slightly elevated location, offering breathtaking views of the sea and coastline from the front. On a clear day, you can see all the way up the coast to Godrevy Lighthouse and even as far as St Agnes Head.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages

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.