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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.

A slate-roofed barn conversion overlooks a farmyard.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Whisk yourself away to a Scottish working farm in Annan and settle into The Loft. This dog-friendly two-bedroom countryside cottage in Dumfries and Galloway comfortably houses your family on self-catering holidays in the countryside.

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Exterior of a 3-storey holiday cottage on Osea Island overlooking a large lawn with sun lounders beneath a shade of tree
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Rosetti House is a spacious holiday cottage located on Osea Island, near Maldon. The cottage is situated on the ground floor and features a large private garden. It is equipped with a communal pool, tennis court, and cinema room for easy access. The living area has three comfortable sofas and the kitchen-diner seats up to 14 people, making them ideal spaces for gathering.

Osea Island is located in the Blackwater Estuary and offers a memorable escape with its private beach, saltwater lido, heated outdoor pool, gym, and event spaces. The cottage features six bedrooms and multiple bathrooms, ensuring comfort and relaxation. It is perfect for special celebrations or family getaways.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

Discover the secluded luxury of Chapel House One, an Essex holiday cottage on Osea Island, surrounded by the Blackwater Estuary. Revel in the exclusive tidal island, a 90-minute escape from London, with private beaches, an outdoor pool, tennis court, cinema room, games room, and more. This dog-friendly waterside cottage offers flexible accommodation, ideal for family get-togethers—Book Chapel House One for a unique, beautiful getaway with stylish living areas and mezzanine space. Explore the island, visit The Puffin Pub, and enjoy EV charging facilities.

  • Active Holidays
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A two-storey Essex holiday cottage overlooking a lawn with a parasol on Osea Island
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Garden House is a warm and inviting Essex holiday cottage on Osea Island located near the waterfront, boasting a charming and cosy atmosphere. The interior is tastefully decorated, radiating comfort and sophistication, making it an excellent choice for a luxurious holiday retreat. This holiday home is situated in the central village area of the island, providing convenient access to all the island's attractions while also offering a private and secluded refuge.

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A large chalet bungalow with large glass windows and a hot tub on the front terrace.
Sleeps
20
Bedrooms
8

A large, immaculate dormer bungalow on the North Yorkshire coast, pet-friendly Seacrest Lodge is just an easy walk to the beach. This Scarborough holiday cottage has a hot tub and sleeps 20 in 8 bedrooms. It offers rural and sea views and is nicely located for seaside, walking, cycling, and golfing holidays for big families or groups.

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Aerial view of a Cornish Lighthouse complex overlooking the sea.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Brook Cottage is a sophisticated coastal cottage set above the cliffs within Trevose Head Lighthouse near Padstow. The pet-friendly cottage enjoys spectacular ocean views and a sea breeze. It offers enclosed lawned gardens with furnished spaces, coastal chic and proximity to the many delights and attractions on the North Cornwall coast.

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Exterior of a semi-detached thatched cottage overlooking a lawned garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Blueberry Cottage in Old Cleeve makes the perfect holiday home for exploring the Exmoor coast. This 16th-century Somerset coastal cottage near the national park and Minehead Beach has two bedrooms upstairs, a thatched roof, low doorways, beamed ceilings, and a pretty cottage garden.

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A Thatched farmhouse with a garden surrounded by a picket fence.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

Bilshay Farmhouse is a pretty, thatched Dorset Farmhouse sleeping up to ten over four bedrooms in a rural location with far-reaching views of rolling hills, a short distance from the market town of Bridport. This large holiday property also includes a hot tub, trampoline and games room. Dogs welcome.

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A partially thatched Dorset cottage overlooks a large and secure lawned garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the hamlet of Benville, Dorset, just as Thomas Hardy described it a century ago, with a stay at Benville Cottage, a historic child-friendly cottage with three bedrooms, a large garden with three terraced lawn areas, an Inglenook fireplace, and 17th-century stone wall carving.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Coastal Cottages
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  • Cycling Holidays
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  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • 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.