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 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.

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Half hidden by trees, a luxury Hertfordshire cottage overlooks a long, manicured lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Picture This is a luxurious rural cottage set on the grounds of Pembroke Farm near Slip End in Hertfordshire. The idyllic setting ensures relaxation, and the manicured gardens are a delightful space to dine and unwind. The farmhouse-style kitchen typifies the successful blend of tradition and modernity.

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Exterior of a single-storey, stone-built, Cheshire holiday cottage.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Set among the gorgeous countryside of Cheshire, Orchard Cottage is a modern barn conversion near Rainow that offers luxury, seclusion, and relaxation. The pet-friendly cottage boasts a delightful garden with beautiful views, a games room, an open fire, original features and sun-filled spaces.

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Rear exterior of a long 2-storey cottage overlooking a paved terrace with a hot tub and a lawn.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Offering beautiful views over the Severn Valley, Old Rectory Cottage in a sleepy, rural Mid-Wales hamlet is a large holiday cottage near Newtown sleeping 14. This pet-friendly holiday home also has an indoor swimming pool and hot tub. Perfect for walking, cycling and fishing holidays.

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Exterior of a single-storey cottage surrounded by trees and flowering shrubs.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Mineshop Holiday Cottages are located in the heart of the stunning Mineshop Valley, a short walk through the fields and woodland to the beach at Crackington Haven near Bude in North Cornwall. Set in a secluded and tranquil spot, it's the perfect getaway for families, couples and dog owners.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Small Cottages
  • 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.