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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 side elevation of a luxury Cotswold Barn conversion with wide, full-height sliding French Windows.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Set amidst the rolling countryside of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Rosebank Barn on the edge of the charming Gloucestershire village of Ablington is a child-friendly cottage converted from a natural stone barn, boasting underfloor heating, vaulted ceilings, and a wood-burning stove.

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A restored windmill stands in the middle of a field of ripe wheat.
  • Sleeps 12
  • Bedrooms 6

This luxuriously furnished windmill, built in 1813 in the countryside near Usk in Monmouthshire, has been lovingly restored to create a large, quirky holiday cottage sleeping 12, close to the Brecon Beacons National Park. Pets are welcome.

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A contemporary Northumberland holiday lodge beneath a sheer rocky hill face.
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Mallow Lodge is an impressive eco-cottage set against the dramatic backdrop of Brada Quarry. The pet-friendly cottage in Bamburgh is set near the Northumberland coast. It boasts beautiful views, eco-credentials, a spacious furnished deck, a sophisticated interior with ample windows, and a log fire.

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Exteriod of a Cotswold honeystone cottage.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Stables at The Lammas is an elegant Cotswold stone barn conversion with a truly unique outdoor dining area surrounded by mature gardens in the village of Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. The rural cottage boasts two courtyards, contemporary luxury and proximity to the best of the Cotswolds.

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Large, stone-built, 3-storey, waterside Peak District holiday cottage.
  • Sleeps 18
  • Bedrooms 9

The Malthouse is a large, 9-bedroom self-catering Derbyshire apartment in Arkwright's historic Cromford Mill near Matlock Bath. This luxuriously furnished Peak District apartment in Cromford sleeps 18 guests and is ideally suited for large families or groups of friends.

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Exterior of a stone-built end-of-terrace Dales cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Blacksmith Cottage is a beautifully designed romantic retreat that can accommodate two guests. It is situated in the charming village of Grassington, in the heart of the picturesque Yorkshire Dales. This pet-friendly cottage is tastefully furnished with a subtle elegance that runs throughout. It boasts a lovely courtyard, open-plan living areas, and absolute convenience for guests.

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A contemporary wood and glass bungalow with a wrap-around deck overlooks a shrub-filled garden.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 4

Unique four-bedroom coastal property near Dartmouth in South Devon, sleeping up to eight guests. Suitable for large groups or extended families, including an outside hot tub and covered sauna.

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A thatched Cotswold Cottage with a bay window overlooks an empty village street.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Inglenook Cottage is an archetypal chocolate-box cottage boasting Cotswold stone walls and a thatched roof. The 300-year-old romantic cottage in Broad Campden, Gloucestershire, is Grade II listed and promises an inglenook fireplace, exposed beams, wooden floorboards & space for pets in its lovely garden.

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A classic country house with a pillared front entrance and surrounded by lawns and mature flower beds
  • Sleeps 12
  • Bedrooms 6

Moortown House Farm is an elegant Georgian-listed manor on the edge of an AONB in Moortown. The large rural holiday cottage in Lincolnshire was built in 1816 and was designed by Sit Joseph Paxton. Rolling parkland and woodland surround the elegant property, which has luxurious furnishings, a tennis court, and country charm.

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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.