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 rural cottage with 3 terraces, gardens and a hot tub.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

Watersend is a quiet and luxurious holiday home with a hot tub located in Watergate Bay on the stunning Cornish coast. With bi-fold doors that provide breathtaking views of the sea, a cinema room, and four en-suite bedrooms, this spacious vacation rental is perfect for family holidays and short getaways. Additionally, it offers ample, off-road parking space, making it convenient for multiple guests with vehicles. Book now for an unforgettable coastal retreat in Cornwall!

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
 with a large barn converted into a row of rural holiday cottages to a courtyard
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Withycombe is one of 12 4-Star Exmoor Holiday Cottages at Duddings & sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms. It is set in the beautiful Avill valley in the Exmoor National Park, near Dunster & Minehead. Indoor pool & spa bath, games room, tennis court, trampoline, play centre etc. Families & dogs are very welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A stout wooden door in an ivy-clad stone-built porch surrounded by shrubs and flowers.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Cleeve apartment is one of twelve 4-star Holiday Cottages at Duddings Cottages near Dunster. The twin-bedroom Exmoor holiday home for couples is set in the beautiful valley of the River Avill in the Exmoor National Park. Communal facilities include an indoor pool, spa bath, tennis court, games room, trampoline, etc. Families and dogs are most welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A stone barn conversion overlooks a lawn and flower-filled garden
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
6

Dolly's barn is a large 17th-Century barn near Ilfracombe, which has been lovingly converted into a charming 6-bedroom luxury holiday cottage sleeping 11 with disabled access in a beautiful spot on the North Devon Coast.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Stag Lodge is a large, dog-friendly, remote Highland cottage set on the 12,000-acre Glencarron Estate near Strathcarron in the Western Highlands, within easy reach of the West Coast beaches. It offers accommodation for eight people in four bedrooms, one double and three twins.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Sleeping up to four in two bedrooms, pretty Royd  Cottage, a Holiday Cottage in West Down, just a few miles from the stunning North Devon coastline and Woolacombe Beach. This family-friendly country cottage has onsite fishing and a children's play area.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
3 cottages overlook a sandy beach at low tide.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Upper Instow Beach Cottage is a charming first-floor North Devon holiday let overlooking the estuary. The dog-friendly waterside apartment has three bedrooms and sleeps five people. It has a lovely balcony where guests can enjoy uninterrupted views across the beach and estuary to Appledore and beautiful sunsets.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Against a woodland backdrop, a large cottage with a spacious deck overlooks a flower and shrub-filled garden surrounding a lawn.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Stable Block is an Exmoor holiday cottage for couples near the ancient seaside village of Porlock Weir with underfloor heating and an open-plan living and dining area. It's perfect for romantic breaks on the Somerset coast. This dog-friendly cottage features a Juliette balcony and has gorgeous views of the garden and Porlock Bay,

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Restored Fortified Country House surrounded by open fields in Cumbria.
Sleeps
24
Bedrooms
12

Blencowe Hall is an award-winning Grade I-listed fortified manor in Blencowe dating back to the 1400s. Situated in Blencowe, Cumbria, the pet-friendly rural property boasts period features, open fires, extensive manicured grounds, activities such as trout fishing, stunning views and contemporary elegance.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • 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.