A surfer traverses a large wave. Find holiday cottages for active holidays in the open air.

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 balcony with table and chairs overlooks Sidmouth's seafront.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

York House is a beautifully restored Georgian beachfront holiday home in Sidmouth, offering luxurious comforts and stunning sea views. Relax by the fireplace in the living room or cook in the fully equipped kitchen. Cross the Esplanade to the beach the beach to enjoy leisurely seaside strolls. Gather for meals in the spacious dining area overlooking the sea or dine al fresco on one of two terraces. With its prime location and coastal charm, York House promises an unforgettable seaside holiday in Sidmouth.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior of a single-storey cottage overlooking a garden full of mature shrubs and trees.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Welcome to Nuthatch, your ideal romantic retreat within the picturesque Three Gates Farm. This delightful Exmoor farm cottage is the perfect haven for couples (and their pets) seeking a cosy and intimate escape. It is ideally located for walking holidays exploring Exmoor and Mid-Devon, no matter the season.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Front exterior of a double-fronted terrace cottage with large sash windows and a front garden
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Primrose Hill Farmhouse offers two bedrooms of cosy, welcoming charm in a family-friendly cottage overlooking Hutton-le-Hole in the North York Moors. The mid-terrace cottage is ideally placed for active holidaymakers and those who appreciate the charm of traditional rural living.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A cottagw window and French ?Doors are semi hidden by a flowering mass of climbing roses.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Ensconced in a flowering garden, Faerie World promises couples a true escape. The gorgeous romantic cottage for two in Bath enjoys views of a babbling stream from its terrace and boasts an interior decorated with contemporary elegance uing Farrow & Ball colours. Cuddle up in front of the cosy wood burner.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
8

Capel Dinorwig is a magnificent, converted, pet-friendly Welsh Chapel in Gwynedd, creating a large, luxury, eco holiday home near Llanberis in the Snowdonia National Park. It sleeps 16 in 8 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms and a sauna. The remote, rural views from the chapel are absolutely stunning.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Spectacular ocean views extend to the horizon from Galatea, a coastal cottage within the Whitby Lighthouse complex. The unique cottage offers elegant and light-filled accommodation, spacious furnished grounds, a refreshing sea breeze, sophistication, and seclusion within easy reach of the beach. 

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Waterside Cottages
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 sub-tropical garden with stunning ocean views, period furnishings, a log fire, seclusion and access to the delights of Exmoor.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Festival Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a large country house surrounded by lawned gardens.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Kirkbridge Hall is located on a 20-acre mixed woodland estate in Cumbria called Melmerby Hall. This pet-friendly stone cottage is next to St. John's Church. The cottage offers stunning views and peaceful surroundings. It has a lovely orchard and solid oak floors, along with antique furniture and a cozy log fire.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A large Coniston holiday home at the head of a hedge-lined tarmac drive with a mature woodland background.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Browside is a pet-friendly Lake District holiday cottage with stunning fell views down to Coniston Water welcomes large families or groups of friends. Sleeping 14, this large, warm, cosy house in a walker's paradise includes a hot tub for relaxing after a day in the fells.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large 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 direct to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.