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 2-story house with summer houses is surrounded by open countryside.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Welcome to Long Ing Farm, a charming large holiday home in Holmfirth, on the owner's working farm close to the breathtaking Peak District National Park. This stone-built detached Holmfirth holiday cottage is a treasure trove of character, featuring exposed beams, open eaves, and traditional furnishings that lend a warm and welcoming ambience.

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Large holiday bungalow on Ocea Island with picnic tables. Sleeps 8. Pets welcome.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

One Manor Beach Cottage on Osea Island is a luxurious Essex holiday cottage by the shingle beach, just 90 minutes from London. This remarkable coastal retreat offers private beaches, an outdoor pool, a saltwater lido, a cinema room, a games room, and more. The spacious cottage features four stylish bedrooms, two bathrooms with rolltop baths, and a well-equipped kitchen. Enjoy sea views and a private garden. Ideal for special celebrations and family holidays, it's pet-friendly, offers short breaks, and welcomes two dogs.

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A gabled end-of terrace North Yorkshire holiday cottage overlooking a small front garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Situated in the sleepy North Yorkshire village of Helperby, The Old Post Office is a splendidly converted former post office turned into a welcoming countryside holiday cottage with a hot tub near Boroughbridge. It features three bedrooms, a cosy sitting room with an open fire, and an outdoor seating area.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Based on a rural smallholding near Benllech on the Isle of Anglesey, Crow’s Nest Cottage is a detached stone-built holiday home perfect for a coast and countryside holiday in North Wales. The attractive cottage is steeped in character, with stunning seaside views, ideal for small families.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Enjoy everything that the rural North East has to offer with a stay at The Granary, a magnificent red brick barn conversion on the edge of the village of Long Framlington, Northumberland, a countryside cottage complete with tiled and wood flooring, two en-suite bedrooms and private garden.

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Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Dating back to the 17th-Century, Higher Mullacott Farmhouse near Ilfracombe is a large and luxurious 5-bed holiday cottage in North Devon which has been tastefully renovated for style and comfort, all set in a beautiful countryside location with sea views on the North Devon coast.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The Coach House offers sophisticated coast and country accommodation for four in the North Yorkshire village of Levisham. It boasts subtle elegance with a stone exterior, a contemporary interior, and a delightful garden and open-plan design, all in the heart of the North York Moors and Coast.

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Cottages with hanging flower basket line a quiet village street.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Discover The Grange, a charming Dorset cottage in Charmouth perfect for self-catering holidays. This traditional yet modern property, less than a 10-minute walk to the beach, offers a spacious kitchen/diner, inviting lounges, and a delightful patio with a brick-built BBQ. Explore nearby shops, cafes, and the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. With flexible sleeping arrangements and parking for convenience, The Grange is an ideal retreat for cottage holidays on the Jurassic Coast.

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A 2-storey Dorset mill conversion overlooks a terrace and lawned garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

The Mill is a well-equipped coastal holiday cottage with Wi-Fi available all year round. It sleeps six and is set in 7.5 acres of Dorset countryside. The Mill is only a short walk from the village pub and a short drive to the market town of Bridport / West Bay, which is famous as the location for TVs Broadchurch.

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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 direct to check that what you want to do on holiday is precisely the activity accessible at the cottage.