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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 gable-windowed holiday cottage overlooks a large lawn bordered by bushy shrubs.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Garden View is an impressive holiday apartment in Porlock Weir with a gorgeous garden and views over the countryside to the coast of Somerset. Situated within a former Edwardian hunting lodge, the pet-friendly cottage sleeps four. It has a lovely lawned garden with a furnished area for outdoor dining, plus a light and airy interior with an open-plan design.

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Floor to ceiling French windows in a brick and coblestone cottage overlook a formal garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Bridge Cottage is a cute cottage converted from a former mill worker home in Aylsham, Norfolk. The delightful garden leads into the characterful interior, which retains exposed beams and tiled floors and offers open-plan design, thoughtful presentation and décor, and easy access to many attractions.

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Double-fronted exterior of a limestone block-built cottage with sash windows.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Explore Rockwell House, a large holiday home in the Pennines and an enticing Wearhead holiday let. It has modern comforts and period charm and boasts spacious bedrooms with en-suites, a cosy living area with wood-burning stoves, and a fully equipped kitchen. Nearby attractions like Killhope Lead Mining Museum and Hamsterley Forest offer outdoor adventures. With room for nine guests, it’s perfect for family getaways. Discover more about this inviting retreat.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Set amongst mature waterside gardens in a gorgeous secluded location, Bratton Mill Cottage, near the medieval village of Bratton Fleming in Devon, is a pet-friendly 17th-century cottage. It has been recently redecorated yet retains much of the character and charm of the original mill.

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Exterior and front garden of a stone-built Dorset holiday cottage with outdoor dining furniture on its terrace.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Chideock Cottage is a well-equipped holiday cottage which is available all-year-round. Situated in the village of Chideock with stunning views of the hills and just a 20 minute walk to the beach at Seatown. There is a lovely foodie pub just over the road, too!

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A stone barn conversion with steps to a 1st floor enntrnce from a patio with table and chairs.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A romantic cottage in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Lottie’s Loft is a lovely studio apartment, once a blacksmith’s workshop in Grassington, North Yorkshire, that’s been carefully restored and furnished to provide superb accommodation for couples on holiday in beautiful Wharfedale. Pets welcome.

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Aerial view of a country cottage on the edge of a wood overlooking fields in Glamorgan
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Nos Da (Welsh for 'good night') is a beautifully presented contemporary cottage offering the ideal tranquil escape in South Wales' beautiful countryside and nearby coastline. It is perfect for walkers and cyclists, and there are many attractions nearby, including the Millennium Stadium.

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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 10 over 4 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 Cumbria holiday cottage at the foot of a hill surrounded by fields and mature trees
Sleeps
18
Bedrooms
8

A traditional Cumbrian farm converted to a large and comfortable Lake District holiday cottage for groups or sizable families. This pet-friendly cottage in Staveley sleeps 18 guests in 8 bedrooms with glorious views across the Lake District Fells near Lake Windermere.

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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.