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 lighthouse with a sweeping clifftop lawn and sea views.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Book an Isle of Wight holiday cottage with superb sea views at Landward, a beautifully renovated ex-Lighthouse keeper's cottage at St Margaret's Lighthouse. Near Ventnor, a few minutes walk from the beach, this attractive cliff-top rural holiday cottage sleeps 4. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Jamaal Lodge is a large wooden  Northumberland holiday lodge in the peaceful hamlet of South Broomhill. The pet-friendly lodge boasts a lovely garden and entertaining areas, a sun-drenched balcony, light and airy spaces and within easy reach of the best attractions of the Northumberland region.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This unique accommodation is part of a historic water mill and retains original features, including exposed beams and huge mill windows. The peaceful Warwickshire village of Tredington is ideally situated between the Cotswolds and Stratford-on-Avon. Fishing is available on-site.

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2-storey stone-built Cotswold Cottage surrounded by a mature garden.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Spring Cottage is a gorgeous honey-coloured stone-built cottage nestled within the Cotswolds in Alkerton. The pet-friendly cottage boasts lovely gardens, exposed beams & stone walls, oak furnishings, an open fire, a sunroom and contemporary style, plus access to the region of Oxfordshire.

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A semi-detached Cotswold honeystone cottage with wisteria-clad walls
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Stripped pine doors and flagstone floors add character to Corner Cottage, a traditional Cotswold stone holiday cottage in Lower Oddington, a quaint Gloucestershire village. The rural cottage exudes charm and boasts modern sophistication, a woodburner in an inglenook fireplace, and a lovely garden.

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A holiday apartment lounge with sofas and French windows leading to a balcony
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

5 Middlecombe in the seaside resort village of Woolacombe, Devon, is part of the North Devon coast’s newest self-catering holiday destination, a child-friendly first-floor apartment with access to the complex’s many amenities and boasting an open-plan living area, private balcony, and en-suite master bedroom.

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far-reaching view of boating marinas on the Dart Estuary
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Rose Cottage in South Devon, sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms with truly spectacular panoramic views over the Dart Esturary Darthaven Marina, the Britannia Royal Naval College and upstream towards Dittisham. The stone holiday cottage was built in 1880 in a sought after position, A great, peaceful location on the English Riviera close to South Devon beaches.

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A 2-storey, extended farmhouse overlooks a large, well-kept lawn with mature trees.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Bonython Farmhouse is a large luxury holiday cottage on Bonython Estate near Helston. It boasts one of ‘The Great Gardens of Cornwall’, including a hidden valley and lakes. The pet-friendly coastal cottage boasts woodburning stoves plus a perfect blend of rural charm and modern design.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Wheelhouse Cottage is an authentic Yorkshire cottage near Pickering. It has a four-poster bed, beamed ceilings, and a traditional fireplace. The award-winning property at Keld Head Cottages boasts a stone façade, beautiful views, extensive gardens, and children's indoor and outdoor play areas.

  • Accessible Cottages
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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.