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 stone drive leads to a barn conversion surrounded by well-mown lawns.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Orchard Cottage is a gorgeous stone-built romantic holiday cottage in the Wye Valley in a designated National Landscape in Penterry, Monmouthshire. The pet-friendly cottage offers contemporary comforts, a log fire, traditional charm, seclusion, an outdoor fire pit, and lovely rural views across Monmouthshire.

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A semi-dtached, stone-buit North Yorkshire holiday cottage sits behind afront garden with shrubs and roses.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This semi-detached, sandstone coastal cottage is in the countryside hamlet of Dalehouse on the edge of Staithes on the North Yorkshire coast and can sleep four people in two bedrooms.

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A 2-storey barn conversion overlooks a paved courtyard and open countryside in North Wales.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Discover The Stables at Cae Gwyn, a remote Denbighshire farm cottage boasting original features and breathtaking views. This large holiday cottage with a hot tub offers four bedrooms, ample parking, and charming living spaces, including a games room and snug. With nearby attractions like Ruthin and Llangollen, it's the perfect base for exploring North Wales. View the full description for an unforgettable getaway.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

This lovely rural holiday cottage in Noth Devon is located one mile from the village of Muddiford near Barnstaple and sandy beaches. It can sleep five people in three bedrooms.

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L-shaped exterior of a stone-built cottage surrounded by lawns and a secure hedge.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

RedRoofs, with stunning views over the Esk Valley within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, is a spacious home ideally suited for family holidays or a weekend getaway for a group of friends. It lies within easy reach of the village pub, while Whitby is only a short drive away.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Set among the meadows in the Quarme Valley, West Huckham Barn is a converted rural holiday cottage on Exmoor boasting wonderful moorland views and contemporary style. The pet-friendly cottage near Wheddon Cross has a wood-burning stove, traditional features, vaulted ceilings, expansive grounds and a conservatory.

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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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A 2-storey, timber-walled lodge in a woodland glade.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Deerpark Lodge is a delightful wooden-clad holiday lodge in Leicestershire on a 28-acre estate near Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The pet-friendly rural property is surrounded by woodland for walks and lakes for fishing. It offers light-filled open-plan spaces, a contemporary design, a large deck with views, and a log fire.

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Exterior of stone-built, barn conversion in the Peak District.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Moor Cottage at Endmoor Farm is a luxury holiday cottage for couples of all ages seeking a romantic rural retreat within the Derbyshire Peak District. Endmoor is a working farm between Bakewell and Buxton, and Moor Cottage sleeps 2 in a high-quality barn conversion. Pets welcome.

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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.