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.

Modern, 3-storey Dorset eco-lodge overlooking a patio and large lawn.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

Harbour Lights is a spacious seaside cottage located in Dorset, situated between Bridport and West Bay. The cottage provides modern amenities and offers breathtaking views of both the countryside and the sea. It is pet-friendly and comes with a large furnished terrace, perfect for hosting gatherings. Inside, the cottage features elegant Corian work surfaces, as well as marble and wooden floors.

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Front of a log cabin showing a covered deck.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This hand-built and wonderfully fitted log cabin in Shropshire oozes charm and romance. The entire cabin, from the bold exterior to the charming interior, was designed with Western Red Cedar and thoughtfully furnished to ensure that the country charm is carried throughout his eco cottage in Ellesmere.

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Ground floor exterior of a stone-built Victorian house and front garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Ascension is a superbly ornate romantic suite inside a Victorian villa in Cardiff's heart. The décor includes antiques, elegant décor and international souvenirs, and the grand four-poster bed hints at royalty. A bay window captures the view and plush leather sofas invite relaxation.

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Open-plan living space in a converted horse box in Somerset.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
1

Chill out in the Somerset countryside at Horsing Around, a converted horsebox near Frome. The luxury eco-friendly lodge offers expansive grounds with beautiful views, a spacious deck, and unique décor with modern comforts. Pick herbs from the garden and relax by the wood burner.

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A U-shaped, stone barn conversion with floor-to-ceeiing windows looks out over a large shingled courtyard.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

A family- and pet-friendly country getaway near Ravensworth in the Yorkshire Dales, this 3-bedroom pet-friendly barn conversion on a working farm sleeps 7, Convenient to local market villages, Larklands balances rustic and new in one stylish rural retreat in North Yorkshire.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

The Old Barn is a charming stone-built cottage near Swanage offering stylish accommodation. Set on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset's large and pet-friendly holiday home promises tranquillity, lovely views, spacious grounds, fresh air, open-plan living and a cosy log fire.

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1.slade-house,ashbourne,derbyshire-exterior
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Located near Ashbourne on the edge of the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire Slade House is one of three large, charming properties at Slade House Farm offering ideal large accommodation for family holidays, reunions and short breaks set in an idyllic, rural location. Sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms.

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Exterior view of St Anne's Lighthouse complex on the Isle of Wight.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Fancy a lighthouse holiday? Book Gunard, a Ventnor holiday cottage, part of St Catherine's Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight. With superb sea views, this pet-friendly waterside cottage sleeps 5 in a secluded rural location right above the waves.

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Exterior of a detached Somerset holiday cottage and shrub-filled garden
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

The Coach House, Old Cleeve, is a modern two-story coastal cottage with stunning views of Somerset's countryside. It is the perfect home base for exploring Exmoor National Park's valleys. moorland and picturesque villages. The cottage features a spacious kitchen, two sitting rooms, and two double bedrooms separated by a large walk-in wardrobe.

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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.