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 Large 3-storey Country House surrounded by lawns and woodland.
Sleeps
18
Bedrooms
9

Melmerby Hall is a large Grade-II listed manor house on 25 acres in Melmerby in Cumbria. The grand, pet-friendly rural cottage enjoys fantastic views from its spacious grounds and retains many original features, including its stone façade, Georgian shutters and sandstone terrace.

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A crossed-timbered Herefordshire country cottage with a lawned containing a mature tree.
Sleeps
17
Bedrooms
7

Nestling amidst Herefordshire Hills in a delightful rural location in the village of the same name, Little Cowarne Court is a large Bromyard holiday cottage, superbly created from traditional farm buildings for families or groups of friends sleeping 17 in 7 bedrooms.

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A holiday cottage lounge with exposed stone walls, pine beams and comfortable sofas.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Situated high on the hills and located in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Lavender Cottage offers cosy and comfortable accommodation for families and couples throughout the year.

Granite-built exterior of a single storey Cornish holiday home surrounded by lawns.ottage
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Escape to a world of tranquillity and romance at Owl House, located in the picturesque hamlet of Treneague near Wadebridge. This delightful holiday cottage offers the perfect getaway for you, your partner, and your furry friend. Fall asleep to the soothing hoot of an owl, cosy up by the crackling wood-burning stove, and indulge in the perfect blend of modern amenities and old-world charm. Take a leisurely stroll through the lush, mature garden, or explore the breathtaking beauty of the nearby Cornish coastline. Owl House is the perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Book now and experience the magic of Owl House for yourself!

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Stone-built, gable end of a cottage with flowering shrubs.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Dairy Cottage is a delightful stone-built country cottage within the Exmoor National Park. The pet-friendly holiday cottage near Dulverton offers fresh air and a shared garden with beautiful pastoral views. It has a generous and comfortable interior, a sunlit patio and access to Somerset's many attractions, from castles to tearooms.

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A woo-clad eco-cottage with a balcony overlooks a shrub-lined courtyard
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Swallow Cottage is rich in rustic charm. Exposed beams and period details feature heavily in the 18th-century Grade II listed barn conversion, which sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Bucknell in Shropshire and enjoys multiple outdoor spaces, beautiful views and modern comforts.

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Stone-built Cornish barn conversion surrounded by shrub-lined, lawns.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

A fresh, home-made pie welcomes guests to Tregadjack Farmhouse, a luxurious country cottage near Helston surrounded by gorgeous gardens in Tregathenan. Inglenook fireplaces and exposed beams, antique furnishings and contemporary fittings fill this gorgeous, pet-friendly rural property in Cornwall.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Fun in the sun is assured at 16 Woolacombe, a luxurious coastal apartment in Woolacombe Bay, Devon, which bathes in natural light and carries an effortless coastal chic throughout. The apartment also offers a swimming pool, sauna, treatment room, and modern comfort just minutes from the beach.

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An extended holiday bungalow backed by mature trees with a spacious patio equipped for outdoor dining.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Spring Water Barn is a luxurious romantic cottage set on 20 acres of beautiful grounds on the Bonython Estate. Set near Helston in Cornwall, the sophisticated cottage offers stunning gardens and private outdoor spaces, as well as contemporary style, a wood-burning stove, exposed beams and serenity.

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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.