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.

Exterior of a single-storey seaside holiday cottage in Skinningrove.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
1

A stay at Bishop Cottage in the former fishing and mining village of Skinningrove, North Yorkshire, offers small groups on holiday in North East England a coastal cottage with a communal garden area to gather at night after a long day exploring the region’s sandy beaches and haunting moorlands.

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A 'honey-stone' thatched Cotswold holiday cottage in Oxfordshire.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

Suncroft is a quaint Grade II pet-friendly Cotswold cottage in Warwickshire near the village of Shotteswell. It features cosy interiors in muted tones, traditional furnishings, an inglenook fireplace & a country-style kitchen. This large 17th-century rural holiday home near Shottiswell sleeps up to eight guests.

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Rear exterior of a terraced holiday cottage in Ulverton overlooking a garden with flowering bulbs.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Hawthorn Cottage is a delightful, pet-friendly holiday cottage in the market town of Ulverston. It offers couples a romantic escape in Cumbria and The Lake District. Oak beams and stone-flagged floor complement the open fire and add character to the cottage, which boasts a lovely patio and modern comforts.

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A wide 2-storey gable end of an Isle-of-Wight holiday cottage with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Starboard is a beautiful Isle of Wight coastal retreat located on a shingle beach in charming Yarmouth. Starboard is a dog-friendly, small and romantic open-plan studio apartment sleeping 2.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Enjoy a truly rural holiday in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Fleshbeck Cottage, which sits close to the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria. The waterside holiday cottage has been carefully restored and rewards guests with exposed timber beams, stone flooring and an old range fireplace.

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Sandstone exterior of a sandstone holiday cottage with sash windows in Alnwick
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

The elegant Cosy Nook will delight guests with its immaculately presented furnishings and decor. The 19th-century townhouse boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a sunny patio and open fire across its three floors and contains modern finishes in a pet-free holiday cottage in Alnwick, Northumberland.

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Exterior of a wooden eco-lodge with woods to the rear and open fields in the foreground.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Exposed beams and trusses, a timber-clad exterior and spacious rooms make this converted barn near Rhayader an ideal rural retreat for families and couples planning a walking or cycling holiday exploring Mid-Wales, including the Brecon Beacons and the Radnorshire Hills.

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A 2-storey, terraced house with a large groundfloor bay window and a shrub-filled front garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

2 West View is nicely located for exploring the scenic Cartmel Peninsula. The pet-friendly terraced cottage in charming Allithwaite sits in a peaceful location and enjoys views of Cumbria and The Lake District, as well as offering a lovely enclosed garden, ample windows, natural light, and a cosy log fire for six guests.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Orchard Cottage is a large 4-bedroom farm cottage in North Devon, a rural location near South Molton on the edge of Exmoor. This family-friendly rural retreat is ideally located for exploring Exmoor and North Devon's fabulous award-winning beaches.

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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.