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 holiday cottage bay window overlooks a lawn surrounded by flower beds.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Pip’s Corner is a spacious Edwardian holiday cottage in Lynton, close to the sea in North Devon. It sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms. The pet-friendly cottage enjoys an ideal village location and boasts tiled floors, a log fire, modern comforts, multiple outdoor spaces, and a sun-drenched conservatory. Enjoy Lynton, trips down the Lynton-Lynmouth cliff railway, and exploring the Exmoor National Park.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3
  • Stables Cottage is a superb 16th-century farmhouse surrounded by some of Yorkshire’s most spectacular countryside. This Bronte Country Pennine holiday cottage sleeps 6, with an open fire and a pretty garden. The town of Hebden Bridge is 3 miles away, with pubs, tea rooms and an independent cinema.
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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
5

Underwoods Dairy is a beautifully converted Barn in the small hamlet of Tatham on the western edge of the Pennines near Kirkby Lonsdale. This pet friendly, large holiday cottage in Lancashire offers stunning rural views. It sleeps 11 and welcomes famlies or groups of friends.

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A stone cottage surrounded by fields overlooks a large garden with apple trees.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Hearn Lodge sits on 12 acres of wildlife meadows and boasts beautiful views of the Somerset countryside. The detached rural cottage in Bishops Lydeard offers seclusion and beauty and rewards guests with a conservatory, a private garden, a log fire, a farmhouse kitchen and a blend of old and new.

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Double-fronted exterior of a rural holiday cottage with a large paved terrace.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

South View Country House, a spacious holiday home near Henley-in-Arden, will be available from April 2024. It can accommodate up to 12 guests and offers a brand-new hot tub, stunning rural views, and complete privacy.

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Sleeps
19
Bedrooms
8

Luxuriously large barn conversion Yorkshire Pennine cottages, we have four properties here at Smallshaw Farm near Penistone, sleeping from 2 to 7 (19 people in all). They are surrounded by 700 acres of open farmland with a large garden area. Dogs are welcome.

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Exterior of a quaint stone-built Norfolk holiday cottage overlookings. mature garden and lawn.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Little Star is a romantic Norfolk flint-terraced village cottage near Hunstanton. The pet-friendly home promises a delightful garden and rustic interior. The cottage boasts exposed beams & wooden floors, as well as vaulted ceilings and a wood burner. Spoil your partner with a charming holiday.

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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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Front entrance and patio to  Praa-Sands holiday cottage fronted by a palm tree and shrubs.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Lighthouse is a true beachside getaway. The romantic holiday cottage on the shores of Praa Sands in Cornwall offers couples a cosy, light-filled escape with vibrant design features and impressive furnishings. The four-poster bed adds a touch of luxury, and the open-plan space enjoys ample windows.

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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.