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 large, twin-gabled brick farmhouse with a gazebo.
Sleeps
24
Bedrooms
10

Orchard House is a large and luxuriously furnished holiday cottage in Monmouthshire nestled deep in the Llangovan Valley on a cider apple farm. It lies in a peaceful rural area of outstanding natural beauty. This family and dog-friendly countryside cottage sleep 24 in 10 bedrooms (8 bathrooms). Pets Welcome.

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Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

If your large family is looking for a place in the Peak District for a cottage holiday, look no further than The Rindle! This large rural holiday cottage near Leek comfortably houses up to 14 people and serves as the perfect rural base for countryside holidays for families and friends.

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A slate-roofed barn conversion overlooks a farmyard.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Whisk yourself away to a Scottish working farm in Annan and settle into The Loft. This dog-friendly two-bedroom countryside cottage in Dumfries and Galloway comfortably houses your family on self-catering holidays in the countryside.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

A stunning new North Devon beach apartment for 2015 in Westward Ho! This beautiful seaside holiday apartment has a contemporary interior, high-quality spec with a balcony and fantastic sea views, directly overlooking the beach in this family-friendly resort.

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Exterior of a single-storey Cornish cottage surrouded by a tree-lined garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Millstream is a Tintagel holiday cottage for couples set in the picturesque St. Nectan’s Glen along the North Cornwall coast. This romantic rural retreat for two is in a former corn mill and retains its character, with a quaint arched door and sofa that converts into a full-size double bed.

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A2-storey, end of terrace stone-built holiday cottage in Settle with a walled side garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

French doors open onto a private patio and lawn with stunning rural views of the surrounding countryside at this Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage for couples. Located in the peaceful village of Long Preston, near Skipton, Carn Cottage sleeps two and is a short walk from a CAMRA award-winning pub.

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Nestling into a bend on a remote country lane this Gwynedd rural retreat is a single-storey barn conversion.torey barn conversion nestles into a bend in a country lane
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Ty Cerrig, with incredible rustic décor sleeping five, is built from an ancient barn in Llanbedr. This magnificent coast and countryside getaway near Harlech in Snowdonia offers homely modern features and easy access to breathtaking natural scenery and many outdoor activities. Pets welcome.

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A long, 2-storey farm cottage overlooking a spacious lawn.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Set on the vast grounds of Melmerby Hall, Stag Cottage is an award-winning, self-contained, 17th-century, Grade II-listed sandstone cottage in Melmerby, Cumbria. The pet-friendly, 5-star Gold cottage promises 20 acres of grounds, a private garden, an open fire, mullion windows, and beams.

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A secluded wooden holiday lodge with large windows overlooks a riverbank.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Nestled amidst the breathtaking woodlands of the New Forest National Park and along a serene lake off the River Avon, Riverside Chronicles is a charming, pet-friendly cottage on the outskirts of the town of Fordingbridge, Hampshire. A nature enthusiast's dream, this luxury waterside holiday cottage features a cosy wood-burner, two comfortable bedrooms, and a glamping pod.

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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.