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.

Large, stone-built, 3-storey, waterside Peak District holiday cottage.
Sleeps
18
Bedrooms
9

The Malthouse is a large, 9-bedroom self-catering Derbyshire apartment in Arkwright's historic Cromford Mill near Matlock Bath. This luxuriously furnished Peak District apartment in Cromford sleeps 18 guests and is ideally suited for large families or groups of friends.

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A Lighthouse complex on a clifftop with panoramic ocean views.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Panoramic ocean views stretch before Verity Cottage, a sophisticated coastal cottage within Trevose Head Lighthouse. The coast of Cornwall lies on either side of the cottage, which boasts outdoor entertaining spaces, contemporary comfort, light and airy design, the chance to get away from it all with more clean, fresh, revitalising air than you could shake a windsock at.

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Large holiday bungalow on Ocea Island with picnic tables. Sleeps 8. Pets welcome.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

One Manor Beach Cottage on Osea Island is a luxurious Essex holiday cottage by the shingle beach, just 90 minutes from London. This remarkable coastal retreat offers private beaches, an outdoor pool, a saltwater lido, a cinema room, a games room, and more. The spacious cottage features four stylish bedrooms, two bathrooms with rolltop baths, and a well-equipped kitchen. Enjoy sea views and a private garden. Ideal for special celebrations and family holidays, it's pet-friendly, offers short breaks, and welcomes two dogs.

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Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Swanage Driftwood is a large, modern coastal cottage in Dorset boasting light and airy spaces and contemporary chic. The pet-friendly holiday cottage in Swanage lies just moments from the beach and offers a sun-filled interior and multiple outdoor entertaining spaces, plus access to bespoke Wellness packages.

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A countryside bungalow with a view of the sea in the background.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

A sandy beach sits on the doorstep of Swn y Mor, a large seaside holiday cottage with a hot tub in Pembrokeshire which welcomes families. Outdoor entertaining areas and generous windows capture the ocean views and complement the luxurious décor of the pet-friendly holiday home. Sleeps 8.

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Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

Boundcliffe is a large holiday cottage in a rural location in North Yorkshire Moors. It sleeps ten people in four bedrooms in the village of Allerston near Pickering. It is a spacious, traditional Farmhouse that makes a marvellous countryside base for families or friends. Pets are welcome.

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A modern detached house with large windows and space for off-road parking in front.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Set in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is Gwelfor, a luxurious coastal holiday cottage in Marloes. The large, sophisticated house enjoys access to the highlights of South Wales and Pembrokeshire. It offers a contemporary open-plan design, light-filled spaces, lovely grounds, a sea breeze and a wood burner.

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Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
6

Once Mevagissey’s first bank, this large, luxury Grade II listed holiday cottage in Cornwall now accommodates up to 10 people within six bedrooms spread across three floors. The well-appointed interior of this large, pet-friendly coastal cottage spoils guests with inner-city chic in a delightful rural location.

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Spacious, open-Plan interior of a modern seaside holiday apartment.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

A modern luxury apartment home in a brand-new North Devon coastal complex, 5 Putsborough in the heart of the seaside resort village of Woolacombe, Devon, offers a family-friendly holiday stay, a pet-friendly home with a master bedroom having a  king-sized bedroom and an en-suite bathroom, private balcony, and access to indoor pool and gym.

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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.