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 stone-built Exmoor Holiday Cottage surrounded by spacious lawns.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Located in a peaceful corner amidst the unspoiled beauty of Exmoor, Kiri Cottage offers an ideal getaway that is just a stone's throw away from the renowned Tarr Steps. The cottage is situated within the pristine grounds of West Hollowcombe Farm and offers a spacious 3-bedroom rural retreat in Hawkridge. It boasts breathtaking south-facing moorland views that will leave you spellbound. Here, you can experience nature at its very best and embark on your own Exmoor adventure.

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A twin gabled house with bay windows overlooks a railway line and fields.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

A luxuriously furnished cottage in a rural setting, No 1 Railway Cottages welcomes five guests to remarkable and self-catering relaxing holidays in Betws-y-Coed and the spectacular Snowdonia National Park. Modern amenities ensure a relaxing holiday getaway amidst the natural beauty of North Wales.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Loft Cottage is one of three pretty holiday cottages in the peaceful village of Crakehall, North Yorkshire. It is a dog-friendly cottage with views of Bedale Beck amidst the splendour of the lower Yorkshire Dales, featuring a hot tub, exposed beams, stone frontage, and three first-floor bedrooms.

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Ocean view from the glass-windowed deck of a clifftop holiday cottage in Downderry
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Lookout represents a contemporary split-level detached property, gracing an elevated position that offers captivating vistas of the enchanting southern Cornish coastline. This exceptional self-catering accommodation in Downderry accommodates up to 6 guests within its three generously proportioned bedrooms, each thoughtfully equipped with en-suite bathrooms. Every room within Lookout provides sweeping panoramic views of the sea, ensuring a serene and picturesque experience, even from the comfort of the bathtub!

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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
2
Bedrooms
1

Escape to a serene getaway at Woodland Retreat Shepherd's Hut - a beautiful wooden-clad and romantic cottage situated among a forest in Brundish, Suffolk. You can snuggle up in the comfortable and modern space, unwind on the deck, and explore the lush woodland before ending the day around the outdoor fire pit. If you have a horse, you're also welcome to bring it along to enjoy this peaceful rural retreat.

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A stone-built, vine-clad barn conversion behind a low stone wall
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

A large and impressively furnished stone barn conversion in Hawkshead, Bull Pen is a pet-friendly Lake District holiday cottage that sleeps ten on the rural Greythwaite Estate. Guests enjoy access to the Estate's heated indoor swimming pool, gym, and children's play area.

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L-shaped exterior of a barn conversion surrounded by open fields.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Ty Newydd is an impressive, large rural cottage with stunning views of the Conwy Estuary. The pet-friendly holiday cottage in Colwyn Bay sits on the vast Bodnant Estate. It offers guests a truly luxurious property with extensive gardens, period features and a chance to connect with nature and the outdoors.

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Exterior of a contemporary country cottage with a full-width balcony and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

The Shearing Shed is a sleek rural holiday cottage with beautiful rural views over the Peak District. The pet-friendly cottage sits on an alpaca farm near Flash, the highest village in Britain. It boasts a log burner, an open-plan design, a spacious patio, various farm animals and lots of fresh country air.

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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.