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 and front garden of a stone-built Dorset holiday cottage with outdoor dining furniture on its terrace.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Chideock Cottage is a well-equipped holiday cottage which is available all-year-round. Situated in the village of Chideock with stunning views of the hills and just a 20 minute walk to the beach at Seatown. There is a lovely foodie pub just over the road, too!

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A 3-storey, brick-built mill conversion alongside the mill race.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Puddle Cottage is part of an 18th-century water mill in the quiet Warwickshire village of Tredington, on the edge of the Cotswolds. It is in a charming riverside location with its own secluded garden and steps leading down to the mill stream. Pets are welcome. Fishing is available on-site.

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Sleeps
30
Bedrooms
10

Brookside Manor House stands in a rural Shropshire location. The list of rooms in this large and magnificent country house near Chirk reads like a Cluedo set: a library, conservatory, snooker room, drawing room, swimming pool, gym, and squash courts. Perfect for big weekend country house parties.

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Sleeps
15
Bedrooms
6

Ty Newydd is a large rural holiday cottage near Cardigan Bay in Mid Wales, which spoils guests with extensive grounds and entertaining areas. It's a holiday home with a hot tub, a heated indoor swimming pool and a games room. The spacious, luxurious interior offers true relaxation with modern comforts and an open fire.

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A large Coniston holiday home at the head of a hedge-lined tarmac drive with a mature woodland background.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Browside is a pet-friendly Lake District holiday cottage with stunning fell views down to Coniston Water welcomes large families or groups of friends. Sleeping 14, this large, warm, cosy house in a walker's paradise includes a hot tub for relaxing after a day in the fells.

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A lighthouse and buildings now converted to holiday cottages gleams in the summer sun in Broadstairs.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Lodesman Cottage enjoys sweeping ocean views from its position within the North Foreland Lighthouse above the beaches of Broadstairs. The unique coastal holiday cottage in Kent sleeps 4 and offers sophisticated light and airy accommodation plus spacious grounds for relaxing in the sun and the light sea breeze.

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A chalet bungalow overlooks a front lawn and large parking area.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

Amidst the beauty of the Lake District is the lovely holiday cottage Hazel, part of the Woodland Cottages resort on the eastern shores of Lake Windermere near the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, a child-friendly cottage featuring a hot tub, wood-burning stove and five bedrooms.

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A wooden holiday cottage overlooks a large lawn with outdoor dining furniture.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2
  • Nestled in the picturesque Quantock Hills, you'll find the fantastic Flora's Barn, your perfect getaway for all-season family adventures in the West Somerset countryside. This family-friendly two-bedroom / two-bathroom holiday cottage in Crowcombe sits on a small farm and welcomes pets.
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Barn conversion buildings overlooking a grass courtyard with a raised flower bed.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Lovely large 6-bedroom barn conversion in East Yorkshire with private gardens - set on our farmstead in 19 acres of grass and woodland two miles from the historic town of Beverley. Free wifi - arrive any day. AWARD-WINNING COTTAGES. Pets welcome. Sleeps 12+2 extra children.

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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.