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 sonte-buklt Exmoor holiday cottage with a background of trees and a clear sky
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Set on a working farm of 280 acres in Exmoor National Park is Honeycott, a lovingly-converted remote holiday cottage near Wheddon Cross in Somerset. Sleeping 4, the pet-friendly cottage features a stone exterior, expansive grounds with views, private outdoor spaces, and a generous open-plan design.

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A North Devon riverside cottage with a large lawn.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A romantic riverside holiday cottage in Bratton Fleming perfect for celebrating any of life’s special occasions, The Folly lies on the fringes of Exmoor in North Devon, tucked away on a private lane, with large glazed double doors opening onto a beautifully furnished pet-friendly studio cottage.

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Behind a hedge is a large L-shaped contemporary cottage with a conservatory.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
5

Hunter Court spoils guests with its lovely mature gardens and refined, luxurious interior. The large rural holiday cottage in Clanfield, Oxfordshire, offers seclusion on multiple acres and boasts a large conservatory, spacious light-filled rooms and the promise of a memorable holiday in the heart of the Cotswolds.

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2-storey  exterior of a stone-built farmhouse overlooking a garden surrounded by a thick hedge.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Sayers House is a detached holiday cottage in Wisbech St Mary Cambridgeshire, sleeping 5. Sayers House is a family-friendly holiday cottage with Wi-Fi. Sayers has a large garden and wooded area with a footpath leading into a 3-acre field. There is ample secluded parking plus a garage. Pets welcome.

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A garden with a garden swing, trees and a wide drive are overlooked by a weather-boarded 2-storey Herefordshire cottage.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Rustic charm defines Bearwood Cottage, a pet-friendly cottage near Pembridge in Herefordshire. The half-timbered rural cottage sits on the grounds of Bearwood House. It boasts generous gardens in an idyllic rural setting and a sophisticated interior with a wood burner and farmhouse kitchen.

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Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

Timbers is an elegant coastal cottage in an enviable waterside location above the tidal creek. This large holiday cottage in Newton Ferrers boasts ample grounds, beautiful gardens, light-filled rooms & its own private tidal slipway. Enjoy peace and seclusion in style just moments from the South Devon coast.

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Exterior and front garden of a 3-storey Georgian town house.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

A historic Georgian property offering self-catering accommodation for groups of up to 12, Derwent House provides six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a panelled dining room and a large, superbly equipped kitchen. It is an excellent holiday cottage in Derbyshire for special occasions and meeting with friends and families, ideally for exploring the Peak District.

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Aerial image of a Shropshire holiday barn surrounded by open fields and woods.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Wassall Barn is an elegant barn conversion situated on beautiful grounds in Craven Arms, Shropshire. The property is pet-friendly and offers stunning views of the countryside. The spacious rooms feature an open-plan design that allows plenty of natural light to flood in, and the contemporary style is complemented by trussed full-height ceilings.

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A ground-floor countryside cottage with a central gable extension overlooks a large courtyard.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

6 Yarmouth Cottages is a sophisticated coastal cottage on the Isle of Wight set on vast grounds in Norton Green. The pet-friendly cottage sleeps 4, enjoys fresh air and expansive views, and boasts abundant natural light, contemporary chic, open-plan design, and a sun-drenched, furnished patio.

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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.