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.

A stone-built Cumbrian farmhouse and attached barns in a remote moorland location
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

Step back in time at the authentic stone remote cottage of Wray Green, which sits atop Wild Boar Fell in Cumbria. Sink into the comfort of the lovingly restored and furnished three-bedroom cottage. Pets are welcome. There is ample parking, plus a storage area for hiking and cycling gear. Sleeps 7.

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A semi detached, part-tiimbeer contemporary cottage with fold-back French windows, a patio and spacious lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Hunters Moon is a modern rural holiday cottage in the hamlet of Curscombet. The pet-friendly East Devon coast holiday cottage features a generous furnished garden, a spacious interior with an open-plan design, abundant natural light, and a wood-burning stove.

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Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Discover the coastal serenity of 16 Combehaven, a top-floor duplex apartment in Salcombe, South Devon. This holiday rental is ideally situated just a 5-minute walk from Salcombe's heart and offers three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a balcony with stunning estuary views. Featuring modern amenities, underground parking, and close proximity to sandy beaches, it promises to be the perfect South Devon retreat. Come and explore the charm of this Salcombe holiday rental and escape to the seaside, where comfort meets coastal allure.

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A row of terraced houses look down over a flower-filled rockery to a large lawn.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
4

Glan Y Gors is a stone-built cottage sleeping 6 in North Wales, 5 miles outside Llanberis. This wheelchair-accessible and pet-friendly holiday cottage is situated in an elevated rural location opposite Mount Snowdon in the scattered village of Dinorwic.

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Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

Sitting on the edge of the village of Carrog near Corwen in Denbighshire, The Mill House is a lovingly maintained Edwardian farmhouse overlooking the River Dee. This pet-friendly five-bedroom home is ideal for a large group or family trips to Snowdonia.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Enjoy a truly rural holiday in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Fleshbeck Cottage, which sits close to the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria. The waterside holiday cottage has been carefully restored and rewards guests with exposed timber beams, stone flooring and an old range fireplace.

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Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Ingleside is a large Gloucestershire holiday cottage on the outskirts of the Forest of Dean near Westbury Ingleside sleeps 14 in 6 bedrooms with 4 bathrooms plus ample living space, including a sunroom and games room. The enclosed garden includes a bike store and BBQ facilities.

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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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A  stone-built cottage overlooks a large lawn surrounded by flowering shrubs and bushes.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

A perfect rural retreat set amidst a working sheep farm within the Exmoor National Park, Mill Cottage in Luxborough offers comfortable upside-down accommodation for up to six guests, a child-friendly cottage in Somerset with a spacious living area, a wood-burning stove, and an enclosed garden.

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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.