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 modern chalet bungalow with block-paved drive.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Set in the heart of Christchurch is 27 Wick Lane, a spacious cottage minutes from the Dorset coast. The light-filled cottage sleeps 6 and boasts a generous lawned garden with furniture and an interior with ample windows, garden views, open-plan design, elegant furnishings and contemporary comforts.

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Open-plan living space in a converted horse box in Somerset.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
1

Chill out in the Somerset countryside at Horsing Around, a converted horsebox near Frome. The luxury eco-friendly lodge offers expansive grounds with beautiful views as well as a spacious deck and boasts unique décor with modern comforts. Pick herbs from the garden and relax by the wood burner.

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A white-rendered cottage with a small porch overlooks a village street.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This lovely, pet-friendly holiday home in Cark-in-Cartmel sleeps four people in two bedrooms. It lies within easy reach of the Lake District and beaches on the Cumbrian Coast.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

Harbour Lights is a large coastal cottage in Dorset between Bridport and Wst Bay. It boasts contemporary comforts and expansive countryside and sea views. The pet-friendly cottage offers a generous furnished terrace perfect for entertaining, and the interior features Corian work surfaces and marble and wooden floors.

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A terraced stone cottage with a low wall around the front garden
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The stone walls of Englewood Cottage encase a delightfully appointed, two-bedroom, pet-friendly holiday cottage in Northumberland, replete with contemporary fittings, exposed timber beams, inglenook fireplace, multi-fuel stove, four poster beds and a large garden bordered by a small stream.

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A slate-roofed, stone-barn conversion to create a South Devon holiday cottage overlooks two spacious split level terraces in the countryside.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Butterwell Barn is a Victorian barn converted into a comfortable South Devon holiday home that sleeps up to eight near the seaside town of Dartmouth. This pet-friendly rural cottage offers reverse-level accommodation with high vaulted ceilings, oak beams, and four en-suite bedrooms.

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A large wooden Somerset holiday lodge with a hot tub on a sheltered deck overlooking a spacious lawn.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Swan Lodge is a wood-clad rural cottage on Castle Farm near Wedmore, and it provides an ideal place to relax and unwind after exploring the Somerset Levels. The cottage boasts a large garden with views of the countryside, plus an indulgent hot tub and a thoroughly modern interior.

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Exterior of a vine-clad Cotswold honeystone cottage in Chipping Norton.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Lowfields is a quiet country cottage near Chipping Norton set on the edge of a peaceful hamlet in the heart of the Cotswolds. This spacious, child-friendly holiday cottage offers lovely rural views of the Oxfordshire countryside and welcomes pets.

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A double-fronted Sussex cottage with a flower-filled front garden behind a low picket fence.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

In the quiet village of Huntingfield is Holly Cottage, a Grade II listed mid-terrace cottage with rural charm and a stream view. Holly is a pet-friendly holiday cottage in Suffolk. It features exposed beams, vaulted ceilings, and an open fire in a traditional fireplace. It boasts a delightful garden plus access to Suffolk.

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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.