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 heated indoor pool and large jacuzzi.
Sleeps
19
Bedrooms
10

Mel House Cottages are a group of four pet-friendly properties that sleep from 3 to 19 Guests in the centre of attractive Newton-on-Rawcliffe in the North York Moors. Three of the four properties are rated at various levels of accessibility for disabled use. Facilities include an indoor Pool, Hot Tub, and Sauna.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Barn conversions are reflected in the waters of a lake.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Duror is a pretty, three-bedroom holiday cottage at Lower Aylescott near Woolacombe in North Devon. The child-friendly cottage is within easy reach of award-winning beaches and the Exmoor National Park. Sleeping 2-6, guests can access onsite fishing and a children's play area.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Managed by My Favourite Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Treverbyn Vean Stable is a tastefully refurbished detached 2-bedroom holiday home in the Cornish countryside near Dobwalls/ This waterside cottage is surrounded by almost one acre of beautiful grounds, including a garden and private access to the River Loveny, where guests can fish.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
A terrace of thatched cottages overlook a road and beachfront at low tide.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Captain’s Cottage in Minehead, Somerset, offers beachfront charm with sea views. This thatched seaside cottage sleeps four in two bedrooms. Period features include an inglenook fireplace, a modern kitchen, and a rear terrace for sea gazing. The dog-friendly cottage has no garden. It is close to the harbour and the South West Coastal Path. Limited mobility is cautioned. It is an Ideal Exmoor coast retreat.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Fun in the sun is assured at 16 Woolacombe, a luxurious coastal apartment in Woolacombe Bay, Devon, which bathes in natural light and carries an effortless coastal chic throughout. The apartment also offers a swimming pool, sauna, treatment room, and modern comfort just minutes from the beach.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Set amidst the splendour of Exmoor National Park in the beautiful Avill Valley, Bossington Cottage near the medieval village of Dunster, Somerset, is part of a nine-acre complex of countryside cottages, a pet-friendly family holiday retreat with two first-floor bedrooms and shared indoor pool.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Single storey exterior of a restored Station Masters cottage.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Accessible by train, Station Masters Cottage is a large holiday home in Worcestershire. It combines modern amenities with characterful charm and offers three bedrooms with en-suites, a cosy sitting room with a wood-burning stove, and a spacious kitchen/diner. The enclosed garden with a barbecue is perfect for family gatherings. At the same time, its proximity to local attractions like the Severn Valley Railway and Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve ensures an unforgettable getaway. Explore further for complete details.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A single storey cottage with dining table and chair in its courtyard garden
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Byre Cottage is a beautiful romantic Exmoor cottage situated in Dulverton. The pet-friendly cottage is a beautifully converted barn that retains original features while offering a lovely garden with a summerhouse, seclusion and views of Exmoor's inviting hills.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

If your large family is looking for a place in the Peak District for a cottage holiday, look no further than The Rindle! This large rural holiday cottage near Leek comfortably houses up to 14 people and serves as the perfect rural base for countryside holidays for families and friends.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays

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.