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 Devon village cottage with a patio and a well-kept garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Orchid Cottage is a spacious 19th-century coastal cottage in picturesque Axmouth village, next to the River Axe. This family-friendly East Devon cottage is just one mile from the harbour and fascinating Jurassic coast, making it ideal for exploring the Devon and Dorset coasts.

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Exterior of a 3-storey townhouse on a quiet lane in Looe.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

On the edge of the old part of East Looe and a short stroll from the seafront and sandy beach nestles The Den, a roomy and contemporary ground-floor apartment in a 100-year-old building. It has its own parking and a rock-face enclosed courtyard, ideal for enjoying barbecues on sunny days.

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A water tower converted to a holiday home overlooks woods and fields.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

The Tower is a rural cottage that has won several awards for its unique construction and sweeping countryside views. Located near Latchingdon in Essex, this circular building has beautifully combined its original utilitarian architecture from the 1930s with modern sophistication, including a large balcony and spacious open areas.

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Exterior of a small Gloucestershire cottage and adjoining stable in a garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Elinor Fettiplace is a rustic romantic cottage on the grounds of Elizabethan Pauntley Court. Sitting near Pauntley in Gloucestershire, it dates back to the 1300s and boasts beamed ceilings, wooden floors, and authentic rural charm. A tennis court and lakes are found on the extensive grounds.

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Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Luccombe Cottage, a 4-star Exmoor holiday cottage Somerset sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms in the beautiful Avill valley near Dunster and Minehead. Indoor pool, spa bath, games room, tennis court, trampoline, play centre etc. Families and dogs welcome.

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Exterior of a stone-built barn conversion with a securely fenced lawn and level access from the parking spaces.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

Set on a working farm on the northern slopes of Exmoor National Park is Yenworthy Barn, a wonderfully refurbished rural cottage in the hamlet of Countisbury, Devon. Boasting superb views of the Channel, the pet-friendly holiday cottage offers a wood-burning fire, contemporary comforts & a slice of history.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

This lovely rural holiday cottage in Noth Devon is located one mile from the village of Muddiford near Barnstaple and sandy beaches. It can sleep five people in three bedrooms.

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A thatched cottage overlooks a large village green.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Field Cottage and Garden Room are two picturesque rural cottages near Elmley Castle in Worcestershire that can be let as one. Sleeping 4 people in total, both cottages enjoy beautiful gardens and wonderful rural views. Field Cottage boasts a thatched roof and unending charm, while the rustic Garden Room is equally quaint.

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Exterior of a North Devon farm cottage overlooking a garden
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Duck Cottage is a large luxury barn conversion in North Devon, nestling in a quiet corner of Little Torrington. The rural cottage boasts commanding views over its generous gardens and woodlands. It features an open fire, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a library, a games room and access to farm animals.

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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.