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 grand 3-storey Georgian country house in the Cornish countryside partly surrounded by trees.
Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
8

The Vean is a large Georgian country house near St Austell, nestled among woodland, boasting refinement and luxury, abundant grounds, and an open fire. The luxury holiday cottage on Caerhays Estate is ideal for special occasions and just moments from Cornwall's coastline.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
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.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A stone-built cottage overlooks a cobbled courtyard bordered by a low stone wall.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Aunt Jane’s is a delightful semi-detached rural holiday cottage on a working farm in Winster. The stone-built cottage offers beautiful views of the surrounding Peak District and Derbyshire Dales. It boasts old cruck beams and reminders of yesteryear, plus spacious outdoor areas and modern comforts.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Edmund’s Cottage in the quaint village of Crakehall is one of three holiday homes in North Yorkshire that combine original features with contemporary comforts, a dog-friendly cottage with a garden hot tub, exposed beams, Smart TVs in the lounge and first-floor master, and riverside views of Bedale Beck.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exteerio of a beachfront chalet bungalow overlooking a sea wall.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

This lovely three-storey beachfront holiday cottage in Weymouth, Dorset, can sleep twelve people in six bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
An Exmoor stone barn conversion overlooks a bend in a country lane.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This pet-friendly farm cottage in Somerset nestles in an idyllic valley between the Brendon Hills and  Exmoor. Harthanger View Cottage near the rural village of Luxborough was recently converted from a barn into a charming retreat with a spiral staircase, cosy sitting room, and en-suite master.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A luxuriouly furnished lounge with open fire in a Dartmoor holiday let.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Discover true luxury at Fingle Bridge, a 5-star countryside lodge on the Bovey Castle estate. This peaceful retreat offers laid-back lounges, an indoor pool, tennis courts, and more. The triple-height sitting area with a stone fireplace creates a captivating ambience. Enjoy alfresco dining on the terrace or cosy up by the fire. With three ensuite bedrooms, Fingle Bridge provides a perfect escape for families or groups. Explore estate walks, golf, and spa treatments for an unforgettable stay in Dartmoor.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a modern semi-detached cottage with a front garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Silver Birches is a newly built terrace mews house in an ideal location in Holt, Norfolk, just a few miles from the coast. The sophisticated coastal cottage offers a mature garden with a south-facing courtyard and a contemporary open-plan design, which welcomes natural light and a light breeze.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a 2-storey, wooden A-Frame eco lodge surrounded by oprn countryside
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Comraich, which means sanctuary and protection in Gaelic, is a cozy and fully equipped wooden holiday home that can accommodate up to six people. It offers all the necessary amenities for a family to enjoy a self-catering stay. It is located on a remote rural hillside behind the village of Kilchoan and boasts stunning sea views over to the Isle of Mull. Pets are welcome to join the guests.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent 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.