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.

L=shaped rural holiday bungalow surrounded by a large hedge and parking spaces.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Applewood is a pretty one-bedroom cottage situated in the village of Harome near Helmsley within walking distance of the Michelin-starred Star Inn and nestled between the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and the Howardian Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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A sea and clifftop view seen with an outdoor table in the foreground..
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Discover seaside self-catering bliss at Coachman's Quarters, a charming Exmoor Coast holiday cottage in Lynton, North Devon. This 1-bedroom cottage for couples boasts a private terrace with stunning ocean views, a king-size bedroom, and a well-appointed kitchen. The living room offers comfort with a smart TV and an electric wood-burning stove. Secure parking is available. It is ideal for exploring the South West Coast Path, Two Moors Way, and the scenic Valley of the Rocks. Experience a perfect coastal retreat; view the full details for an unforgettable getaway.

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A double-fronted holiday cottage exterior with a small walled front garden
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Escape to Lilac Cottage, a charming Musbury holiday let within a designated National Landscape. Ideal for families or couples, it sleeps five and has a cosy woodburner and sunny garden. Explore nearby Lyme Regis and Axmouth's coastal delights. Fully equipped for self-catering holidays in East Devon, it's close to River Cottage Farm and offers easy access to walking trails. Enjoy comfort, convenience, and natural beauty—book your stay for an unforgettable rural retreat.

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Large, thatched Dorset Farmhouse overlooking a courtyard.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Manor Farmhouse is a thatched and beautifully presented country cottage near Maiden Newton, sleeping eight in four bedrooms with expansive rural views and river frontage, situated in a peaceful and idyllic location.

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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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A sprawling country house with a tower overlooks a garden full of flowering crocuses.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

The Abercorn Wing of Belle Isle Castle affords a luxurious holiday experience in the Northern Ireland hinterlands, a rural pet-friendly property on a 470-acre estate spread near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, with magnificent original features and many modern touches.

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An L-shaped, single-storey barn conversion overlooks a courtyard and a raised flowerbed.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Overlooking picturesque green pastures, this holiday cottage near Newquay provides well-presented and attractive accommodation for up to four people, with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

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Exterior of a wooden eco-lodge near Ringwood backed by mature trees.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
1

Get away into the woods with a holiday at Endymion, a cosy New Forest eco-lodge near Ringwood on the grounds of the owner’s house, with a rustic exterior and endearingly quirky interior, surrounded by picturesque New Forest National Park in the isolated hamlet of Linwood, near Ringwood in Hampshire. Pets welcome.

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Exterior of a single-storey coach house convrsion with a small, flower-filed front garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A coastal and pet-friendly Cornish cottage, An Kres is a pretty, stylish seaside holiday home for two. Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac in the pretty fishing village of Mevagissey, An Kres is a modern, ground-floor cottage providing peace and quiet just a short stroll from Mevagissey harbour.

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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.