Holiday Cottages for Active Breaks

Find self-catering cottages for breaks built around walking, cycling, fishing, watersports and time outdoors. Each stay is different: an active break may mean a nearby route or venue, a practical base for exploring, or a confirmed on-site facility.

Use the filters to choose a destination, group size and the features that matter to you. Before booking, check the individual property listing for the exact activity information, including whether facilities are on site, how far away a route or attraction is, and any arrangements you need to make.

  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Tyas Cottage is a secluded rural cottage in West Yorkshire and offers lovely walks from its doorstep. The elegant pet-friendly cottage near Bradshaw boasts a sculpture-filled garden, antique furnishings, modern comforts, woodland views, a log fire, a four-poster bed and exposed beams.

  • Active Holidays
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A large Someerset house overlooks a spacious lawn lined by flowering shrubs and trees.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Vale View Apartment is a light, airy, spacious first-floor holiday apartment in Porlock Weir within the west wing of a beautiful Edwardian hunting lodge. Patio doors open onto a private balcony with a table and chairs overlooking the front of the property. Sleeps four guests.

  • Active Holidays
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Exterior of a luxury Minehead lodge with bi-fold glass dors and a spacious deck.o
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Vikings Annexe is a luxurious coastal cottage in Somerset, offering breathtaking views of Minehead. The cottage can comfortably accommodate four people and boasts a spacious furnished deck and a beautiful garden. With its modern open-plan design, large windows, high-quality furnishings, and refreshing sea breeze, Vikings Annexe is the perfect place to relax and unwind. To top it all off, the cottage also features a hot tub for guests to enjoy.

  • Active Holidays
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A stone built cottage overlooks a large outdoor swimming pool surrounded by wide terraces
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Waterfall Cottage is a charming stone cottage with two bedrooms and a terrace that leads to an outdoor heated swimming pool. It is situated in the beautiful South Devon near Ivybridge and surrounded by 26 acres of woodland and lakes. Waterfall Cottage is conveniently located for those wishing to spend days on the beaches of South Devon and those looking to explore Dartmoor National Park.

  • Active Holidays
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Ivey-clad exterior of an Exmoor stone barn conversion.
  • Sleeps 5
  • Bedrooms 3

Set among the meadows in the Quarme Valley, West Huckham Barn is a converted rural holiday cottage on Exmoor boasting wonderful moorland views and contemporary style. The pet-friendly cottage near Wheddon Cross has a wood-burning stove, traditional features, vaulted ceilings, expansive grounds and a conservatory.

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Large country cottage in Watchet overlooking a daffodil-filled lawn.
  • Sleeps 7
  • Bedrooms 4

Westcott Cross Cottage is a sophisticated, detached rural holiday cottage in Luxborough, a tiny Exmoor hamlet in Somerset. It has fabulous gardens, stunning rural views, and traditional features such as a wood burner, stone fireplace, exposed beams and stone walls. Walks leave from the door, and pets have ample space to play.

  • Active Holidays
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A large Exmoor holiday cottage nestles in a remote wooded valley.
  • Sleeps 9
  • Bedrooms 5

Whitley Farm is a 5-bedroom Grade II listed farmhouse located on the outskirts of Exmoor National Park in North Devon. Offering self-catering accommodation for up to 9 guests plus a cot, this charming farmhouse near the rural village of Molland is perfect for families and groups seeking a peaceful retreat.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 3

Wingate Farm is an impressive coastal cottage above Lynmouth on a working farm in the hamlet of Countisbury, Devon. The large, pet-friendly holiday home enjoys stunning views of the Exmoor countryside and the ocean beyond and offers seclusion, spacious grounds, fresh air, contemporary design and a log fire.

  • Active Holidays
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Exterior of a stone-built holiday home in Dunster surrounded by a stone wall..
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Withycombe Cottage is a charming rural holiday cottage in the Exmoor National Park near Dunster. The pet-friendly property sleeps six with an indoor pool, a swimming pool, a tennis court and children’s playground, a games room, and an interior combining tradition and style.

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A stone-built country cottage for couples overlooks a large and sunny lawn.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Worthy Cottage is a romantic Exmoor holiday cottage for couples in Porlock Weir. The ‘gatehouse’ cottage welcomes pets and enjoys ocean views, a generous lawned garden, an interior blending tradition with style, an open-plan design and a wood-burning stove.

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A leafy courtyard with a table and chairs in front of a stone-built Somerset coastal cottage.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Yellow Gate Cottage is a gorgeous stone-built Porlock holiday cottage set in the heart of this small town on the West Somerset Coast town within Exmoor National Park. The pet-friendly property sleeps four and lies just minutes from beautiful beaches. It features exposed beams, a galley-style kitchen, an open-plan design and a delightful furnished courtyard.

  • Active Holidays
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  • 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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A large stone-built Exmoor cottage surrounded by trees and open fields.
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Yenworthy Cottage is a stone-built Exmoor holiday cottage set on a working farm in Countisbury, near Lynmouth. The pet-friendly cottage promises lovely ocean views, gorgeous gardens, and contemporary comforts and elements such as a wood burner, beams and slate floors.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Short Breaks
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A large Exmoor Farm Cottage overlooks a lawn surrounded by a gated stone wall.
  • Sleeps 10
  • Bedrooms 4

With views of the Bristol Channel, Yenworthy Mill rewards visitors with tradition, walking trails, comfort and style. The pet-friendly cottage sits on a working farm in the Exmoor National Park, just moments from the coast. This large Countisbury cottage in North Devon sleeps ten.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Large Holiday Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
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A stone-built terraced cottage with a front garden behind a picket fence.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

1 Heath View, a New Forest holiday home, oozes charm and tranquillity. Nestled opposite the open Forest, it offers stunning heathland views and direct forest access. Relax in the comfortable lounge with a wood-burning stove, perfect for cosy out-of-season breaks. Enjoy a modern kitchen, conservatory, and two double bedrooms with forest vistas. It is ideal for walking and cycling holidays in the New Forest National Park. Book now for a delightful countryside getaway.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays

Plan an active self-catering break

An active holiday can be as energetic or as relaxed as you choose. You may be planning long-distance walks, family bike rides, a fishing break, a coastal adventure or simply a stay with easy access to the outdoors. Start with the activity you most want to do, then use the property details to decide whether the location and facilities suit your plans.

Your breakUseful details to check
WalkingNamed routes, access point, terrain and distance from the cottage
CyclingRoad or trail access, secure bike storage, washing facilities and local hire
FishingWhether fishing is on site or nearby, access arrangements and permits
WatersportsDistance to the water, launch access, equipment provision and seasonal conditions
Family activitiesWhether the activity is on site, nearby, suitable for your group and needs advance booking

Check the practical details before booking

A cottage near an activity is not necessarily within walking distance, and an activity mentioned in a description may not be available throughout the year. Confirm the journey from the property, parking or public transport, equipment storage, booking requirements and any age, ability or safety restrictions.

If an activity provider, route manager or local authority has its own rules, check them before travelling. Weather, tides, water conditions and seasonal opening times can affect outdoor plans.

Explore a more specific holiday

For a cottage chosen chiefly for walking, browse our walking holidays. For cycling breaks, see holiday cottages for cyclists, and for angling stays, explore fishing holidays.

You can also combine your plans with waterside cottages, coastal holiday cottages, dog-friendly cottages or short breaks.

Frequently asked questions

Not always. A property may have an on-site facility, be close to a route or venue, or simply be a practical base for outdoor plans. Check the individual listing for the exact information.

It varies by property. Check the route name, distance and access details before booking, especially if you are travelling without a car.

Only where this is clearly stated on the property listing. Bring or hire equipment unless its availability is confirmed.

Many outdoor breaks suit dogs, but property rules and local access restrictions vary. Use the dog-friendly cottages collection and check the listing before booking.

Some activities, equipment hire, permits and guided sessions may need advance booking. Check directly with the relevant provider before travelling.