Waterside and Riverside Holiday Cottages

Find UK holiday cottages by rivers, lakes, canals, lochs, harbours and the coast. From a river-view cottage for a peaceful break to a beachside stay with sea views, this collection brings together self-catering properties with a verified waterside setting.

Waterside can mean different things at different properties. Some cottages are directly beside the water, while others have views, shared access or are a short distance away. Check each listing for its water setting, access details and any relevant safety information before booking.

 

Large holiday bungalow on Ocea Island with picnic tables. Sleeps 8. Pets welcome.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 4

One Manor Beach Cottage on Osea Island is a luxurious Essex holiday cottage by the shingle beach, just 90 minutes from London. This remarkable coastal retreat offers private beaches, an outdoor pool, a saltwater lido, a cinema room, a games room, and more. The spacious cottage features four stylish bedrooms, two bathrooms with rolltop baths, and a well-equipped kitchen. Enjoy sea views and a private garden. Ideal for special celebrations and family holidays, it's pet-friendly, offers short breaks, and welcomes two dogs.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Waterside Cottages
Semi-detached holiday cottages on Osea Island with dormer windows in the roof and French windows, overlooking a large lawn
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Orange Blossom is a tranquil duplex apartment at the heart of Osea Island. With beaches, coastal trails, and activities a short walk away, this idyllic property offers a stylish, bohemian retreat for couples, families, or friends. It boasts three bedrooms, a charming garden, and shared access to Osea Island's wealth of facilities, including an outdoor pool, cinema room, games room, gym, and more. Enjoy the serene surroundings, complimentary Wi-Fi, and the seasonal charms of The Shack and The Puffin Pub.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Waterside Cottages
A single-storey timber lodge sits above a raised deck above a large, shrub-lined lawn
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Palm Lodge, perfect for couples seeking a coastal getaway from the bustle of everyday life, lies just steps from the mile-long sandy beach in the resort village of Praa Sands, Cornwall, a romantic cottage featuring a palm tree mural, en-suite double bedroom, and patio with sun-loungers.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A lighthouse tower overlooks the rugged North Cornwall coastline.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Pelorus Cottage promises spectacular ocean views from its position within Trevose Head Lighthouse. Nestled between Harlyn and Constantine Bays, the special coastal cottage promises coastal seclusion and modernity, as well as outdoor spaces and clean, refreshing sea breezes. Enjoy a unique getaway on the Cornish coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A single storey, Gwynedd barn conversion in a courtyard with outdoor tables and chairs.
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Savour the spectacular Menai Straits view from the Penrallt Cottage patio and delight in the peace and tranquillity of this stone-built conversion near Bangor in North Wales. Appreciate the combination of contemporary style and traditional charm of this coastal cottage.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
Aerial photo of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands with a holiday cottage in the foreground.
  • Sleeps 12
  • Bedrooms 6

Enjoy a unique holiday with a stay at Port na Mine, a large and child-friendly cottage near the Scottish village of Taynuilt, Argyll and Bute. The luxury cottage affords picturesque views of Loch Etive and Glencoe, featuring six bedrooms, a wood effect electric fire, and a fully enclosed garden. Enjoy a unique holiday with a stay at Port na Mine, a large and child-friendly cottage near the Scottish village of Taynuilt, Argyll and Bute. The luxury cottage affords picturesque views of Loch Etive and Glencoe, featuring six bedrooms, a wood effect electric fire, and a fully enclosed garden.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
A semi-dtached, stone-buit North Yorkshire holiday cottage sits behind afront garden with shrubs and roses.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

This semi-detached, sandstone coastal cottage is in the countryside hamlet of Dalehouse on the edge of Staithes on the North Yorkshire coast and can sleep four people in two bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Clapper-board exterior of a 2-storey apartment with a terracotta roof and large courtyard.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

River View is a romantic cottage in Aldeburgh which occupies the first floor of Marsh Lodge & enjoys gorgeous views of Hazlewood Marsh. The luxuriously appointed cottage rewards couples with sophisticated design features, a sun-trap courtyard, and views of the famous big skies of Suffolk.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Riverside Lodge is an eco-cottage in the rural village of Washford, Somerset that offers luxury accommodation for up to six guests on holiday in South West England, a pet-friendly lodge with amenities such as two wine fridges, a games room with Xbox and Wi-Fi, and under-floor heating.

  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
Stone-built Cumbrian holiday cottage with a front garden behind a low stone wall.
  • Sleeps 7
  • Bedrooms 3

This waterside Lake District holiday cottage sits on a peaceful riverbank in the Cumbria village of Cark-in-Cartmel, close to cosy pubs and independent shops. Riverside View is a coastal cottage that sleeps 7, with stunning countryside views within the Lake District National Park. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
  • Sleeps 16
  • Bedrooms 7

View this large Roa Island holiday cottage for rent with a hot tub, observation tower and sea views across Morecambe Bay. This Cumbrian holiday cottage near Ulverston is within easy reach of the Lake District. Roa Island House sleeps 17 in 7 bedrooms on the Barrow Peninsula.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A lawn slope down boat moored on the banks of the River Severn
  • Sleeps 7
  • Bedrooms 3

If breathtaking views and the waterside scenery are a priority for you, Rosewaters Cottage near Stourport-on-Severn offers you plenty. Sitting on the banks of the River Severn, this Worcestershire dog-friendly holiday home offers luxury waterside self-catering for 2-7 guests.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A lighthouse complex offers clifftop views along the North Cornwall coast.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 5

For a genuinely quirky holiday home with stunning ocean views, stay at Lizard Lighthouse on the Southernmost tip of mainland Britain. This large Cornwall holiday cottage near Helston stands in a remote cliff-top location with spectacular coastal walks.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A lighthouse complex with a squat tower perches on a clifftop.
  • Sleeps 5
  • Bedrooms 3

Rowena Cottage is uniquely positioned inside a converted lighthouse near Swanage. It enjoys superb ocean views from Anvil Point. The pet-friendly cottage features ample grounds to soak up the views of the Dorset coastline. It boasts luxury and a rare chance to get away in a spectacular location.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Sail Boats is a lovely beachfront holiday bungalow within walking distance of Marazion's sandy beach in far West Cornwall. The Cornish holiday cottage can sleep two people in one bedroom within sight and sound of the sea.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages

Choose the right waterside cottage

Your ideal breakLook forCheck before booking
A riverside holidayA cottage beside or overlooking a riverWhether there is direct access, a view only, fishing permission or an unfenced water edge
A lake or loch stayA lakeside or lochside settingWhether the water can be accessed and any property-specific rules
A canal-side breakA cottage by a canal, marina or towpathThe exact location, nearby paths, parking and any shared access
A harbour or estuary escapeHarbour, creek or estuary viewsTides, terrain and the distance to local shops or restaurants
A seaside holidayA sea-view, beachfront or beach-adjacent cottageWhether there is direct beach access or simply a coastal location
A stay with a dogA waterside property that welcomes dogsDog numbers, garden details, water-edge safety and local access rules

What to check before booking

A cottage by the water can be ideal for relaxing, walking, fishing or exploring the coast, but the details matter.

  • Water setting: Confirm whether the property is by a river, lake, canal, loch, harbour, estuary or the sea.
  • Access: A water view does not always mean direct access to the riverbank, shore or beach.
  • Activities: Check whether fishing, swimming, boating, paddleboarding or mooring is allowed before making plans.
  • Children and dogs: If you are travelling with children or pets, look for information about fencing, water edges, steps and supervision.
  • Coastal conditions: For beach, harbour and estuary stays, check tides, local access and seasonal conditions.
  • Practical details: Consider parking, walking routes, local amenities and how close the cottage is to the water you want to enjoy.

Find your kind of waterside break

For sea-focused stays, browse Coastal Holiday Cottages. You can also combine your search with Dog-Friendly Cottages, Remote Holiday Cottages, Walking Holidays and Cottages for Couples.

Frequently asked questions

This collection includes cottages by rivers, lakes, canals, lochs, harbours, estuaries and the coast. Check each listing for the exact setting and relationship to the water.

No. Some have direct access, while others may have views, shared access or be nearby. Check the individual property details before booking.

Only where the property information confirms that this is allowed. Fishing permissions, water access, equipment and local conditions vary.

Yes. Use the Dog-Friendly filter, then check the individual cottage’s pet policy and any water-edge or garden safety details.

Coastal cottages focus on the sea and shoreline. Waterside cottages can include coastal stays, but also rivers, lakes, canals, lochs, harbours and estuaries.

It depends on the property. Check for details about water access, fencing, banks, steps and supervision before booking.