Some people like to take it easy on holiday, with lazy days on the beach, pottering around tourist attractions and the odd stroll to a country pub.
But others want a more active break, playing their favourite sport and working up a sweat as a means of relaxation and respite from the office or factory.
There are plenty of properties to rent with their own tennis court or swimming pool and others where there is a fishing lake nearby or the opportunity to ride horses.
To give you a few ideas for holiday cottages with sporting facilities, read on:
Tennis
With memories of Andy Murray’s thrilling Wimbledon victory still fresh, what better way to get some exercise by serving a few aces and taking part in some energetic rallies. You will find self-catering accommodation with tennis courts for private use and others where you share with other guests or residents in adjoining homes. Rackets and balls may well be provided by the owners but it is best to check beforehand if you should take your own equipment.
Gymnasium
When you are going self-catering in a holiday complex there will be often be a gymnasium provided for use by all guests. It could be you need access to a treadmill, a rowing machine or a cross-trainer to keep up your regular exercise regimen or perhaps you want to hone your body on the weight machines for when you wander down to the beach. Wherever you are heading for your break you will great options for holiday homes with a gym.
Fishing
Those who want to spend their holiday wiling away the hours on a river bank often head north of the English border.
Fishing holidays in Scotland with self-catering accommodation give you access to rivers and lochs stocked with plentiful salmon and trout. Log cabins are ideal when you are looking for fishing holidays in the UK and Ireland but there are lots of cottages and other properties where you can stay close to a stretch of anglers’ water.
Horse Riding
Self-catering accommodation with horse riding facilities can be found in some idyllic locations in the UK and Ireland.
They are often in an area of rolling countryside or close to the sea with attractive coastal trails to follow. Some holiday homes are near stables where you can hire horses or take riding lessons to hone your skills. Other properties have facilities where you can stable your own horse if you wish.
Country Pursuits
If you prefer to go clay pigeon shooting or deer stalking then there are a range of rural holiday homes to suit your tastes. Country houses, cottages and lodges are available to stay in close to facilities where you can indulge in this kind of activity. Self-catering accommodation with country pursuits is available throughout the UK and Ireland with equipment and instruction normally provided for guests.