Water cascades down wide steps at Aysgarth Falls in North Yorkshire Aysgarth Falls in North Yorkshire

Find My Favourite Holiday Cottages in North Yorkshire

What county needs more to attract visitors to its self-catering holiday accommodation than the 1600 square miles of the Yorkshire Dales or the North Yorkshire Moors National Parks? Both offer a healthy choice of pretty North Yorkshire holiday cottages. You will find endless opportunities for the best exercise (cycling, walking and horse-riding) up and down valleys, crags, peaks and moorlands. If you want to leave the car alone, travel across North Yorkshire by Dalesbus. Indulge in a luxurious tea in Betty’s Tea Rooms in Harrogate and then work off the calories by renting a rowing boat on the River Nidd.

Spend a day exploring historic Richmond Castle in Swaledale or walk under the 29m high Hardraw Force in Wensleydale, England’s largest single-drop waterfall, without getting wet, or enjoy the views from the top of Roseberry Topping. North Yorkshire also offers plenty of self-catering accommodation in the many seaside towns and villages along its picturesque and rugged coastline. From the Victorian spa resorts of Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington to Whitby’s gothic fishing port and scenic villages such as Staithes, Robin Hood’s Bay and Flamborough.

the exterior of a stone built holiday cottage in North Yorkshire with terracotta roof and grassy lawns.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This pretty stone cottage is situated in the Castle Howard Estate village of Coneysthorpe. With two cosy wood-burning stoves and furnished with antiques from Castle Howard, this holiday cottage in North Yorkshire has carefully chosen modern furnishings and is perfectly appointed. A picturesque garden with a trickling stream; the perfect place to relax after a day exploring the region.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Single storey of a barn conversion overlooking a lawn on a North Yorkshire farm.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Smithy at Keld Head Cottages is a quaint romantic cottage on a gorgeous property outside Pickering in North Yorkshire. The rural holiday cottage boasts exposed beams, a traditional fireplace, award-winning gardens, beautiful views, and extensive indoor and outdoor play areas.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
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  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Cottage Discounts
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
3-storey exterior of a Whitby holiday home with a garage on the ground floor
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The Shipwrights sits by the River Esk just a few moments from the beautiful beaches of Whitby. This large seaside holiday cottage in North Yorkshire is situated among Whitby's attractions and catches the sea breeze in its charming garden—a perfect location to explore the North York Moors and Coast.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
4

Castle View is a tastefully furnished, large, family-friendly village holiday cottage in Helmsley in the heart of the North York Moors National Park. It is also within an easy drive of the North Yorkshire coast. This dog-friendly holiday let sleeps 11 in 4 bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A whitewashed cottage with a stone-built porch overlooks a lawn lined by mature shrubs and flowers.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

The Harber Scar is a traditional 3-bedroom family cottage in the Pennine village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale near Settle, best known as the location of the Three Peaks hills of the Yorkshire Dales. The cottage embraces the charm and character of its rural setting both inside and outside. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A gabled end-of terrace North Yorkshire holiday cottage overlooking a small front garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Situated in the sleepy North Yorkshire village of Helperby, The Old Post Office is a splendidly converted former post office turned into a welcoming countryside holiday cottage with a hot tub near Boroughbridge. It features three bedrooms, a cosy sitting room with an open fire, and an outdoor seating area.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Large LEyburn holiday cottage built with local stone and surrounded by a low stone wall.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

Eastburn Cottage is a magnificent 17th-century farmhouse with an open fire, original beams and sleeps 7. This attractive Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage sits in the heart of the traditional village of Newbiggin, a stroll from a charming pub and 3 miles from the North Yorkshire market town of Leyburn.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
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  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A stone barn conversion with steps to a 1st floor enntrnce from a patio with table and chairs.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A romantic cottage in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Lottie’s Loft is a lovely studio apartment, once a blacksmith’s workshop in Grassington, North Yorkshire, that’s been carefully restored and furnished to provide superb accommodation for couples on holiday in beautiful Wharfedale. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The upside-down design of Barn Cottage captures the beautiful views of the Yorkshire countryside and adds another feature to this award-winning holiday cottage near Pickering. The rural cottage offers extensive manicured gardens with multiple play areas and spaces to entertain, relax and truly unwind.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays

From the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors to the seaside resorts scattered along its North Sea Coast, North Yorkshire can offer visitors a memorable holiday when staying in one of its many fine holiday cottages in North Yorkshire. The Dales' past industrial history is revealed in the 18th the many restored 19th-century textile mills and watermills. Find them among the little Dales towns, Grassington, Kettlewell and Reeth, tasting famous local cheeses and ales along the way. Artists and potters are still creating their own local styles, and the many Farmers' Markets provide you with fresh local produce. In the summer, too, make sure you are there when the country folk congregate together to compete in displays in their local agricultural shows right across the area.

Only such a place as the City of York, with its overwhelmingly impressive 800-year-old cathedral, and its cobbled medieval streets with many pavement cafes, could draw you away from the natural beauty of the Dales. With a wealth of trendy independent shops, galleries and a regular programme of festivals and events, it would be easy to holiday for an entire week in this historic city.

That being said, North Yorkshire also offers visitors more than 100 miles of shoreline, where you will find fossils on the Dunsdown Coast, seaside fun and surfing at Scarborough, fish in the sea for your supper at Filey, or partake of the best fish and chips ever at Whitby. The latter is where you will also capture the ambience of the 18th and 19th centuries of Captain Cook, Count Dracula and Queen Victoria's favourite jet jewellery. Take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Goatherd Station, a film location in the Harry Potter films in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Moors. If the usual outdoor activities of walking and cycling lose their appeal, try your hand at Husky Trekking at the Pesky Husky Trekking Centre in Staintondale. Alternatively, pay a visit to Hairy Bob's Cave beneath Scarborough Castle, allegedly the most popular man-made cave in the UK.

After Scarborough Castle, add Pickering Castle to your North Yorkshire bucket list. Located on the edge of the North York Moors, it's also the location for the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway that runs from Pickering to Whitby through the heart of TV's Heartbeat Country.

The picturesque riverside town of Knaresborough offers much for the visitor, including Mother Shipton's Cave, a tourist attraction since 1630, the former home of an old prophetess and soothsayer. Then head back into the town and sample the fare in one of its many fine tea rooms. For those with a seriously sweet tooth, follow in the footsteps of many a visiting celebrity and pay a visit to Nidderdale will take you to The Oldest Sweet Shop in England!

What more do you need to keep the whole family happy for days on end in this beautiful county? Whether booking a North Yorkshire holiday home for a week or a weekend break, you'll find it easy to fill your day's sightseeing, bathing, exploring the great outdoors, enjoying historic towns and cities, or spending days on the beach.