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.

A2-storey, end of terrace stone-built holiday cottage in Settle with a walled side garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

French doors open onto a private patio and lawn with stunning rural views of the surrounding countryside at this Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage for couples. Located in the peaceful village of Long Preston, near Skipton, Carn Cottage sleeps two and is a short walk from a CAMRA award-winning pub.

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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.

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Front exterior of a double-fronted terrace cottage with large sash windows and a front garden
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Primrose Hill Farmhouse offers two bedrooms of cosy, welcoming charm in a family-friendly cottage overlooking Hutton-le-Hole in the North York Moors. The mid-terrace cottage is ideally placed for active holidaymakers and those who appreciate the charm of traditional rural living.

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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.

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Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
5

Castle View is a large Victorian townhouse in Scarborough, restored to delight the most discerning guests booking a self-catering holiday in this premier North Yorkshire seaside resort. Castle View sleeps 14 in an elegant crescent in the heart of the town, a 10-minute walk to the beach.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Loft Cottage is one of three pretty holiday cottages in the peaceful village of Crakehall, North Yorkshire. It is a dog-friendly cottage with views of Bedale Beck amidst the splendour of the lower Yorkshire Dales, featuring a hot tub, exposed beams, stone frontage, and three first-floor bedrooms.

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Exterior ofa barn conversion behind a shrub-filled garden.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

One of nine countryside cottages that make up Keld Head Farm Cottages and nestled near the foot of rolling moorlands, Pigeon Cote near the market town of Pickering, North Yorkshire, retains much of its original charm and features, with open beamed ceilings and traditional stone fireplace.

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Exterior and patio of a single-storey, wooden eco-lodge surrounded by trees.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
1

Once a barn in a beautiful rural location, The Kingfisher’s Nest has been lovingly converted to create an idyllic one-bedroom waterside holiday cottage on the banks of Cowesby Beck in North Yorkshire. It is nicely located for exploring the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. This luxury cottage sleeps 4 in one double bedroom plus a sofa bed.

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A single storey stone built cottage with a raised terrace overlooking a garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The delightful village of Lastingham houses this 18th-century stone-built cottage for couples with an authentic exterior and high-quality interior. The romantic cottage features delightful decor plus a patio area within easy reach of The North York Moors National Park or the coast at Whitby.

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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.