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.

Barn conversions in a courtyard overlook a raised flower bed in its centre
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Tucked in near the Great Fryup Dale in the heart of North York Moors National Park, The Byre in the civil parish of Danby, North Yorkshire, sits on a working organic farm, a two-storey countryside cottage featuring exposed beams, vaulted ceiling, and ground floor underfloor heating.

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An indoor heated pool with a surrounding terrace. Floor-to-ceiling windows line one side.
Owl
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Owl is a two-bedroom apartment on the ground floor beneath Granary. The apartment has two bedrooms, a double and a twin and an open-plan living area with a fitted kitchen, lounge and dining area. The apartment also has a shared indoor heated pool, spa, and sauna. Well-behaved dogs welcome.

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Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
7

Fern House is a large holiday cottage in the Yorkshire Dales village of Kettlewell. This pet-friendly property in a picturesque Wharfedale village with award-winning pubs, superb views and walks from the doorstep sleeps 12 in 7 bedrooms, perfect for family and group accommodation.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Heather Croft is a delightfully restored three-bedroom seaside cottage with an open, airy ambience and a balcony with sweeping ocean views. The red-brick cottage overlooks Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Yorkshire Coast and sleeps seven people with family-friendly amenities.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Families or groups of friends seeking to holiday in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales find the perfect home base for their travels with 9 Navigation Square, a large holiday cottage in Skipton just off the historic High Street. The 4-bedroom house comfortably sleeps eight in spacious accommodation.

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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.

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A long country lodge in North Yorkshire overlooking a walled paddock lined by trees
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Masongill Lodge is a charming rural cottage in the hamlet of Masongill, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This Grade II-listed Yorkshire longhouse was built in 1709 and features exposed beams, two log fires, an Aga, and a walk right from the front door. The property also includes a paddock and garden with breathtaking views.

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L-shaped exterior of a stone-built cottage surrounded by lawns and a secure hedge.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

RedRoofs, with stunning views over the Esk Valley within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, is a spacious home ideally suited for family holidays or a weekend getaway for a group of friends. It lies within easy reach of the village pub, while Whitby is only a short drive away.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The charming and modern Hayloft Cottage is a converted hayloft in Staintondale, with views of the ocean and the surrounding North York Moors. The two-bedroom, pet-friendly coastal cottage in North Yorkshire features exposed beams, a stone exterior, and a sun-drenched garden.

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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.