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.

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.

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Exterior of a 3-storey Victorian seaside town house with bay windows. n
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

This large, family-friendly seaside holiday home in Scarborough sleeps 12 in 5 bedrooms. Mayville House offers spacious, pet-friendly self-catering holidays on the North Yorkshire Coast for large families or groups of friends just a mile from the beach.

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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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Exterior of The Old Power House converted to a large, 2-storey holiday cottage with two rows of five double windows.
Sleeps
17
Bedrooms
6

This large and pet-friendly North Yorkshire coastal holiday cottage near Saltburn-by-the-Sea stands just 800m from the beach and comes with a hot tub, sauna and BBQ. It has been created through a stylish upmarket conversion of a former Victorian powerhouse. The Powerhouse sleeps 17 in 6 bedrooms.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

For a quirky getaway to the popular North York Moors, The Old Blacksmith’s Workshop offers a truly unique experience. Sitting on the edge of the historic fishing port of Whitby, this single-storey property has been tastefully converted into a charming two-bedroom coastal cottage.

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A large bArn conversion in Pateley Bridge with a central 2-storey arched window.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Discover Moscarr Barn, a luxurious Pateley Bridge holiday let in Nidderdale, perfect for cottage holidays in the Yorkshire Dales. This stone-fronted barn conversion offers stunning countryside views, modern amenities, and charming original features. Relax by the woodburning stove or explore nearby walking trails. With four bedrooms, including en-suite bathrooms and TVs, it's ideal for families or groups of eight. Book now for an unforgettable Yorkshire Dales holiday!

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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.

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A stone-built, 2-storey holiday cottage in Helmsley overlooking a large lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Based on a working livestock farm, Wethercote Cottage is an authentic farmhouse adjoined to the owner’s home in the heart of the North York Moors near Helmsley. This remote 2-bedroom rural retreat is ideal for walking or cycling holidays. Pets welcome.

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A stone built holiday cottage in Hovingham overlooks a steam running past its frontage on a summer's day.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Harwood Cottage is a truly elegant stone cottage set beside a small stream in Hovingham, Yorkshire, sleeping 6. A lawned garden hosts the conservatory, while the interior features a log fire in the sitting room and many original details lovingly restored, combined with contemporary comforts.

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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.