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.

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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A U-shaped, stone barn conversion with floor-to-ceeiing windows looks out over a large shingled courtyard.
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
3

A family- and pet-friendly country getaway near Ravensworth in the Yorkshire Dales, this 3-bedroom pet-friendly barn conversion on a working farm sleeps 7, Convenient to local market villages, Larklands balances rustic and new in one stylish rural retreat in North Yorkshire.

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A cluster of houses nestle alongside a stone bridge over a river.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Fell Beck enjoys dual-aspect views of an adjacent beck and lies on the edge of the lovely Yorkshire Dales village of Burnsall. The stone-built rural holiday cottage boasts true character and modern comforts and features a wood-burning stove and a sunlit courtyard. Relax in style and explore the scenic county of North Yorkshire.

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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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Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
8

The Old Vicarage is an impressive detached property with lots of space, including four reception rooms. Set in a large, lawned garden, the property is in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors on the edge of the beautiful village of Rosedale Abbey.

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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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A siungle storey wing of a stone-bult property overlooks a terrace and gardens.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Summer Palace: A Tranquil Retreat for Couples in Middleham

Nestled in the heart of the charming village of Middleham in North Yorkshire, The Summer Palace stands as an exceptional stone-built, detached cottage, offering an idyllic escape for couples seeking respite amid picturesque rural surroundings.

 

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Spectacular ocean views extend to the horizon from Galatea, a coastal cottage within the Whitby Lighthouse complex. The unique cottage offers elegant and light-filled accommodation, spacious furnished grounds, a refreshing sea breeze, sophistication, and seclusion within easy reach of the beach. 

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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.

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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.