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.

Exterior of a barn conversion overlooking a garden courtyard
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Pasture View Cottage is a large eco-friendly, single-storey country cottage on the edge of Pickering for holidays exploring the North York Moors and the North Yorkshire coast. Features include a large private garden and a very well-equipped kitchen. Children will love the play area and play shed.

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A semi-dtached, stone-buit North Yorkshire holiday cottage sits behind afront garden with shrubs and roses.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This semi-detached, sandstone coastal cottage is in the countryside hamlet of Dalehouse on the edge of Staithes on the North Yorkshire coast and can sleep four people in two bedrooms.

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Exterior of an Ingleton holiday cottage overlooking a garden in a rural location.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Some of the best views in England can be savoured from Netherscar in Chapel-le-Dale near Ingleton. The detached, remote holiday cottage lies among the rolling hills in a haven of peace and tranquillity and offers three bedrooms, an open fire, and ample space for pets and children to roam.

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Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Your home away from home, Thornlea welcomes families and groups to a homely two-bedroom detached bungalow with a delightful garden in the Swaledale market town of Richmond. Vibrant colours and modern amenities are featured throughout the pet-free cottage, ideally situated in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

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A light and spacious, lavishly furnished open-plan living area, with original artwork on the walls.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

A distinct coastal vibe permeates Fish and Ships, a contemporary coastal cottage in the heart of Whitby in North Yorkshire. Whitby’s harbour is a short walk from the apartment, which offers light and airy spaces with abundant natural light, as well as relaxed sophistication and open-plan design.

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Sleeps
13
Bedrooms
5

A fun-filled self-catering holiday in the Yorkshire Dales awaits at Laurel Bank, a large, five-bedroom, pet-friendly holiday home near the rural village of Embsay. Laurel Bank Cottage sits among mature gardens. This charming and modern cottage is finished with dashes of bold colour and country style.

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2-storey exterior of. stone-built barn conversion overlooking a paved terrace and a lawn
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Harvest Cottage welcomes couples to a pretty stone and pantiled farm cottage near Pickering in the heart of picturesque Levisham. The pet-friendly, one-bedroom barn conversion offers ample gardens and peace and quiet. It is an ideal base for exploring the North York Moors and coast.

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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 cosy stone-built cottage in Danby on a sunny day with a garden bench and patio.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Daffodil Cottage offers couples on self-catering holidays in North Yorkshire spectacular rural views and cosy accommodation in the remote hamlet of Houlsyke, near Danby. This romantic cottage for couples exudes warmth and character, a perfect rural retreat for weekends and walking holidays on the North York Moors.

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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.