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 holiday cottage created from a village shop conversion, retaining its large front window.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Blacksmith Cottage is a beautifully designed romantic retreat that can accommodate two guests. It is situated in the charming village of Grassington, in the heart of the picturesque Yorkshire Dales. This pet-friendly cottage is tastefully furnished with a subtle elegance that runs throughout. It boasts a lovely courtyard, open-plan living areas, and absolute convenience for guests.

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Exterior of a North Yorkshire holiday cottage overlooking a lawn lined by trees.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Heather Cottage is a lovely and modern mid-terrace cottage located in the picturesque village of Gillamoor in Yorkshire. This charming cottage features beautiful exposed beams, a cosy wood-burning stove, a colourful and well-furnished garden, spacious open-plan areas, all the modern amenities needed for a comfortable stay, and easy access to breathtaking vistas.

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Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

An attractive modern build based in the historic port of Whitby, Herons Reach is a welcoming terraced cottage, perfect for a family holiday on the Yorkshire coast and moors. Boasting all the mod cons of contemporary living, the pet-friendly property provides everyday essentials for a memorable holiday.

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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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A lounge with armchairs, oak-beamed ceiling and a staircase.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
2

Mill Cottage is a multi-award-winning property set on Keld Head Cottages near Pickering in North Yorkshire. The stone-built rural cottage has been carefully refurbished with traditional features and modern comforts and boasts gorgeous gardens, large indoor and outdoor play areas and lovely views.

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Exterior of a stone built holiday cottage in Whitby with a flagstoned front garden containing outdoor dining facilities.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Steak & Egton is a sophisticated terrace in the delightful Egton village in North Yorkshire. The pet-friendly cottage offers stone walls, a pretty flowering courtyard, an elegant and spacious interior with clawfoot baths, contemporary styling, a secret snug, tiled floors, and a log fire.

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Stone steps led up to the front door of a Victorian houe iin Skipton. An iron-barred gate stand at the bottom of the steps flanked by an ivy hedge.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
7

Craven House is a large and dog-friendly Victorian House in Skipton with Wi-Fi, offering spacious self-catering accommodation for up to 14 guests in the Yorkshire Dales. Perfect for walking and touring holidays in North Yorkshire.

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Exterior of a stone-built station-master's house overlooking a platform of a steam railway.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

For a stunning retreat that pulls out all the stops, The Station House is a large North Yorkshire holiday home full of charm. The Grade II listed Victorian property is ideal for large family groups, offering exquisite accommodation from which to explore the North York Moors and the Whitby coast.

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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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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.