The wide, tree-lined, slow-flowing River Tees curves around a bend in summer.

Find My Favourite Holiday Cottages in County Durham

County Durham is a Northeast England county bordering Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Yorkshire and Cumbria. Its historic boundaries stretch between the rivers Tyne and Tees and encompass high, windswept moors, wooded valleys and peaceful farmland in which a delightful range of rural holiday cottages will catch your attention. The county town of Durham is a maze of ancient cobbled streets packed with independent businesses best explored by foot. Visit the magnificent cathedral and castle before wandering along the riverside. 13th-century Crook Hall and Gardens and the University Botanic Garden are well worth visiting.

Exterior of a modern bungalow with a conservatory overlooking a grassy field.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

A delightful stone-built countryside cottage in the Northern Yorkshire Dales, Hury Lodge in the peaceful hamlet of Hury, County Durham, offers pet-friendly holiday accommodation for small families and couples with a fully fitted kitchen and charming master bedroom.

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Exterior of a sympathetically restored 3-storey farmhouse in County Durham.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Built in 1560, Scargill Castle epitomises country charm. The pet-friendly romantic cottage in Scargill, Yorkshire, emerges from the ruins of an old castle and features exposed beams, oak floors, a wood-burning stove, period furnishings and modern comforts, and seclusion and countryside views.

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A remote 2-storey barn conversion in a moorland location.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Meadows Edge once saw life as a reading room, and the detached cottage still offers couples a tranquil, romantic getaway in Holwick. Skilfully converted and boasting modern comforts, the pet-friendly, old stone barn features an upside-down design to capture the views of the Yorkshire Dales best.

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A fenced-in stone-built barn conversion is surrounded by open fields
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Shepherd’s Cottage boasts true charm in a stone-built conversion, which sits in the middle of a field on a working farm near Barnard Castle. Arriving by the farm’s lane, guests will find a delightful rural cottage with two bedrooms and an upside-down design to capture the fantastic views of the Yorkshire Dales.

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2-storey stone-built cottage overlooking a shrub-lined lawn.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

West House is an 18th-century, stone-built, semi-detached rural cottage set among beautiful grounds near Middleton-in-Teesdale, in the Yorkshire Dales. The traditional exterior houses a contemporary interior with touches of yesteryear, an open fire, and spectacular views from all vantage points.

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Exterior of a barn conversion overlooking a terrace with a hot tub.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Stables Cottage is a comfortable and stylish countryside cottage in the Northern Yorkshire Dales near Barnard Castle. Accommodation is all on the ground floor and sleeps two to four people in two bedrooms.

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Darlington is a charming market town on the banks of the River Skerne and a must-see during your stay in a County Durham holiday cottage. Explore the town's many historic sites, including Piercebridge Roman Fort, one of several forts built on Dere Street, which was once one of Britain's most important Roman roads. It grew as an industrial centre in the 19th century, thanks to investment by wealthy Quaker families, and played a role in the birth of the railway when George Stephenson's engine Locomotion No.1 travelled through the town.

Other popular destinations near County Durham holiday cottages include Barnard Castle, an ancient market town on the banks of the River Tees. The imposing ruins of a medieval castle looming over the river on a high rock, with the remains of a 12th-century tower and the 14th-century Great Hall. The castle is not to be missed, with far-reaching views over the Tees Gorge. Nearby, The Bowes Museum houses North England's best fine and decorative European art collection. Well worth a visit on self-catering holidays in County Durham, Hartlepool has a rich heritage as a port and shipbuilding centre. At the same time, Bishop Auckland is a picturesque market town in the Vale of Durham, overlooking the River Wear.