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

Heather Cottage is a delightful and modern mid-terrace cottage in the charming village of Gillamoor in Yorkshire. The characterful cottage boasts exposed beams and a wood-burning stove, as well as a vibrant furnished garden, open-plan spaces, contemporary comforts and easy access to stunning vistas.

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Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Families or groups of friends seeking to holiday in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales find the perfect home base for their travels with 9 Navigation Square, a large holiday cottage in Skipton just off the historic High Street. The 4-bedroom house comfortably sleeps eight in spacious accommodation.

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Sleeps
20
Bedrooms
8

A large, immaculate dormer bungalow on the North Yorkshire coast. Pet-friendly Seacrest Lodge is just an easy walk to the beach. This Scarborough holiday cottage with a hot tub sleeps 20 in 8 bedrooms. It offers rural and sea views and is nicely located for seaside, walking, cycling and golfing holidays for big families or groups.

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L=shaped rural holiday bungalow surrounded by a large hedge and parking spaces.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Applewood is a pretty one-bedroom cottage situated in the village of Harome near Helmsley within walking distance of the Michelin-starred Star Inn and nestled between the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and the Howardian Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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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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A Somerset stone barn conversion overlooks a large lawn lined by flower beds and shrubs.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

Tradition defines Ryecroft Barn, a large, elegant Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage in Glusburn. It is surrounded by rolling green hills and manicured gardens. The pet-friendly property boasts a spacious sunroom, outdoor entertaining areas, exposed beams, a fireplace, oak furnishings and stained-glass windows.

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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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North Yorkshire barn conversion surrounded by a lawn, trees and mature shrubs
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Hayloft successfully combines old-world charm with vibrant colours in a charming stone-built detached barn conversion in the village of Lastingham. The 18th-century romantic holiday cottage in North Yorkshire boasts a stylish open-plan living area with character and an open fire. The Cottage is nicely situated for walking holidays on the North York Moors.

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A chapel conversion with a large rose window sits behind a low stone wall.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The Old Methodist Chapel is a sophisticated conversion of the old chapel in Rosedale Abbey. Set amid the North York Moors and Coast, the cottage features tall arched windows, exposed timbers, stripped pine doors, a cast iron and marble fireplace, a furnished sunny patio, and an open fire.

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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.