An extended stone-built farmhouse with a large drive and lawn surrounded by countryside.

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.

Heather Croft, Whitby
Whitby
North Yorkshire
England
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Heather Croft is a delightfully restored three-bedroom seaside cottage with an open, airy ambience and a balcony with sweeping ocean views. The red-brick cottage overlooks Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Yorkshire Coast and sleeps seven people with family-friendly amenities.

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Terraced village cottages overlook a continuous front lawn.
Lavender Cottage, Askrigg
Askrigg
North Yorkshire
England
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Gaze upon fields blanketed in snow or greet the sun in the south-facing garden at Lavender Cottage, a romantic holiday cottage for couples in the Yorkshire Dales village of Askrigg. Enjoy the 1-bedroom, pet-friendly holiday cottage with its antique furnishing, cosy open fire and rural views.

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Grange Cottage, Buckden
Buckden
North Yorkshire
England
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Able to sleep four people in style and comfort, Grange Cottage is a two-bedroom Wharfedale countryside cottage in the remote hamlet of Hubberholme close to the attractive Yorkshire Dales villages of Buckden, Kettlewell and Grassington.

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A cosy stone-built cottage in Danby on a sunny day with a garden bench and patio.
Daffodil Cottage
Danby
North Yorkshire
England
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 century when many 19th-century textile mills and watermills were restored. 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, visit 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 visiting celebrities and visit Nidderdale. It 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.

North Yorkshire Destinations