Holiday cottages in the North of England

Susan Roscoe
( Travel Expert)

Cottages4you - Thousands of Cottages and Villas in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy Spain and Portugal all in one place.

Hoseasons - Hoseasons offer a superb range of carefully selected cottages for holidays and short breaks throughout the most beautiful locations in the North of England.

English Country Cottages - A premium Cottage holiday brand with a portfolio of 4 and 5 star graded properties throughout England and Scotland.

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Cottage holidays in the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales offers some of the most spectacular scenery and beautiful countryside in the UK plus an abundance of flora and fauna. The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an area of land of 1,773 square kilometres in size and the park attracts over 9 million visitors each year whether you're exploring the area on foot, cycling or in the car!

The area is an ideal location for anyone looking for a holiday or short break, coupled with activity, adventure and excitement. You can take part in walking, fishing, climbing, boating, bird watching or hangliding to name but a few! And if you're looking for something a little different, there are also caves to explore, with pot holing becoming increasingly popular. 

The area is filled with towns and villages packed with unusual and interesting shops. Throughout the tourist season there are regular markets plus antique and craft fairs.

The most popular dales that are on most visitors' itineraries include Malhamdale, Airedale, Ribblesdale, Wharfedale, and Nidderdale to the south, and Teesdale, Swaledale and Wensleydale to the north.

The UK's most famous footpath, the Pennine Way cuts through the Yorkshire Dales together with the Dales Way Footpath. In addition Wainright's 'Coast to Coast' walk' and the world famous 'Settle-Carlisle railway' also pass right through the dales.

The Yorkshire Dales is an area of unspoilt natural beauty and a great place to rent a holiday cottage for a weekend away of short holiday.

Cottage holidays in the Lake District

Located in the North West of England in the county of Cumbria, at 880 square miles the Lake District is one of the largest of 12 National Parks located in the UK. It is also home to England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike (3,210 feet) and largest inland open expanse of water, Lake Windermere.

The area is one of the UK's most popular tourist destinations famed for its breathtaking views, tranquil lakes and the endless amount of activities on offer such as water sports, walking, fishing, and cycling to name just a few.  Renting a self catering holiday cottage is a wonderful way to experience all that the Lake District has to offer. For a real taste of local life why not opt for a cottage built from local stone or a lodge close to the water's edge?

The most popular areas for tourists to stay in the Lake District are lake side at Windermere or neighbouring Bowness-on-Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick, and Grasmere, but the tiny villages of Ennerdale and Buttermere - along with plenty of others, are all waiting to be explored!

Cottage holidays in the Northumberland Heritage Coast

This area is fast becoming one of the UK's most popular areas to visit - especially if you're into walking or cycling holidays.  Holiday cottages tend to be situated in quiet villages and small towns, enabling you to get out on foot or on bike to explore the many miles of quiet country lanes, footpaths and cycle routes.  For the more adventurous there's the 64 mile Northumberland Coast path and the 97 mile St Oswald's Way, running from Holy Island and ending at Hadrian's Wall.

For the more sedate, Northumbria is jam packed with famous attractions - such as Alnwick Castle and water garden, which featured as Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films. Bamburgh has a castle too, as it was the one time seat of the Northumbrian kings; whilst off the coast are the Farne Islands and Holy Island (ideal for lovers of wildlife), and last but not least, is the historic border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, which was at the centre of Anglo-Scottish border strife for centuries.

Who do we recommend?

With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of choice as well as some that are more specialist. Browse our list below to find the right company for you, then click through to their web site for more information and how to book. It couldn't be easier!

Further guides on cottages, gîtes and holiday homes