With Autumn well and truly underway across the UK, what can you expect from a visit to Wales during October?
October in Wales brings a downturn in the weather with dropping temperatures averaging 10℃ and around 15 rainy days. This is the start of the low season so expect fewer crowds and cheaper prices. Some tourist activities and campsites may close at the end of peak season but there is still plenty to do, both indoors and outside, as long as you wrap up warm.
So, what kind of specific activities and excursions can you look forward to in Wales in October? Let’s find out!
What Will the Weather Be Like?
Autumn (or Fall for international readers) is well underway in October and temperatures tend to take a drop from the warmer summer, averaging around 10℃
Although temperatures are low, it's still not Winter so expect around half of the days to be fairly dry and suitable for getting outdoors for hiking and adventures.
There are usually around 15 days of rain in October where rainfall is above 1mm
Some years can be worse than others in October. For example, 2020 brought multiple storms in October that saw heavy rainfall and flooding. You can get a good idea of the weather forecast within a week of your travel dates, so check for any extreme weather warnings.
Overall, October is not a good month to visit Wales. The best time to visit Wales is between April and September. See my full guide of when to visit Wales for a month-by-month comparison table.
What Should I Expect?
October is generally considered to be the beginning of low season in Wales, so you can expect very few tourists and crowds.
As long as you are mindful that it is likely to rain at some points on your trip, you can still have a good time and you can enjoy the autumn colours of the outdoors and the lead-up to Halloween which is a big event in Wales.
Some tourist activities, such as boat rides, island excursions, and white water rafting, will begin to close down for the off-season during October. However, many others such as caving, ziplining, and go-karting remain open year-round.
Hotels typically remain open year-round, but many campsites and smaller B&Bs will also close during Autumn and Winter. Those that do remain open may offer cheaper rates during low season so take advantage of this.
Be mindful that the school half-term holidays usually take place in late-October or early-November in Wales. During this time, you may see higher prices at family resorts in Wales such as Bluestone and Haven holiday parks.
Best Things To Do in Wales in October
The weather might not be perfect in October, but there are still plenty of awesome things to see and do across Wales.
1. Explore Waterfall Country
October is a great time to visit waterfalls in Wales because the increased rainfall makes them more impressive but there are still quite a few dry days so you don't have to get wet yourself when visiting them.
One of the best places to find waterfalls is an area of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park called waterfall country.
Here, you'll find a high number of waterfalls along several rivers including Henrhyd Falls (used in the batman movies as the Batcave entrance) and the Elidir Trail.
2. Go stargzaing in a Dark Sky Zone
Autumn is a great time of year to make the most of Wales’s impressive Dark Sky Zones with a spot of stargazing. You can take advantage of the shorter days but it's still not as cloudy and chilly as the middle of Winter.
Several parts of Wales have been designated as Dark Sky Zones or Dark Sky Reserves due to their lack of light pollution. This includes Eryri (Snowdonia), Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), and the Elan Valley.
Of course, if you’re planning on checking out these Dark Sky Zones, make sure you wrap up as temperatures really drop, and bring plenty of torches and batteries to get back to your car or accommodation.
3. Spot seal pups around Ramsey Island
October is your last opportunity to take a boat trip to Ramsey Island, an uninhabited island off the coast of Pembrokeshire which is popular for its vibrant wildlife and is a key location for spotting seal pups out in the wild.
Although many of the seabirds have now left the island, October is a great time to see seal pups as it's mating season.
You can also explore rock gorges and impressive sea caves while on the boat, so even if you don’t see any seal pups on your specific tour, you can still have an amazing time taking in the Welsh landscape. Tours finish in late October or early November, so this is a great opportunity to experience Welsh wildlife before the end of the season.
See my guide of visiting Ramsey Island to find out about the various tour operators and the differences between them.
4. Enjoy a stein for Oktoberfest
With Autumn comes the chance to combine Welsh and German traditions with Oktoberfest celebrations popping up across the country during September and October.
Raise a stein of beer, enjoy a pretzel and a bratwurst, and dance along to an Oompah band. It’s all in good fun and it’s a great event to get together with friends and catch up. If you want to take it to the next level, you can even dress up in traditional Bavarian dress - yes, that means lederhosen!
See my full guide to Oktoberfest in Wales for a full list of the events taking place in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Carmarthen, and more.
5. Go Pumpkin Picking
One of the best things about the October and Halloween seasons is pumpkin picking with our loved ones. Luckily, there are tons of places to go pumpkin picking in Wales.
Wander around the farm, find the perfect pumpkin, enjoy the cool weather, and take plenty of adorable Instagram-ready images.
Some of the farms even have haybale rides, mazes, music events, and more. It’s a super wholesome day out that’s great for the entire family!
6. Get spooked at a Halloween scare event
Halloween has always been a big event in Wales. Even before the term 'Halloween' was coined, the Celtic people of Wales celebrated an event called 'Nos Galan Gaea' which means 'spirits night'.
Of course, you'll want to dress up and go trick or treating on the big day itself, but there are many festivities and scare fests taking place throughout October. Here are a few of the best ones:
Manorafan Farm Park Pumpkin Fest - As well as PYO pumpkins, in the 10 days leading up to Halloween, you can enjoy a Trick or Treat Show, and take on the Horrid Hollows challenge at Manorafan Farm Park on the North Wales coast.
Fonmon Castle Scare Trail - Taking place in the lead-up to Halloween, the scare trail has spooky walks, magicians, owls, skeleton gardens, and the scare run where you'll be chased through a maze.
Ffear Fforest - Zip World's Fforest site in North Wales opens up after dark for the few weeks leading up to Halloween, taking the scare factor of their alpine roller coaster to a whole new level.
Terror Mountain - An adults-only experience just outside of Aberystwyth where you'll head into a Victorian mine full of live-action spooky surprises that will leave you feeling jumpy for a while.
See my full guide to Halloween events in Wales for a full list of ghostly goings-on.
7. Eat your way through a Welsh food festival
The food festivals continue throughout October, offering local Welsh produce along with events and entertainment. Here are a few to look out for across the month:
8. Check out some of Wales' top museums
With adverse weather conditions, having access to indoor activities is key. Avoid the drizzle of October in Wales by checking out some of our top museums.
One of my favourites is the National Museum Cardiff featuring a museum and art gallery. The museum will take you on a fascinating journey through time to see how Wales has changed throughout it's history.
Another great museum is the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea, telling the life story of one of Wales' most iconic writers.
9. Have a Laugh at Aberystwyth Comedy Festival
Each year, the Aberystwyth Comedy Festival takes over the coastal town of Aberystwyth in Mid-Wales in late September/early October. The festival sees over 100 performances including stand-up and comedy shows by comedians from Wales and across the UK.
The shows take place at a variety of venues across the town ranging from the seafront bandstand to Aberystwyth Arts Centre over at the university campus (pictured above). You only need to buy tickets to the shows you want to see which makes it very flexible.
What to Pack
Fundamentally, you need to pack warm, waterproof clothing. With the adverse weather and changing conditions, you need to have plenty of layers. Quick-drying solutions are ideal as are a quality coat and waterproof, closed-toe shoes.
If you’re hitting the trails, you need to bring plenty of waterproof shells and bring base layers to make sure you’re toasty as it gets colder further up the mountains!
Check out my dedicated Wales packing list for a full breakdown of what to bring to Wales in off-season.
Published: 20 February 2023 · Last updated: 27 September 2023