6 Brilliant October Half Term Ideas for Adventurous Families

Planning an October half term trip that feels adventurous and doable with kids can be tricky – especially when many of us have only got a week to play with. You want something fun and outdoorsy, maybe even a bit adventurous, but without spending a fortune or ending up somewhere too cold, too expensive, or too exhausting. Here are six October half term ideas which we absolutely loved.

I’ve actually done all six of the trips below with our kids, and all of them work really well for a half term getaway. These are proper family adventures that balance comfort and challenge, whether it’s surfing in Devon, camel riding in the Moroccan desert, or taking the Caledonian Sleeper to the Scottish Highlands.

Some are close to home, others a bit further afield. Some require a flight, and others can be done by train. But they’re all packed with fresh air, movement, some relaxation time, but full enough days that no one gets bored – and you’re not left cobbling together entertainment on the fly.

I’ve included all the practical details I spent hours researching; like routes for cycling with kids in Northern Germany, which surf schools are welcoming to beginners, and how to reach those mountain huts in Mallorca without a gruelling climb.

If you’re after October half term ideas that your kids will love and remember for years (and that you’ll actually enjoy too), here are six I can heartily recommend.

1. Hike and hut hop on Mallorca’s GR221 (Family adventure abroad)

Looking for holidays abroad in October half term that don’t break the bank? Mallorca is a brilliant option. It’s still warm, but not scorching, and the summer crowds have thinned out. In fact, the sea is still beautifully warm at this time of year, making it a great time for a post-hike dip.

The GR221, also known as the Dry Stone Route, is a long-distance walking trail that winds through the Tramuntana Mountains and offers the perfect intro to multi-day hiking with kids.

We hiked a section of this trail at Easter (although it would have been perfect in October half term too) and found it ideal for building confidence with hut to hut adventures. Quiet trails, sweeping sea views, decent weather and family-friendly refuges where you can get a hot meal and a cold beer at the end of the day.

The route is well-marked and the walking is varied, with just the right mix of challenge and ease for a confident 8 year old or older.

You don’t need to walk the whole thing. In fact, I’d recommend picking a short section with a couple of overnight stays; especially if it’s your first time doing hut to hut hiking with kids. We’ve broken down a family-friendly route, including tips on which huts to book and how to plan it all in this post (and you don’t need to hire a car at all!):

👉 GR221 Mallorca hiking itinerary for beginners & families

2. Catch the waves: UK and Europe family surf escapes

If you’re looking for family holidays in October half term that pack in fresh air, adventure, sand and sea; surfing might be it. We’ve surfed in the UK in October and had a blast.

Yes, the water’s a little chilly (but just like Mallorca, the sea in the UK often stays surprisingly warm into October), but with decent wetsuits – which will all be provided – and the right surf school, it’s totally manageable.

Learning to surf is hard work; getting yourself out past the breaking waves can be exhausting! But the payoff when you finally catch one is unbeatable, and after your lesson, you’re left with that tired -but-satisfied glow of having spent the morning battling the elements.

I recommend booking a block of lessons – many surf schools will give you a discount if you book more than two together. 1.5 to 2 hours a day is plenty, especially for kids (by the end of our lesson, both my kids were losing the energy to push themselves up to standing, so it’s just not worth doing longer lessons). If you do a daily lesson though for a few days, you’re bound to see improvements!

And it’s not just for the kids – parents, I urge you to join the lessons – it is SO much fun!

In the UK, we’ve had a great experience with Discovery Surf School at Bantham and Bigbury in South Devon; friendly instructors, sheltered beach, and a laid-back vibe that’s brilliant for beginners and kids.

Up in North Devon, Westward Ho! and North Devon Surf School are also well-regarded options with family-friendly lessons and decent autumn swell. These make for excellent UK half term getaways that combine outdoors with ease.

If you’d prefer your wetsuit to be thinner (or even optional!), this is the time of year to consider somewhere a bit warmer. We haven’t surfed there yet, but friends with teens have recommended Otro Modo in Fuerteventura, which offers surf lessons, accommodation, and even childcare for tinies, and they’re top of our list for a future October escape.

3. Family interrail itinerary for October half term

One of our favourite half term breaks with children was interrailing in Europe. One week. Four countries. Zero airports. We kept our route fairly close to the UK so it worked within a week – but even without going too far afield, it felt like a proper adventure. The kids loved sampling the local sweets in every country (Belgian waffles, anyone?!) and it was far more relaxing than I’d imagined for a trip covering so much ground.

We started with the Eurostar from London to Brussels, kicking things off with waffles and street art.

Where we stayed in Brussels: MEININGER Hotel Bruxelles Gare du Midi

Then we headed to Münster in Germany – a four hour train journey via a quick change in Cologne. Münster turned out to be an absolute gem for active families thanks to its amazing cycle paths, flat terrain and easy bike rental for families of all sizes (seriously, the bike rental garage handily located at the train station is the place of dreams if you like bikes – you can even rent a cargo bike there)!

Where we stayed in Münster: H.ostel Münster

Here’s the cycle route we did which was an easy, 30 km ride past various castles and historic houses, which made every corner feel like stepping into a storybook! We also stopped at the
Mühlenhof Open Air Museum, which fun and interesting.

From there, we travelled on to Delft in the Netherlands (where we were visiting family), and used it as a base to cycle to The Hague and Rotterdam – all flat, scenic, and entirely doable even if your kids aren’t regular cyclists. It was a little hard to find kids’ bikes for hire in Holland, but Black Bikes in The Hague is a good option.

We finished with a fast train to Paris, where we had a one night stopover before our Eurostar back to London, which was the perfect way to round off the trip. I’ve written up our tips on what to do and where to stay here:

👉 Paris with kids: One night stopover

You could just return straight back to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam on the Eurostar if you prefer!

Train travel made the journey feel like part of the holiday – no airport queues, plenty of room to stretch out or play cards, and to actually watch the landscapes and cities roll by instead of flying straight over them. If you’re curious about whether interrail works for families, this route was a brilliant place to start.

➡️ Tip: We booked all our train passes through Rail Europe.

🎟️ Buy your October half term Interrail passes here

4. Venture to Morocco: Desert Camps and Atlas Hikes

Looking for an unforgettable October half-term with kids? Morocco is a brilliant first step beyond Europe for families.

For kids used to travelling within the UK or Western Europe, it offers an exciting taste of somewhere a little less familiar – colourful souks, desert landscapes, and Berber villages -while still being warm (but not sweltering in October) and surprisingly manageable once you get the logistics sorted.

We flew in and out of Ouarzazate with Ryanair, which worked very well, but you could also fly into Marrakesh and cross over the Atlas Mountains.

We hired a car, and honestly, the driving was far easier than I’d feared. Once you’re out of the city, the pace slows and the roads are much quieter than in the UK; apart from the occasional donkey wandering across, there’s very little to stress about. Nobody drives particularly fast, and it all feels surprisingly relaxed. I wouldn’t recommend attempting to drive in the Marrakesh medina(!), but otherwise it’s very manageable and a great way to explore the country with kids.

We explored the Skoura oasis, went to the local souk, stayed in a wonderful camp in the Sahara desert near Mhamid, and stayed in a beautiful Riad in Zagora. The desert camp was a highlight – camels, fire pits, sandboarding, stargazing – all the things that sound a bit cliché until you’re actually there watching the sunset from a giant sand dune.

October worked brilliantly: warm days, cool nights, and no scorching heat that makes summer travel to Morocco tricky. The whole trip was a proper adventure, but without skimping on good food and and some seriously nice (and great value) places to stay.

5. Highlands, hikes and castles in Scotland

If you want wild landscapes without leaving the UK, Scotland in October can be absolutely magical. The weather can be a bit wild, but it feels really good cosying up in your warm and snug accommodation after a hike over the wild blown but beautiful highlands – plus there are no midges!

We stayed in Arisaig on the coast west of Fort William, a peaceful spot near the sea that gave us access to the west coast’s huge and beautiful beaches.

Where we stayed in Arisaig on Scotland’s West Coast: Reuben’s Highland Retreat

We hiked to a hidden bothy from Arisaig and to the walk-in-only hamlet of Smirisary and its beaches – routes that felt properly off the beaten track without being too much of a mission. We also took the train from Fort William to Mallaig over the Glenfinnan Viaduct – the iconic route to Hogwarts, which the kids loved. A visit to the ruins of Castle Tioram was very atmospheric.

We drove up to the west coast, which took a LONG time from Oxford, but I would recommend taking the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Fort William, (which I have done without the kids), as it instantly sets the tone for adventure.

If you’re after a bit more infrastructure, the Cairngorms are worth adding on, or visiting in their own right.

One of the highlights of our time in the Cairngorms was visiting the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer. You join a short guided walk up onto the hillside with the herders, where you can meet the reindeer up close, feed them, and hear all about their history in the Highlands. It’s magical for kids (and, let’s be honest, adults too), especially in October when the air is crisp and the herd’s winter coats are coming in thick and fluffy.

The Highland Wildlife Park (which has snow leopards and polar bears) is also great for kids.

6. Explore Northern Iceland: Hot pools, horses & quiet magic

Iceland’s south coast gets all the attention; but for an October half term trip that feels properly off the beaten path, head north to Akureyri, the “capital” of northern Iceland.

You can fly direct to Akureyri with EasyJet from London Gatwick, which makes getting to Northern Iceland surprisingly straightforward – no need to route through Reykjavík, and because it’s not as well known, that route tends to be better value.

The town itself is low-key and family-friendly, and makes a fantastic base for exploring without the crowds. The people are warm and helpful too — and honestly, most of them look like they’ve stepped straight out of a Viking saga (minus the helmets and axes).

One of our favourite spots was the Forest Lagoon, a quieter, less-touristy geothermal pool surrounded by pine trees and with a swim up bar. Floating in hot water while the autumn mist rolls in? Yes please.

You can check out various hiking routes nearby here.

From the town harbour, you can also join a whale watching tour. In October, there’s still a good chance of spotting humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises feeding in the fjord. It’s an unforgettable way to connect with Iceland’s wild side; lots of layers (and a post whale watch hot chocolate) are essential.

👉 Book your whale watching tour here

We also tried horse riding, which was a highlight for all of us. Icelandic horses are smaller and steadier than most breeds, with their unique tölt gait that makes them especially smooth to ride. They’re brilliant for beginners and kids, and our trek felt adventurous but never intimidating. Be aware that you’ll need a hire car to get to the stables.

👉 Book your horse riding tour here

And of course, October in Akureyri means longer, darker nights; perfect conditions for the Northern Lights. You don’t need to go far; just a short walk out of town, away from streetlights, can give you a chance to see the aurora dancing across the sky.

Ready to plan your October half term adventure?

October half term doesn’t have to mean soft play and soggy parks. With just a bit of planning (and the right clothes), it’s totally possible to squeeze a proper family adventure into your half term week!

These are all trips we’ve done with our own kids, and they proved that a week is more than enough time for something bold, refreshing, and outdoorsy. Some are close to home, others a little further afield, but each one offers that half term sweet spot: fun for the kids, and genuinely enjoyable for the grown-ups too.

If you’re thinking about planning something for this October — or just dreaming for now — I hope this has sparked some new October half term ideas. You’ll find plenty more family-friendly itineraries, honest gear reviews, and practical tips right here on the blog.