October Half Term in North Devon: A Seven-Day Family Itinerary

October half term is one of North Devon’s best-kept secrets. Woolacombe’s beaches are quieter, the autumn waves have arrived and the surrounding countryside is turning gold.

There is plenty of Halloween fun too, alongside family attractions, coastal adventures and indoor activities for those days when the Devon weather becomes a little dramatic!

Whether you arrive on Friday or Saturday, here is our suggested seven-day family itinerary for an October half-term stay at Byron Woolacombe.

Day One: Arrive and explore Woolacombe

After checking into your Byron apartment, leave the car in your allocated parking space and stretch everyone’s legs with a walk along Woolacombe Beach.

Children can search the shoreline for shells, sea glass and other natural treasures while grown-ups enjoy the views across the bay.

Finish with supper in the village before returning to Byron for a relaxing family swim and your first cosy evening together.

Day Two: Halloween fun at The BIG Sheep

Enjoy a day of family-friendly Halloween fun at The BIG Sheep.

Its Halloween Half Term event runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026, with seasonal entertainment alongside rides, animal attractions and indoor play.

Fancy dress is encouraged, so remember to pack something suitably spooky!

Afterwards, return to Woolacombe for Halloween chocolates and a family film in your apartment.

Day Three: Woolacombe Silent Disco Beach Clean

If your stay includes Sunday 25 October, join Plastic Free Woolacombe, Earth Action North Devon and the National Trust for a family Silent Disco Beach Clean.

Meet at Mill Rock on Woolacombe Beach at 10:30am and help care for our coastline while enjoying music on the sand. Creative activities usually follow the clean, including crafts using recovered beach materials.

The event is free, equipment is provided and no booking is required. Simply dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear.

If your stay does not include the event, create your own mini beach clean using the coastal-care challenge in your Byron Ocean Explorer Kit. Children can see how many safe pieces of litter they can collect while an adult supervises.

Spend the afternoon enjoying Byron’s indoor pool and games room or exploring Woolacombe village.

Day Four: Halloween Hocus Pocus at The Milky Way

The Milky Way’s Halloween Hocus Pocus event runs from 25 October to 1 November 2026.

Its Halloween activities are designed to be fun rather than frightening, making this an excellent choice for families with younger children.

With rides, live shows and substantial indoor areas, The Milky Way is also one of North Devon’s best options for a changeable or rainy day.

Day Five: Waves, Wildlife and Hot Chocolate

Start the day with a family surf lesson or bodyboarding session on Woolacombe Beach. October sea temperatures remain surprisingly mild, and local surf schools can provide wetsuits and all the necessary equipment.

After warming up over lunch in the village, follow the South West Coast Path towards Morte Point. Look out for seals in the water, Exmoor ponies grazing on the headland and seabirds soaring above the cliffs.

Finish the adventure with hot chocolate before heading back to Byron for a relaxing evening.

If the weather turns, swap the coastal walk for a family swim, games-room competition or a creative afternoon completing your Byron Ocean Explorer Kit.

Day Six: Choose your own North Devon adventure

For a bright autumn day, visit Baggy Point, explore the rock pools at Barricane Beach or take a family walk around Mortehoe.

If it rains, choose from some of North Devon’s best all-weather attractions:

• Quince Honey Farm and its indoor Play Hive.
• Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park.
• Paint a Pot in Braunton.
• Ilfracombe Aquarium.
• A family film followed by a swim at Byron.
• A pottery, craft or Ocean Explorer afternoon in your apartment.

Quince Honey Farm is particularly suitable for changeable weather, with beekeeping demonstrations, honey tasting, candle rolling and indoor play alongside its gardens and outdoor areas.

Day Seven: A final coastal adventure

Make your final full day a celebration of the North Devon coast.

Use your Byron Explorer Map to discover somewhere new, complete your rock-pool identification challenge or follow the coastal path between Woolacombe and Mortehoe.

Challenge the children to spot a shore crab, limpet, periwinkle, anemone or seabird while remembering to leave every creature and natural treasure exactly where it belongs.

This is also the perfect opportunity to finish a Byron competition entry, whether that is a colourful sea monster, an imaginary rock-pool creature, an invention to protect the ocean or a photograph capturing the wild side of Woolacombe.

Return to Byron for one last swim before enjoying a cosy final evening together.

Stay at Byron Woolacombe this October half term

Byron’s spacious family apartments are only a few minutes from Woolacombe Beach and include access to the indoor pool, sauna, gym and games room.

That means wild autumn adventures when the sun shines — and plenty to enjoy when it doesn’t.

Book your October half-term escape and discover a quieter, wilder side of Woolacombe.

Bringing your pooch?

We flag all our luxury dog-friendly apartments with a paw print!

Check out the amazing dog-friendly walks on your doorstep with our blog!

The best luxury self-catering apartments in North Devon!

Looking for the perfect place to stay this Autumn half-term? Byron offers the perfect mix luxury self-catered holiday properties just moments’ walk from the award winning Woolacombe bay. With apartments suitable for anything from two to eight guests it’s the perfect option for families and larger gatherings who want to be under the same roof but enjoy their own space.

Available for a minimum of three nights enjoy access to the onsite pool, sauna, games room and gym – that will keep the whole family busy! Once you’ve arrived, you can park up in your allocated parking space at Byron, we’d recommend checking in, dropping your bags then heading straight to the beach to stretch out your legs! Sandy toes guaranteed in less than four minutes!

Browse our range of luxury, apartments available for stays here.