Although sliding towards heavier rainfall, cooler ocean temperatures, and cooler days, October in Brittany can still be an amazing time to visit this wonderful region. While you will need warmer clothes, both day and night, there are plenty of attractions both indoors and out to keep you busy no matter what the weather decides to do.
The average daily temperature drops to 13 °C, with lows of 10 °C, but the highs can still get up as far as 16 °C. You might still get a few days where it's warm enough to head to the beach, so be sure to take advantage of those when they crop up. If you do make it out there, the sea temperature will be pleasant at 17 °C. It is definitely fine to go swimming, so long as you make sure to watch out for high winds or rough waves.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast, as the amount of rain you will see this month shoots up from the low amount seen in September. Around 57mm will fall over 16 days, which means more than half the month is likely to be wet. You will still get 7 hours of sunshine a day, however, so there is still plenty of time to get out there and explore. Just make sure that you have a raincoat or umbrella with you if you are straying far from your hotel. If you are looking for a stay that is a little drier, this is a good time of year to take a trip out to Paris, though of course the city is a lot busier and more difficult to navigate than this region.
In October you could do a lot worse than booking a stay at the Le Temps de Vivre. This four star hotel provides sea views, but lots of shelter if you start to get chilly. It is based in a beautiful old building which has been renovated in the interior to provide the maximum comfort. It has great style and lots of extra services to help you enjoy your stay.
The Hotel Les Alizes is another fantastic option. It is a boutique hotel which is perfect for families, based in a large old house in Dinard. It is right in the centre of the city so you can explore everything you wish to with ease, including the beaches which are just an eight minute walk away.
The Villa Tri Men is a luxury hotel which also offers you the chance to bring your pets along if you wish to. It was once a holiday home and has now been converted into a boutique hotel with just 19 rooms. There is a garden for you to enjoy, a bar, and also a couple of restaurants where you can dine every day if you wish.
Dinard has lots of fantastic beaches, all of them with a great length of beautiful white sand. The most popular is right in the centre, the plage de l'cluse, and you may recognise it from the Picasso painting Baigneuses sur la Plage. With the sea temperature at 17 °C, it's still a good time of year to dive in. Paddling and swimming are both safe here, and you can indulge in some sandcastle building no matter what age you happen to be.
If you are in Dinan, try out La Courtine. This quaint little restaurant is instantly recognisable thanks to the blue painted doors and window frames. They hold plenty of special events through the year, with an enthusiastic staff that includes the hands-on owners.
La Fleur de Sel is great for those who love seafood, and like to dine in a more elegant fashion. There is a fixed price menu from which you can choose a start, main course, and dessert with three options for each. There is even a set menu for children, so the whole family is welcome.
Au The Gourmand offers French cuisine in a quirky setting. Not only does it serve up delicious and unpretentious food, but it is also an art gallery and music venue. You can pick up a lot of contemporary culture here, and you can even stay to watch a show.
October is one of the most popular months for festivals like the Festival du Film Britannique in Dinard, which offers a screen preview of British films in France. This is also the month for the baroque and organ music at the Festival de Lanvellec. Anyone with a significant appreciation of this style can expect to enjoy some of the best baroque music ever written at this festival.
Inland from Dinard is the Foret de Paimpont in Brocelainde. It is a little west from Rennes. The forest has an ancient legend tying it to Merlin and Arthur. It is said to be the forest of Merlin and therefore a place of myth and magic. The forest contains La Fontaine de Barenton or Merlin's Spring. Some believe it is the Fountain of Eternal Youth. It is also a forest containing the Valley of No Return, which earns its ominous title thanks to the thickets of gorse and numerous rocks. While the weather holds, this may be your last chance to explore the area before winter.
